Modified human growth hormone polypeptides and their uses

• US 20050170404A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambrx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ambrx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cho, Ho Sung, Litzinger, David C., DiMarchi, Richard D., Hays, Anna-Maria, Sim, Bee-Cheng, Daniel, Thomas O., Wilson, Troy E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,778,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/21 Interferons [IFN]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/27 Growth hormone [GH], i.e. somatotropin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/60 the organic macromolecular compound being a polyoxyalkylene oligomer, polymer or dendrimer, e.g. PEG, PPG, PEO or polyglycerol
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/16 for liver or gallbladder disorders, e.g. hepatoprotective agents, cholagogues, litholytics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/08 of the prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 13/12 of the kidneys
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/12 Antivirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/02 specific for leukemia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/02 Immunomodulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/00 Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/06 of the anterior pituitary hormones, e.g. TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, PRL, GH
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/10 of the posterior pituitary hormones, e.g. oxytocin, ADH
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/12 : for decreasing, blocking or antagonising the activity of the posterior pituitary hormones
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/06 : Antianaemics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 : Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: C07H 21/04 : with deoxyribosyl as saccharide radical
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/475 : Growth factors; Growth regulators
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/52 : Cytokines; Lymphokines; Interferons
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/575 : Hormones derived from pro-opiomelanocortin, pro-enkephalin or pro-dynorphin C07K14/665, e.g. corticotropin C07K14/695
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 14/61 : Growth hormone [GH], i.e. somatotropin
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 65/33396 : having oxygen in addition to nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2500/00 : Screening for compounds of potential therapeutic value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6875 : Nucleoproteins

Abstract

Modified human growth hormone polypeptides and uses thereof are provided.

Claims

1. A hGH polypeptide comprising one or more non-naturally encoded amino acids.

2. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more post-translational modifications.

3. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is linked to a linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule.

4. The hGH polypeptide of claim 3, wherein the polypeptide is linked to a water soluble polymer.

5. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is linked to a bifunctional polymer, bifunctional linker, or at least one additional hGH polypeptide.

6. The hGH polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the bifunctional linker or polymer is linked to a second polypeptide.

7. The hGH polypeptide of claim 6, wherein the second polypeptide is a hGH polypeptide.

8. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, wherein the water soluble polymer comprises a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety.

9. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, wherein said water soluble polymer is linked to a non-naturally encoded amino acid present in said hGH polypeptide.

10. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 1-5, 6-33, 34-74, 75-96, 97-105, 106-129, 130-153, 154-183, and 184-191 from SEQ ID NO:

2.

11. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues before position I (i.e. at the N-terminus), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 59, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 74, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 161, 168, 172, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192 (i.e., at the carboxyl terminus of the protein), and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

12. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 49, 57, 59, 66, 69, 70, 71, 74, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101, 103, 107, 108, 111, 122, 126, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 147, 154, 155, 156, 159, 183, 186, 187, and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

13. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 29, 33, 35, 37, 39, 49, 57, 69, 70, 71, 74, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 98, 99, 101, 103, 107, 108, 111, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 145, 147, 154, 155, 156, 186, 187, and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

14. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 35, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 99, 101, 103, 111, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 139, 140, 143, 145, and 155, and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

15. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 30, 74, 103, and any combination thereof, from SEQ ID NO:

2.

16. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 35, 92, 143, 145, and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

17. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues before position 1 (i.e. at the N-terminus), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 59, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 74, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 161, 168, 172, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192 (i.e., at the carboxyl terminus of the protein), and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

18. The hGH polypeptide of claim 17, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 30, 35, 74, 92, 103, 143, 145, and any combination thereof, from SEQ ID NO:

2.

19. The hGH polypeptide of claim 18, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 35, 92, 143, 145, and any combination thereof, from SEQ ID NO:

2.

20. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition or deletion that modulates affinity of the hGH polypeptide for a hGH receptor.

21. The hGH polypeptide of claim 20, comprising an amino acid substitution selected from the group consisting of F10A, F10H, F10I;

M14W, M14Q, M14G;

H18D;

H21N;

R167N;

D171S;

E174S;

F176Y, I179T, and any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO;

2.

22. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition or deletion that increases the stability or solubility of the hGH polypeptide.

