Jan-Olov Thorell

Exploiting the 21st amino acid—purifying and labeling proteins by selenolate targeting

Selenium is essential to human life and occurs in selenoproteins as selenocysteine (Sec), the 21st amino acid. The selenium atom endows selenocysteine with unique biochemical properties, including a low pKa and a high reactivity with many electrophilic agents. Here we describe the introduction of selenocysteine into recombinant non-selenoproteins produced in Escherichia coli, as part of a small tetrapeptide motif at the C terminus. This selenocysteine-containing motif could subsequently be used as a protein tag for purification of the recombinant protein, selenolate-targeted labeling with fluorescent compounds or radiolabeling with either γ-emitting 75Se or short-lived positron emitters such as 11C. The results presented here thus show how a wide range of biotechnological applications can be developed starting from the insertion of selenocysteine into proteins.

11C-labelling of Ro 15-1788 in two different positions, and also 11C-labelling of its main metabolite Ro 15-3890, for PET studies of benzodiazepine receptors

The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788 has been labelled with 11C in two different positions [( methyl-11C]Ro 15-1788 (I) and [ethyl-11C]Ro 15-1788 (II]. Product I was prepared by N-alkylation of the desmethyl compound (Ro 15-5528) with [11C]methyl iodide and product II was prepared by esterification of the desethyl compound (Ro 15-3890) with [11C]ethyl iodide. Ro 15-3890, the main metabolic product of Ro 15-1788, was labelled by two synthetic routes. In route A, [methyl-11C]Ro 15-3890 (III) was prepared by N-alkylation of the corresponding desmethyl compound (Ro 15-6877) with [11C]methyl iodide. In route B, III was prepared by a subsequent hydrolysis of I. The radiochemical yields were on the order of 15-60% (EOB) with an overall synthesis time of 40-50 min. Compounds I, II and III were isolated by semi-preparative HPLC and the radiochemical purity was in all cases greater than 99%.

IN VIVO EVALUATION OF THE BIODISTRIBUTION OF 11C-LABELED PD153035 IN RATS WITHOUT AND WITH NEUROBLASTOMA IMPLANTS

The biodistribution of 11C-labeled 4-(3-bromoanilino)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline, an inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase, has been evaluated in vivo in rats using positron emission tomography (PET). Time-activity data obtained after i.v. administration in one rat revealed that the radiotracer rapidly cleared from plasma with subsequent uptake in major organs of the body (brain, heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract and bladder). Uptake in proliferating tissue in rats with human neuroblastoma xenografts indicate that [O-11C-methyl]PD153035 shows promise as a new agent for in vivo imaging of tumors with PET.

In vivo distribution of [11C]-busulfan incynomolgus monkey and in the brain of a human patient

SummaryThe in vivo distribution of the antileukemic agent busulfan labeled with the positron-emitting radionuclide carbon 11 was investigated in cynomolgus monkeys and in a human patient using positron emission tomography. After i.v. injection of the radiotracer, its regional uptake was monitored for about 1 h in the monkeys body and in a separate experiment, in the monkeys brain. The concentration of radioactivity in the liver, which showed the highest levels of all the organs scanned, increased throughout the experiment and was 9-fold that in the brain at the end of the experiment. [11C]-Busulfan rapidly crossed the blood-brain barrier. The radioactivity peaked in both the cortex and the white matter showing a ratio of 1.25, at 3 min but declined quickly to yield a ratio of approximately 1 after 30 min. In the human brain, radioactivity in the cerebellum, cortex, and white matter reached a maximum within 5 min showing a cortex:white matter ratio of 1.6. The activity in the cortex declined to yield a ratio of 1 within 30 min. Of the delivered dose, 20% penetrated into the brain.

