Comparative Epitope Mapping
One of the truly unique advantages of Pepscan’s Precision Epitope Mapping is that once a peptide array for a certain protein target has been made, it can be used multiple (up to 50) times. CLIPS peptide array makes Precision Epitope Mapping a very cost-efficient approach for a multitude of applications in the drug development process, from early characterization and selection of lead antibodies to manufacturing.
- Characterizing the epitopes of panels of antibodies raised against the target and selecting the best antibodies targeting certain sites on the protein target;
- Charting the IP landscape by benchmarking epitopes of novel lead antibodies with the epitopes of reference antibodies against the same target (case example 1, case example 2);
- Verify the binding site integrity during humanization, scale-up and batch-to-batch manufacturing (case example 3);
- Enabling analyses over time, for instance monitoring the humoral immune response over time after immunization in a uniquely high-resolution manner;
- Demonstrating epitope consistency in the development of biosimilars (case example 4).
Case example 1: A distinctly different CD-20 epitope provides freedom to operate an antibody drug candidate
The importance of CLIPS Precision epitope mapping for IP purposes is greatly illustrated by the landmark case between BiogenIdec, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline LLC, in which parties contested claims of BiogenIdec’s US patent 768612 concerning the use of antibodies targeting CD20 for treating chronic lymphocytic lymphoma.
It was initially believed that only one large loop of the CD20 receptor was exposed on the surface of cancerous B cells, and therefore, that there was only one suitable target for the anti-CD20 antibody. However, Pepscan’s comparative Precision Epitope mapping studies had revealed a unique discontinuous epitope for GlaxoSmithKline LLC’s anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, different from the epitope of the anti-20 monoclonal antibody from BiogenIdec. It showed that in contrast to the later one, GlaxoSmithKline LLC’s antibody also binds to a previously unknown second small loop of the CD20 receptor.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (BiogenIdec, Inc. vs GlaxoSmithKline LLC, 2013) followed the position of binding to a different epitope. Consequently, the court decided that US patent 768612 was not infringed.
Precision Epitope Mapping revealed distinctly different binding sites for two antibodies targeting CD20 and demonstrated that GlaxoSmithKline’s Ab uses a unique discontinuous binding site. (Ref. Teeling et al. J. Immunol. 2006; 177:362-371). It also contributed to the understanding of the mechanism of action and offered a valuable opportunity for marketing differentiation.
Also obtaining new IP based on epitope mapping has proven successful for many companies. To obtain patent protection for a new antibody against a known target one must find a way beyond merely specifying the target to define its antibody product. Specifying a therapeutic antibody by its target epitope has proven to be a successful approach. (ref: Sandercock & Storz, 2012).
Pepscan’s Precision Epitope Mapping has also proven to be valuable for the investigation of many other new antibodies with respect to IP generation or infringement. Numerous patent filings testify to the importance of Precision Epitope Mapping for IP purposes, as shown by these examples from a two-year time frame:
| Acticor – WO2017021539 | Amphivena – US20160002333 | GSK – 20160237161 |
| Janssen – US20170051069 | Bayer – WO20160319029 | Mass Gen Hosp – WO/2016/187068 |
| Lundbeck – US20170015739 | Calypso – WO/2016/001275 | McMaster – US20160346375 |
| NRC Canada – US20170015748 | Canimguide – 20160311854 | Minomic – US20160349263 |
| Regeneron – WO2017027316 | Chiome – US20160333110 | Numab – WO/2016/184570 |
| Aduro – WO/2016/110587 | Fraunhofer – WO2016165729 | R peptide – WO/2016/137950 |
| Alector – WO2016201388 | Genmab – US20160237161 | R peptide – WO/2016/137947 |
Case example 2: Comparative conformational epitope mapping of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies
Therapeutic CD20 antibodies are classified as either type I or II based on different mechanisms of killing malignant B cells. To reveal the molecular basis of this distinction, we fine-mapped for Roche the epitopes recognized by BiogenIdec’s anti-CD20 antibody (Type I) and their novel lead antibody drug candidate (Type II).
A CLIPS peptide library derived from CD20 was synthesized on solid support and screened with both antibodies with single-residue precision. This revealed that Asn-171, crucial for the binding of BiogenIdec’s Ab to CD20 , was not critical for Roche’s Ab, pointing to a shift in binding orientation between the two antibodies. This shift was later confirmed by X-ray crystallography.