23. The hGH polypeptide of claim 22, comprising an amino acid substitution G120A in SEQ ID NO:

2.

24. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition or deletion that increases the expression of the hGH polypeptide in a recombinant host cell or synthesized in vitro.

25. The hGH polypeptide of claim 24, comprising an amino acid substitution G120A in SEQ ID NO:

2.

26. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition or deletion that increases protease resistance of the hGH polypeptide.

27. The hGH polypeptide of claim 26, comprising an amino acid substitution, selected from a group consisting of, a substitution within the C-D loop, R134D, T135P, K140A, and any combination thereof.

28. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is reactive toward a linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule that is otherwise unreactive toward any of the 20 common amino acids in the polypeptide.

29. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a carbonyl group, an aminooxy group, a hydrazine group, a hydrazide group, a semicarbazide group, an azide group, or an alkyne group.

30. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a carbonyl group.

31. The hGH polypeptide of claim 30, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid has the structure:

32. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises an aminooxy group.

33. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a hydrazide group.

34. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a hydrazine group.

35. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid residue comprises a semicarbazide group.

36. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid residue comprises an azide group.

37. The hGH polypeptide of claim 36, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid has the structure:

38. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises an alkyne group.

39. The hGH polypeptide of claim 38, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid has the structure:

40. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, wherein the water soluble polymer has a molecular weight of between about 0.1 kDa and about 100 kDa.

41. The hGH polypeptide of claim 40, wherein the water soluble polymer has a molecular weight of between about 0.1 kDa and about 50 kDa.

42. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, which is made by reacting a hGH polypeptide comprising a carbonyl-containing amino acid with a water soluble polymer comprising an aminooxy, hydrazine, hydrazide or semicarbazide group.

43. The hGH polypeptide of claim 42, wherein the aminooxy, hydrazine, hydrazide or semicarbazide group is linked to the water soluble polymer through an amide linkage.

44. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, which is made by reacting a water soluble polymer comprising a carbonyl group with a polypeptide comprising a non-naturally encoded amino acid that comprises an aminooxy, a hydrazine, a hydrazide or a semicarbazide group.

45. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, which is made by reacting a hGH polypeptide comprising an alkyne-containing amino acid with a water soluble polymer comprising an azide moiety.

46. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, which is made by reacting a hGH polypeptide comprising an azide-containing amino acid with a water soluble polymer comprising an alkyne moiety.

47. The hGH polypeptide of claim 29, wherein the azide or alkyne group is linked to a water soluble polymer through an amide linkage.

48. The hGH polypeptide of claim 4, wherein the water soluble polymer is a branched or multiarmed polymer.

49. The hGH polypeptide of claim 48, wherein each branch of the branched polymer has a molecular weight of between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa.

50. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide is a hGH antagonist.

51. The hGH polypeptide of claim 50, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 26, 29, 65, 103, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 115, 116, 119, 120, 123, 127, 128, 129, 168, 174, before position 1, (i.e. at the N-terminus), and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

52. The hGH polypeptide of claim 50, wherein the polypeptide comprises one or more post-translational modification, linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule.

53. The hGH polypeptide of claim 52, wherein the polymer comprises a moiety selected from a group consisting of a water soluble polymer and poly(ethylene glycol).

54. The hGH polypeptide according to claim 50, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is present within the Site II region of the hGH polypeptide.

55. The hGH polypeptide according to claim 50, wherein the polypeptide prevents dimerization of the hGH receptor.

56. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a saccharide moiety.

57. The hGH polypeptide of claim 3, wherein the linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule is linked to the polypeptide via a saccharide moiety.

60. A method of making the hGH polypeptide of claim 3, the method comprising contacting an isolated hGH polypeptide comprising a non-naturally encoded amino acid with a linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule comprising a moiety that reacts with the non-naturally encoded amino acid.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the polymer comprises a moiety selected from a group consisting of a water soluble polymer and a poly(ethylene glycol).

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a carbonyl group, an aminooxy group, a hydrazide group, a hydrazine group, a semicarbazide group, an azide group, or an alkyne group.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a carbonyl moiety and the linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule comprises an aminooxy, a hydrazine, a hydrazide or a semicarbazide moiety.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the aminooxy, hydrazine, hydrazide or semicarbazide moiety is linked to the linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule through an amide linkage.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises an alkyne moiety and the linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule comprises an azide moiety.

