Understanding the stabilizing effect of histidine on mAb aggregation: a molecular dynamics study.
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Supporting information
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Histidine, a widely used buffer in monoclonal antibody (mAb) formulations, is known to reduce antibody aggregation. While experimental studies suggest a nonelectrostatic, nonstructural (relating to secondary structure preservation) origin of the phenomenon, the underlying microscopic mechanism behind the histidine action is still unknown. Understanding this mechanism will help evaluate and predict the stabilizing effect of this buffer under different experimental conditions and for different mAbs. We have used all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and contact-based free energy calculations to investigate molecular-level interactions between the histidine buffer and mAbs, which lead to the observed stability of therapeutic formulations in the presence of histidine. We reformulate the Spatial Aggregation Propensity index by including the buffer-protein interactions. The buffer adsorption on the protein surface leads to lower exposure of the hydrophobic regions to water. Our analysis indicates that the mechanism behind the stabilizing action of histidine is connected to the shielding of the solvent-exposed hydrophobic regions on the protein surface by the buffer molecules.
Date Issued
2022-08-10
Date Acceptance
2022-07-26
Citation
Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2022, 19 (9)
ISSN
1543-8384
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Journal / Book Title
Molecular Pharmaceutics
Volume
19
Issue
9
Copyright Statement
© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
License URL
Sponsor
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35946408
Grant Number
BB/S018468/1
Subjects
COE3
Histidine
Molecular Dynamics
Monoclonal Antibodies
Protein Aggregation
Spatial Aggregation Propensity
Publication Status
Published online
Coverage Spatial
United States