Site protected protein modification
AssigneeImmunex Corporation
InventorDean K. Pettit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Processes for conjugating proteins with polyethylene glycol are disclosed. The disclosed processes provide modified proteins having little or no decrease in their activity and include the steps of protecting one or more sites on the protein, contacting the protected protein with polyethylene glycol under conditions suitable for conjugating the polyethylene glycol to the protein, and deprotecting the protein. This advantageous retention of a desired protein activity is attributed to the availability of one or more protein binding sites which is unaltered in the conjugation process and thus remains sterically free to interact with a binding partner ligand or cognate subsequent to the conjugation process.
Claims13
A process for conjugating p75 TNFR:Fc with polyethylene glycol, said process comprising the steps of:
- a) binding TNFR:Fc neutralizing antibody to the p75 TNFR:Fc to provide a site protected p75 TNFR:Fc;
- and
- b) contacting the site protected p75 TNFR:Fc with polyethylene glycol under conditions sufficient to conjugate the polyethylene glycol to the site protected p75 TNFR:Fc.
A process for modifying a p75 TNFR:Fc fusion protein, said process comprising the steps of:
- a) immobilizing a TNFR:Fc neutralizing antibody to a solid support;
- b) bringing the p75 TNFR:Fc fusion protein in contact with the immobilized TNFR:Fc neutralizing antibody under conditions which cause the TNFR:Fc receptor neutralizing antibody to bind to the p75 TNFR:Fc fusion protein;
- and
- c) contacting the protected p75 TNFR:Fc fusion protein with polyethylene glycol under conditions sufficient to conjugate the polyethylene glycol to the p75 TNFR:Fc fusion protein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.