CLIPS epitope mapping identified a novel epitope on CD20. This altered functionality can be developed into a novel cancer therapy for patients resistant to the other Ab. The absence of requirement for Asn-171 allowed the creation of new IP for Roche, of key importance for the life cycle prolongation of Roche’s CD20 franchise. The particular Ab received FDA breakthrough designation as well as accelerated review and was launched by Roche in 2014.
Comparative epitope mapping of a two anti CD20 antibodies. N171 indicates the critical difference between the epitopes. X-ray crystallography later confirmed the shift in orientation between the two anti-CD-20 antibodies (ref: Niederfellner et al., Blood 2011;118:358-367)
Case example 3: Comparing specificity of humanized antibodies
When administrated in humans, antibodies of non-human origin induce an immune response. Therefore, binding regions of non-human Abs are often engineered in a process known as humanization. Care must be taken that the specificity is not changed. During drug development it is essential to be able to select humanized variants which preserve the specificity of the parental antibody.
Initially, a comprehensive library of CLIPS peptides was used to identify the epitope of the parental antibody and pinpoint residues essential for the binding (left panel in figure below). Humanized variants “A”, “B” and “C”, obtained by CDR grafting in different acceptor frameworks were similarly tested with this peptide library. The scatter plot illustrates that antibody “A” binds the same set of peptides as the parental antibody does and, thus, has the same specificity. Humanized variant “C” fails to reproduce the binding pattern of the parental antibody, whereas variant “B” remains closely related to the parental antibody, but somewhat differently binds the target molecule. These differences may arise from alterations of fine specificities of “B” and “C” when compared with that of the parental antibody.
Precision Epitope Mapping allows precise and detailed epitope characterization for panels of antibodies, as the re-usability of peptide arrays allows testing and comparing binding of up to 100 antibodies on one array. In the present case, Pepscan peptide libraries served to compare epitopes for various humanized variants of an antibody and identify the antibody in which the epitope specificity was preserved.
Left panel: schematic drawing of the antibody-antigen interaction. Right panel: scatter plots highlighting differences (data points in top left and bottom right corners) and similarities (data points on the diagonal) in peptide binding between the murine parental antibody (y axis) with humanized variants “A”, “B” and “C” (x axis) in pair-wise fashion. Below each scatter plot is the corresponding schematic drawing of the antibody-antigen interaction based on the results obtained with CLIPS peptides. Epitope region is denoted as sequence R₁R₂R₃R₄R₅R₆R₇. Single substitutions of residues in red or green affect the binding to larger or lesser degree.
Case example 4: Identical binding patterns to epitope mimics validate that the epitope is unchanged
Questions of comparison of biotherapeutic candidates, batch-to-batch control of the lead antibody production and assessments of the off-target binding are often efficiently addressed by means of Precision Epitope Mapping. The recent increase in development of new biosimilars has resulted in a new application of comparative epitope mapping to demonstrate epitope consistency at the early stage of development and selection of biosimilars. Due to the unique reusability of Pepscan peptide arrays it is possible use the same array for numerous tests throughout the time of a project (arrays can be stored up to several years).
Two illustrative examples of a comparative mapping performed for two antibodies in development versus the originator reference antibody are shown below. An alternative so called “butterfly plot” representation is shown as the example. One of the antibodies (left panel in green) was confirmed to be similar as its binding profile perfectly coincides with that of the reference antibody. On the contrary, the other antibody (right panel in red) displays a strikingly different binding pattern, suggesting that this antibody significantly differs from the reference antibody.
Butterfly plot: Comparison between a commercial reference antibody (blue) and two antibody candidates under testing (green and red) with precision epitope mapping analysis showing an identical binding profile for the green candidate but not for the red candidate.
The only technology for all types of epitopes:
Linear, conformational and discontinuous
Re-usable arrays for multiple screenings:
Comparative mapping and epitope fingerprinting of up to 100’s of samples
Highest sensitivity through high peptide density:
Also effective for weakly binding antibodies
Structurally & functionally customized peptide arrays:
Include post-translational modifications, cyclizations, helices, β-sheets
Applicable to all kinds of samples:
Mabs, antibody-like scaffolds and polyclonal sera
Applicable to all kinds of target proteins:
Soluble as well as membrane integrated proteins, viral capsids
Unrivalled single residue resolution:
Solid support for patent claims and Freedom to Operate assessments
Reliable, fast and cost-effective:
No-crystallization required, multiple screenings on one array
Full service with minimal material consumption:
20 μg antibody or 20 μl of serum + target protein sequence (Uniprot/FASTA)
Precision Epitope Mapping:
Using its extensive expertise in peptide synthesis and vaccine development Pepscan has developed the Precision Epitope Mapping platform to profile all types of epitopes for big panels of biological samples (antibodies and antibody fragments, purified proteins and sera). Applying its thorough expertise in structured peptides, Pepscan generated various strategies in addressing linear, conformational and discontinuous epitopes via fully customized library designs and bio-informatical data analysis tools.