Synthesis of [methoxy-11C]PD153035, a selective EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor

[Methoxy- 11 C]PD153035, a potent and specific inhibitor of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase, was prepared by O-alkylation of O-desmethyl PD153035 with [ 11 C]methyl iodide in DMF. The radiochemical incorporation of [ 11 C]CH 3 I was on the order of 45%. The mean specific activity obtained at end-of-synthesis (EOS) was 26 GBq/μmol (n=3; range 20-36 GBq/μmol) and total synthesis time was 45-50 minutes including formulation.

In vivo biodistribution of [N-11C-methyl]KF 17837 using 3-D-PET: Evaluation as a ligand for the study of adenosine A2A receptors

(KF 17837, (E)-8-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-1,3-dipropyl-7-methylxanthine, was 11C-labelled by methylation at N-7 of the nor-compound, KF 17440, using [11C]methyl iodide. Radiochemical conversions of 50% or 70-80% were obtained using sodium hydride or potassium carbonate, respectively, as base. Total synthesis time was 40-45 min, including isolation by semipreparative liquid chromatography. Cerebral uptake of [N-11C-methyl]KF 17837 in Cynomolgus monkeys, evaluated using positron emission tomography (PET), was so low that regional differences in distribution kinetics were revealed first after increasing injected dose 3-fold and using 3-D mode of data acquisition. At all times, the relative regional retention (maximum striatum:cerebellum: cortex approximately 1.1:1:0.8 at 20 min) was considerably different from the known relative density of A2A receptors in these regions. Radioactivity decreased more rapidly in the cortex than in the striatum and cerebellum (by 20% vs. 3-7%, respectively, between 5 and 50 min). Addition of carrier to [N-11C-methyl]KF 17837 only marginally affected the cerebral radiotracer uptake. By contrast, in the heart the initial tracer uptake was high and the elimination kinetics was enhanced by adding unlabelled carrier. We have thus shown that KF 17837 passes the blood-brain barrier, though to a very low extent. This fact and the apparently high nonspecific binding in vivo of [N-11C-methyl]KF 17837 in regions with low receptor densities limits its usefulness as a ligand for quantification of the adenosine A2A receptors in the primate brain.

Selenolthiol and dithiol C-terminal tetrapeptide motifs for one-step purification and labeling of recombinant proteins produced in E. coli

We have previously shown that a redox‐active selenocysteine‐containing tetrapeptide—Sel‐tag (Gly‐Cys‐Sec‐Gly)—can be used as a C‐terminal fusion motif for recombinant proteins produced in Escherichia coli. This Sel‐tag allows selenolate‐targeted one‐step purification, as well as fluorescent labeling or radiolabeling either with gamma emitters (75Se) or with positron‐emitting radionuclides (11C). Here we have analyzed four different redox‐active C‐terminal motifs, carrying either dithiol (Gly‐Cys‐Cys‐Gly or Ser‐Cys‐Cys‐Ser) or selenolthiol (Gly‐Cys‐Sec‐Gly or Ser‐Cys‐Sec‐Ser) motifs. Utilizing these different functional motifs with the same recombinant protein (Fel d 1), we were able to assess their relative reactivities and potential usefulness for biotechnological applications. We found that all four redox‐active tags could be utilized for efficient one‐step purification to provide pure protein from a crude bacterial lysate through reversible binding to phenylarsine oxide sepharose, with yields and purities comparable to those obtained for a His‐tagged protein purified by the more common approach with use of a Ni2+ column. For labeling with electrophilic fluorescent or radioactive compounds, however, the selenolthiol motifs were considerably more efficient than their dithiol counterparts. The results thus show that both the selenolthiol‐ and the dithiol‐containing tags can serve as efficient alternatives to His‐tags for protein purification, while the selenolthiol motifs offer additional and unique potential for Sec‐targeted labeling. It should therefore be possible to utilize these multifunctional tetrapeptide motifs to develop a wide range of novel biotechnological applications based on Sec targeting with electrophilic compounds.

