Characterization of the Conjugation Pattern in Large Polysaccharide–Protein Conjugates by NMR Spectroscopy. Issue 47 (19th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giuntini, Stefano; Balducci, Evita; Cerofolini, Linda; Ravera, Enrico; Fragai, Marco; Berti, Francesco; Luchinat, Claudio
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 56:Issue 47(2017)
• Page Start: 14997
• Page End: 15001
• Publication Date: 2017-10-19
• Subjects: carbohydrate-based vaccines -- drug design -- protein modifications -- solid-state NMR spectroscopy -- structural biology; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201709274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Carbohydrate‐based vaccines are among the safest and most effective vaccines and represent potent tools for prevention of life‐threatening bacterial infectious diseases, like meningitis and pneumonia. The chemical conjugation of a weak antigen to protein as a source of T‐cell epitopes generates a glycoconjugate vaccine that results more immunogenic. Several methods have been used so far to characterize the resulting polysaccharide–protein conjugates. However, a reduced number of methodologies has been proposed for measuring the degree of saccharide conjugation at the possible protein sites. Here we show that detailed information on large proteins conjugated with large polysaccharides can be achieved by a combination of solution and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. As a test case, a large protein assembly, l ‐asparaginase II, has been conjugated with Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C capsular polysaccharide and the pattern and degree of conjugation were determined. Abstract : Solid‐state NMR spectra of highly glycosylated proteins ( E. coli l ‐Asparaginase‐II) have been obtained showing a remarkable quality. Based on this observation, a protocol that combines solution and solid‐state NMR methods was developed to obtain a semi‐quantitative evaluation of the conjugation degree and pattern in glycoconjugate vaccines.