Linear vs Conformational Epitope Mapping
Linear Epitope Mapping
The concept of mapping linear epitopes using libraries of overlapping synthetic peptides was for pioneered by Pepscan founders Geysen and Meloen. Since then this technology was widely applied by many companies and research groups for various projects. As the inventor of the technology Pepscan has long standing expertise in addressing linear epitopes by directly synthesizing libraries of linear peptides on a solid support covered with a proprietary hydrogel formulation, which allows working with biomolecules and can be easily regenerated for profiling big sample sets. To generate a library of linear mimics, the correct amino acid sequence of the immunogen (or target protein) is split in overlapping fragments in silico, which are then synthesized on a solid support. Once the linear array is synthesized, binding of a test antibody to such library is quantified and compared via an ELISA. When the epitope sequence is present in linear peptides, the antibody avidly binds this set of peptides (as schematically shown below).
The target linear sequence is converted into a library of all overlapping linear peptides directly synthesized on a proprietary solid support called “mini-card”. Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs containing the right amino acid sequence in the correct conformation best bind the antibody.
However, the majority of biomolecules of therapeutic interest recognize conformational or discontinuous epitopes, which cannot be reliably (if at all) addressed by means of linear epitope mapping. For many antibodies, the primary sequence of amino acids is not sufficient for binding and additional 3D structure features are needed. This is why Pepscan perfected its platform to enable systematic mapping of conformational and discontinuous epitopes.
CLIPS Epitope Mapping
One example is creating simple secondary structure mimics by applying different CLIPS scaffolds allowing to thermodynamically favour a limited series of peptide conformations. In such a manner CLIPS peptide library can mimic secondary structure elements, such as loops, α-helixes and β-strands. A schematic representation of this approach is drawn in the figure below, where all three secondary structure elements present in the target’s 3D structure are mimicked using various CLIPS chemistry strategies.
The target protein contains α-helixes, β-sheets separated by loops is converted into different conformational libraries using a CLIPS scaffold. Peptides are synthesized on a proprietary minicard and chemically converted into spatially defined CLIPS constructs (right). Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs containing the right amino acid sequence in the correct conformation best bind the antibody.
It is also possible to create a large combinatorial library of CLIPS based tertiary structure mimics. Using a combinatorial matrix design and different CLIPS scaffolds, the target protein is converted into an extensive library of conformationally constrained mimics that has sequences which are not adjacent in the primary sequence brought together on a CLIPS scaffold. This library of CLIPS-based tertiary structure mimics is then synthesized on a solid support, using high-throughput microarray synthesis technology.
Subsequently, the binding of the antibody to each construct of the entire library is determined, using an automated ELISA-type read-out. This identifies those CLIPS-constructs that best mimic the interaction site of interest. A schematic representation of the approach is presented in the figure below. Designed constructs containing both parts of the interaction site in the correct orientation are bound with the highest affinity by the test antibody, which is detected and quantified. Constructs representing theincomplete epitope bind the antibody with much lower affinity, whereas constructs not containing (parts of) the epitope are not bound by the antibody at all. Bioinformatic statistics-based analysis of the combined binding data is used to define the sequence and conformation of epitopes in detail. CLIPS Precision Epitope Mapping also allows detecting of conformational, discontinuous, and complex epitopes involving dimeric or multimeric protein complexes.
The target protein containing a discontinuous conformational epitope (left cartoon) is converted into a library of linear peptides as well as CLIPS constructs via a combinatorial matrix design. Peptides are synthesized on a proprietary minicard and chemically converted into spatially defined CLIPS constructs (right). Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs representing both parts of the discontinuous epitope in the correct orientation best binds the antibody.
Making surface-bound conformationally constrained peptide libraries
The Precision Epitope Mapping is based on Pepscan’s proprietary platform for making microarrays containing large libraries of surface-immobilized linear, secondary and tertiary structure CLIPS-based epitope mimics. Using high-throughput parallel microarray synthesis technology, a full library of linear, conformational and discontinuous epitope mimics, is synthesized on a proprietary surface with a polymeric graft optimized for low non-specific binding and high peptide construct loading resulting in high sensitivity of the Precision Epitope Mapping technology. Via Pepscan’s patented CLIPS technology these peptides are structurally fixed into defined three-dimensional structures. This enables mimicking even the most complex binding sites. The CLIPS technology is now routinely used to create peptide libraries of single- or double- looped structures, as well as sheet- and helix-like folds.
