Avimer

Avimers (short for avidity multimers) are artificial proteins that are able to specifically bind to certain antigens via multiple binding sites. Since they are not structurally related to antibodies, they are classified as a type of antibody mimetic. Avimers have been developed by the biotechnology company Avidia, now part of Amgen, as potential new pharmaceutical drugs.

Structure

Avimers consist of two or more peptide sequences of 30 to 35 amino acids each, connected by linker peptides. The individual sequences are derived from A domains of various membrane receptors and have a rigid structure, stabilised by disulfide bonds and calcium. Each A domain can bind to a certain epitope of the target protein. The combination of domains binding to different epitopes of the same protein increases affinity to this protein, an effect known as avidity (hence the name).

Alternatively, the domains can be directed against epitopes on different target proteins. This approach is similar to the one taken in the development of bispecific monoclonal antibodies. In a study, the plasma half-life of an anti-interleukin 6 avimer could be increased by extending it with an anti-immunoglobulin G domain.[1]

Properties

Avimers with two or three domains can bind to their targets in sub-nanomolar concentrations.[1] They have improved heat stability compared with antibodies, but limited plasma half-life because of their smaller size. Half-life can be increased by binding them to antibodies.

Production

A library theoretically containing up to 1023 different A domains serves as a starting point for the development of avimers.[1] Domains targeting the desired protein are selected with display techniques such as phage display. The most promising species are linked to a second A domain via a short linker peptide, forming a new library. This process can be repeated several times, yielding avimers with an increasing number of domains.

References

  1. ^ a b c Silverman, J.; Liu, Q.; Bakker, A.; To, W.; Duguay, A.; Alba, B. M.; Smith, R.; Rivas, A.; Li, P.; Le, H.; Whitehorn, E.; Moore, K. W.; Swimmer, C.; Perlroth, V.; Vogt, M.; Kolkman, J.; Stemmer, W. P. C. (2005). "Multivalent avimer proteins evolved by exon shuffling of a family of human receptor domains". Nature Biotechnology. 23 (12): 1556–1561. doi:10.1038/nbt1166. PMID 16299519.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.