HER2-Positive Tumors Imaged Within 1 Hour Using a Site-Specifically 11C-Labeled Sel-Tagged Affibody Molecule

A rapid, reliable method for distinguishing tumors or metastases that overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) from those that do not is highly desired for individualizing therapy and predicting prognoses. In vivo imaging methods are available but not yet in clinical practice; new methodologies improving speed, sensitivity, and specificity are required. Methods: A HER2-binding Affibody molecule, ZHER2:342, was recombinantly fused with a C-terminal selenocysteine-containing tetrapeptide Sel-tag, allowing site-specific labeling with either 11C or 68Ga, followed by biodistribution studies with small-animal PET. Dosimetry data for the 2 radiotracers were compared. Imaging of HER2-expressing human tumor xenografts was performed using the 11C-labeled Affibody molecule. Results: Both the 11C- and 68Ga-labeled tracers initially cleared rapidly from the blood, followed by a slower decrease to 4–5 percentage injected dose per gram of tissue at 1 h. Final retention in the kidneys was much lower (>5-fold) for the 11C-labeled protein, and its overall absorbed dose was considerably lower. 11C-ZHER2:342 showed excellent tumor-targeting capability, with almost 10 percentage injected dose per gram of tissue in HER2-expressing tumors within 1 h. Specificity was demonstrated by preblocking binding sites with excess ligand, yielding significantly reduced radiotracer uptake (P = 0.002), comparable to uptake in tumors with low HER2 expression. Conclusion: To our knowledge, the Sel-tagging technique is the first that enables site-specific 11C-radiolabeling of proteins. Here we present the finding that, in a favorable combination between radionuclide half-life and in vivo pharmacokinetics of the Affibody molecules, 11C-labeled Sel-tagged ZHER2:342 can successfully be used for rapid and repeated PET studies of HER2 expression in tumors.

Combining [11C]-AnxA5 PET Imaging with Serum Biomarkers for Improved Detection in Live Mice of Modest Cell Death in Human Solid Tumor Xenografts

Background In vivo imaging using Annexin A5-based radioligands is a powerful technique for visualizing massive cell death, but has been less successful in monitoring the modest cell death typically seen in solid tumors after chemotherapy. Here we combined dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using Annexin A5 with a serum-based apoptosis marker, for improved sensitivity and specificity in assessment of chemotherapy-induced cell death in a solid tumor model. Methodology/Principal Findings Modest cell death was induced by doxorubicin in a mouse xenograft model with human FaDu head and neck cancer cells. PET imaging was based on 11C-labeled Sel-tagged Annexin A5 ([11C]-AnxA5-ST) and a size-matched control. 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]-FDG) was utilized as a tracer of tissue metabolism. Serum biomarkers for cell death were ccK18 and K18 (M30 Apoptosense® and M65). Apoptosis in tissue sections was verified ex vivo for validation. Both PET imaging using [11C]-AnxA5-ST and serum ccK18/K18 levels revealed treatment-induced cell death, with ccK18 displaying the highest detection sensitivity. [18F]-FDG uptake was not affected by this treatment in this tumor model. [11C]-AnxA5-ST gave robust imaging readouts at one hour and its short half-life made it possible to perform paired scans in the same animal in one imaging session. Conclusions/Significance The combined use of dynamic PET with [11C]-AnxA5-ST, showing specific increases in tumor binding potential upon therapy, with ccK18/K18 serum measurements, as highly sensitive markers for cell death, enabled effective assessment of modest therapy-induced cell death in this mouse xenograft model of solid human tumors.

Microwaving in F-18 Chemistry: Quirks and Tweaks

Since the late 1980s, microwave dielectric heating has been used to speed up chemical transformations, also in radiolabeling tracers for positron emission tomography. In addition to shorter reaction times, higher yields, cleaner product mixtures and improved reproducibility have also been obtained for reactions involving polar components that require heating at elevated temperatures. The conditions used in microwave chemistry can differ considerably from those in conventional heating. Understanding the factors that influence the interaction of the electromagnetic field with the sample is critical for the successful implementation of microwave heating. These parameters are discussed here and exemplified with radiolabelings with fluorine-18.