Journal: eLife

Article Title: Targeted computational design of an interleukin-7 superkine with enhanced folding efficiency and immunotherapeutic efficacy

doi: 10.7554/eLife.107671

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( A ) AlphaFold validation of the first loop design version of Neo-7 (Neo-7 LDv1) using the default (left) and single sequence mode (right). ( B ) AlphaFold validation of the second loop design version of Neo-7 (left; Neo-7 LDv2) and Neo-7 LDv2 with mutations (right) favored by Rosetta fix backbone design. ( C ) Crystal structure of human IL-7 in complexation to human IL-7 receptor alpha (PDB ID = 3DI2). ( D ) Superimposition of Neo-7 structures (with or without additional disulfide bridge) predicted by AlphaFold. ( E ) Yeast display and flow cytometry validation of IL-7/Neo-7 bindings towards the IL-7 receptors. The yeast-displayed protein (different redesigned IL-7s) carries a HA-tag while the recombinant IL-7 receptors carry either a HIS tag (IL-7 receptor alpha) or a FC-tag (common-IL-2 family receptor gamma; for detection of IL-2Rγ binding, yeast cells were first incubated with recombinant IL-7Rα, washed, and subsequently incubated with IL-2Rγ.) The signal intensity of the X-axis (conferred by the binding of anti-HA mab) correlates with the expression level of the displayed protein while the signal intensity of the Y-axis (conferred by the binding of the anti-HIS/anti-FC mAb to the recombinant receptors bound to the displayed proteins) correlates with the binding affinity of the displayed proteins towards the IL-7 receptors.

Article Snippet: To assess the binding of the common IL-2 receptor γ (IL2Rγ) to neo-7 and IL7Rα complexes, the yeasts were first incubated with 50 nM of IL7Rα, washed, and incubated with 100 nM of human-Fc tagged IL-2 receptor-γ (IL2Rγ; Sino Biological Cat: 50087-M03H) at 4°C for an hour.

Techniques: Biomarker Discovery, Sequencing, Flow Cytometry, Recombinant, Binding Assay, Incubation, Expressing