Chemo-Enzymatic PEGylation/POxylation of Murine Interleukin-4

Bioconjug Chem. 2022 Jan 19;33(1):97-104. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.1c00495. Epub 2021 Dec 30.

Abstract

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a potentially interesting anti-inflammatory therapeutic, which is rapidly excreted. Therefore, serum half-life extension by polymer conjugation is desirable, which may be done by PEGylation. Here, we use PEtOx as an alternative to PEG for bioconjugate engineering. We genetically extended murine IL-4 (mIL-4) with the d-domain of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a previously identified substrate of transglutaminase (TG) Factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). Thereby, engineered mIL-4 (mIL-4-TG) became an educt for TG catalyzed C-terminal, site-directed conjugation. This was deployed to enzymatically couple an azide group containing peptide sequence to mIL-4, allowing C-terminal bioconjugation of polyethylene glycol or poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline). Both bioconjugates had wild-type potency and alternatively polarized macrophages.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Interleukin-4* / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Polyethylene Glycols* / chemistry

Substances

  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Interleukin-4
  • Il4 protein, mouse