In vitro glycoengineering (IVGE) technology specifically and effectively changes the type of glycosylation of biopharmaceuticals, thus affecting their biological activity. CD BioGlyco has developed an advanced Glycoengineering platform to provide clients with IVGE services to solve their problems in the development of recombinant protein drugs and monoclonal antibodies.
Glycosylation is a common post-translational modification that occurs on the side chains of many amino acid residues of proteins in many different ways. Depending on the linkage established with the protein, protein glycosylation is divided into two general types: 1) Attached of N-glycans to the nitrogen atom of the asparagine (Asn) side chain; 2) Attached of O-glycans to the oxygen atom of the serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) side chain. Glycans bound to glycoproteins typically consist of as many as a dozen monosaccharides. These glycans interact with amino acid residues, which in turn affect protein folding efficiency and conformational stability.
Fig.1 The two most common types of protein glycosylation. (Ma, et al., 2020)
Studies have found that glycosylation affects the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic activity, and biomanufacturing of protein therapeutics. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of protein therapeutics are closely related to the glycosylation process. In terms of pharmacodynamics and biological activity, it has been shown that the activity of protein drugs such as recombinant human hyaluronidase depends on glycosylation. The production of protein drugs relies on glycocompatible production systems, such as the Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO) expression system.
Glycoengineering is a method to improve protein properties by changing protein glycosylation. In the early days, scientists added or removed target sugars to proteins through in vivo genetic techniques and in vitro enzymatic methods. With the development of recent years, glycoengineering technology has not been limited to improving the properties of proteins through naturally occurring glycans and glycosidic linkages. Researchers have also applied unnatural glycans and site-selective conjugation chemistry to glycoengineering to improve the therapeutic effects of drugs.
Fig.2 Glycoengineering strategies for recombinant glycoprotein therapeutics. (Narimatsu, et al., 2021)
Glycoengineering has attracted more and more scientists' attention as a method to improve the efficacy of protein drugs. At CD BioGlyco, we have established an advanced IVGE platform to provide our clients with protein glycoengineering and antibody glycoengineering services. We specifically and efficiently change the type of glycosylation through IVGE technology, thereby altering the biological activity of the drug. Our protein glycoengineering strategy is mainly by changing the number and location of glycosylation sites or changing the glycan structure of individual glycosylation sites. We also provide clients with high-quality antibody remodeling, digestion, deglycosylation, and site-specific conjugation services.
CD BioGlyco is a leading service provider specializing in glycoengineering services. We have established a professional IVGE platform. If you are interested in our IVGE services, please contact us for more details without any hesitation.
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