Using the CLIPS technology, peptides derived from native proteins are transformed into CLIPS constructs with a range of structures. From left to right: linear, single mP2 loops, stabilized beta sheet, alpha helix, and T3 double loop.
Precision Epitope Mapping: how does it work?
Using its extensive expertise in peptide synthesis and vaccine development Pepscan has developed the Precision Epitope Mapping platform to profile all types of epitopes for big panels of biological samples (antibodies and antibody fragments, purified proteins and sera). Applying its thorough expertise in structured peptides, Pepscan generated various strategies in addressing linear, conformational and discontinuous epitopes via fully customized library designs and bio-informatical data analysis tools.
The concept of mapping linear epitopes using libraries of overlapping synthetic peptides was for pioneered by Pepscan founders Geysen and Meloen. Since then this technology was widely applied by many companies and research groups for various projects. As the inventor of the technology Pepscan has long standing expertise in addressing linear epitopes by directly synthesizing libraries of linear peptides on a solid support covered with a proprietary hydrogel formulation, which allows working with biomolecules and can be easily regenerated for profiling big sample sets. To generate a library of linear mimics, the correct amino acid sequence of the immunogen (or target protein) is split in overlapping fragments in silico, which are then synthesized on a solid support. Once the linear array is synthesized, binding of a test antibody to such library is quantified and compared via an ELISA. When the epitope sequence is present in linear peptides, the antibody avidly binds this set of peptides (as schematically shown below).
The target linear sequence is converted into a library of all overlapping linear peptides directly synthesized on a proprietary solid support called “mini-card”. Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs containing right amino acid sequence in the correct conformation best bind the antibody.
However, the majority of biomolecules of therapeutic interest recognize conformational or discontinuous epitopes, which cannot be reliably (if at all) addressed by means of linear epitope mapping. For many antibodies the primary sequence of amino acids is not sufficient for binding and additional 3D structure features are needed. This is why Pepscan perfected its platform to enable systematic mapping of conformational and discontinuous epitopes.
One example is creating simple secondary structure mimics by applying different CLIPS scaffolds allowing to thermodynamically favour a limited series of peptide conformations. In such a manner CLIPS peptide libraries can mimic secondary structure elements, such as loops, α-helixes and β-strands. A schematic representation of this approach is drawn in the figure below, where all three secondary structure elements present in the target’s 3D structure are mimicked using various CLIPS chemistry strategies.
The target protein contains α-helixes, β-sheets separated by loops is converted into different conformational libraries using a CLIPS scaffold. Peptides are synthesized on a proprietary minicard and chemically converted into spatially defined CLIPS constructs (right). Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs containing the right amino acid sequence in the correct conformation best bind the antibody.
It is also possible to create a large combinatorial library of CLIPS based tertiary structure mimics. Using a combinatorial matrix design and different CLIPS scaffolds, the target protein is converted into an extensive library of conformationally constrained mimics that has sequences which are not adjacent in the primary sequence brought together on a CLIPS scaffold. This library of CLIPS-based tertiary structure mimics is then synthesized on a solid support, using high-throughput microarray synthesis technology.
Subsequently the binding of the antibody to each construct of the entire library is determined, using an automated ELISA-type read-out. This identifies those CLIPS-constructs that best mimic the interaction site of interest. A schematic representation of the approach is presented in the figure below. Designed constructs containing both parts of the interaction site in the correct orientation are bound with the highest affinity by the test antibody, which is detected and quantified. Constructs representing theincomplete epitope bind the antibody with much lower affinity, whereas constructs not containing (parts of) the epitope are not bound by the antibody at all. Bioinformatic statistics-based analysis of the combined binding data is used to define the sequence and conformation of epitopes in detail. CLIPS Precision Epitope Mapping also allows detecting of conformational, discontinuous, and complex epitopes involving dimeric or multimeric protein complexes.
The target protein containing a discontinuous conformational epitope (left cartoon) is converted into a library of linear peptides as well as CLIPS constructs via a combinatorial matrix design. Peptides are synthesized on a proprietary minicard and chemically converted into spatially defined CLIPS constructs (right). Binding of antibodies is quantified using an automated ELISA-type read-out. Constructs representing both parts of the discontinuous epitope in the correct orientation best binds the antibody.
