Frontiers in Oncology (Nov 2021)

A Novel Type of PD-L1 Inhibitor rU1 snRNPA From Human-Derived Protein Scaffolds Library

  • Chuang Ma,
  • Sennan Qiao,
  • Zhiyi Liu,
  • Liang Shan,
  • Chongyang Liang,
  • Meiling Fan,
  • Fei Sun

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.781046
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Three marketed anti-PD-L1 antibodies almost have severe immune-mediated side effects. The therapeutic effects of anti-PD-L1 chemical inhibitors are not satisfied in the clinical trials. Here we constructed human-derived protein scaffolds library and screened scaffolds with a shape complementary to the PD-1 binding domain of PD-L1. The RNA binding domain of U1 snRNPA was selected as one of potential binders because it had the most favorable binding energies with PD-L1 and conformed to pre-established biological criteria for the screening of candidates. The recombinant U1 snRNPA (rU1 snRNPA) in Escherichia coli exhibits anti-cancer activity in melanoma and breast cancer by reactivating tumor-suppressed T cells in vitro and anti-melanoma activity in vivo. Considering hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, three residues were mutated on the interface of U1 snRNPA and PD-L1 complex, and the ranked variants by PatchDock and A32D showed an increased active phenotype. The screening of human-derived protein scaffolds may become the potential development of therapeutic agents.

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