Making surface-bound conformationally constrained peptide libraries
The Precision Epitope Mapping is based on Pepscan’s proprietary platform for making microarrays containing large libraries of surface-immobilized linear, secondary and tertiary structure CLIPS-based epitope mimics.
Using high-throughput parallel microarray synthesis technology, a full library of linear, conformational and discontinuous epitope mimics, is synthesized on a proprietary surface with a polymeric graft optimized for low non-specific binding and high peptide construct loading resulting in high sensitivity of the Precision Epitope Mapping technology. Via Pepscan’s patented CLIPS technology these peptides are structurally fixed into defined three-dimensional structures. This enables mimicking even the most complex binding sites.
The CLIPS technology is now routinely used to create peptide libraries of single- or double- looped structures, as well as sheet- and helix-like folds.
Using the CLIPS technology, peptides derived from native proteins are transformed into CLIPS constructs with a range of structures. From left to right: linear, single mP2 loops, stabilized beta sheet, alpha helix, and T3 double loop.
| Peptide synthesis | FMOC chemistry. Maximum peptide length over 40 residues. All amino acids including D-amino acids and non-natural amino acids. |
| Capacity | 50.000 peptides per run with custom high-througput parallel synthesis robots. |
| Peptide library format | Proprietary ‘Minicard’ format with solid phase-bound peptide constructs in 455 microwells. Surface chemistry: proprietary polymeric graft optimized for low non-specific binding and high peptide construct loading. |
| Combinatorial library complexity | Matrix analysis e.g. 50 x 50 = 2.500 double loop T3 CLIPS™. All matrix combinations within 40-mers possible. All overlapping single loops usually 15 – 20-mers. All overlapping peptides of a protein usually 15 – 20-mers. Full positional scan libraries of all epitopes. |
| Spatial construct complexity | Single loops on T2 CLIPS. Double loop combinations on T3 or 2 x T2 CLIPS Sheet-like T2 CLIPS. Helix-like T2 CLIPS. All loop structures with 2-6 cysteines and 1 or 2 CLIPS. |
| Peptide library reusability | At least 20 times but up to 100 depending on the samples. Library storage and re-use up to years. |
| Binding detection | Binding of the antibodies to the CLIPS peptides is determined in an ELISA. The resulting color in each well is quantified with a CDD camera. |
| Binding detection sensitivity | Optimized for epitope mapping of even low affinity binding antibodies (down to Kd=10-3M) |
| Required material and information | 20 μg antibody or 20 μl polyclonal serum. Sequence of target protein in FASTA format or UniProt ID. |
| Project run-through time | Priority 1.5 months. Standard up to 3 months. |
| Reporting | Binding values of all peptides are quantified and stored in the PepLab™ database. A full report is provided including details on binding and specificity for each residue optimized for registration regulatory and/or IP purposes. Full support is offered for IP generation and publishing. |
Pepscan provides Precision Epitope Mapping as a complete end-to-end service. Supported by the expertise of our scientific team this allows each customer to fully benefit from all options the Precision Epitope Mapping technology offers.
A project usually starts with a discussion with the customer to define the project objectives. Before a project is discussed in detail, upon request, Pepscan is willing to sign a Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement (CDA) to assure absolute confidentiality.
Customer data input and sample requirements
- Sequence of target protein in FASTA format or UniProt ID.
- Minimal material consumption: 20 μg antibody or 20 μl polyclonal serum.
Tailor made project proposal
- Full description of project study proposal
- Timelines and budget
Design and synthesis of target-derived peptide arrays on re-usable "Minicards"
- Design based on protein sequence (linear, single-loops, double loops)
- Tailored additions to library based on 3D structure or customer input
- Potential to address Post Translational Modifications
Screening of samples
- On each re-usable Minicard up to 100 antibodies or sera can be screened
- Data quantification
- Storage in PepLab database
Extensive analysis of data
- Matrix scan / Box plots / Heat maps
- 3D imaging and modeling of protein
- Mapping of epitopes on protein
- Amino acid residue replacement analysis
- Fine Mapping of epitopes on protein
Deliverable: a detailed report
- Study design
- Protocols
- Experimental details
- Results
Timelines
The timeline of a project starts with the design of the peptide arrays based on the sequence of target protein provided by the customer. Depending on the size of the target protein and the complexity of the project the synthesis of target-derived peptide arrays usually takes around 4 – 6 weeks. We usually ask to ship the sample(s) within this period. The duration of the screening depends on the number of samples to be tested, followed by 1-2 weeks for data analysis, evaluation and preparation of the report. In most cases a project is completed within 3 months, although more time may be needed for large series of samples.