66. The method of claim 60, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises an azide moiety and the linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule comprises an alkyne moiety.

67. The method of claim 62, wherein the azide or alkyne moiety is linked to a linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule through an amide linkage.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) moiety has an average molecular weight of between about 0.1 kDa and about 100 kDa.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) moiety is a branched or multiarmed polymer.

70. A composition comprising the hGH polypeptide of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

71. The composition of claim 70, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is linked to a water soluble polymer.

72. A method of treating a patient having a disorder modulated by hGH comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically-effective amount of the composition of claim 70.

92. The hGH polypeptide of claim 11 wherein said non-naturally encoded amino acid is linked to a poly(ethylene glycol) molecule.

98. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition, or deletion that modulates immunogenicity of the hGH polypeptide.

99. The hGH polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitution, addition, or deletion that modulates serum half-life or circulation time of the hGH polypeptide.

58. An isolated nucleic acid comprising a polynucleotide that hybridizes under stringent conditions to SEQ ID NO:

21 or SEQ ID NO;

22, wherein the polynucleotide comprises at least one selector codon.

59. The isolated nucleic acid of claim 58, wherein the selector codon is selected from the group consisting of an amber codon, ochre codon, opal codon, a unique codon, a rare codon, and a four-base codon.

73. A cell comprising the nucleic acid of claim 58.

74. The cell of claim 73, wherein the cell comprises an orthogonal tRNA synthetase or an orthogonal tRNA.

75. A method of making a hGH polypeptide comprising a non-naturally encoded amino acid, the method comprising, culturing cells comprising a polynucleotide or polynucleotides encoding a hGH polypeptide and comprising a selector codon, an orthogonal RNA synthetase and an orthogonal tRNA under conditions to permit expression of the hGH polypeptide comprising a non-naturally encoded amino acid;

and purifying the hGH polypeptide.

76. A method of increasing serum half-life or circulation time of a hGH polypeptide, the method comprising substituting one or more non-naturally encoded amino acids for any one or more naturally occurring amino acids in the hGH polypeptide.

77. A hGH polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:

21;

or SEQ ID NO;

22, wherein said polynucleotide comprises a selector codon, and wherein said polypeptide comprises at least one non-naturally encoded amino acid.

78. The hGH polypeptide of claim 77, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is linked to a linker, polymer, water soluble polymer, or biologically active molecule.

79. The hGH polypeptide of claim 78, wherein the water soluble polymer comprises a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety.

80. The hGH polypeptide of claim 77, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group consisting of residues before position 1 (i.e. at the N-terminus), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 59, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 74, 88, 91, 92, 94, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 119, 120, 122, 123, 126, 127, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159, 161, 168, 172, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192 (i.e., at the carboxyl terminus of the protein), and any combination thereof from SEQ ID NO:

2.

81. The hGH polypeptide of claim 77, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid comprises a carbonyl group, an aminooxy group, a hydrazide group, a hydrazine group, a semicarbazide group, an azide group, or an alkyne group.

82. The hGH polypeptide of claim 79, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) moiety has a molecular weight of between about 0.1 kDa and about 100 kDa.

83. The hGH polypeptide of claim 79, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) moiety is a branched or multiarmed polymer.

84. The hGH polypeptide of claim 83, wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) moiety has a molecular weight of between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa.

85. A composition comprising the hGH polypeptide of claim 77 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

86. A hGH polypeptide comprising one or more amino acid substitution, addition or deletion that increases the expression of the hGH polypeptide in a recombinant host cell.

87. The hGH polypeptide of claim 86, comprising an amino acid substitution G120A.

88. A hGH polypeptide comprising a water soluble polymer linked by a covalent bond to the hGH polypeptide at a single amino acid.

89. The hGH polypeptide of claim 88, wherein the water soluble polymer comprises a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety.

90. The hGH polypeptide of claim 88, wherein the amino acid covalently linked to the water soluble polymer is a non-naturally encoded amino acid.

91. The hGH polypeptide of claim 90, wherein the non-naturally encoded amino acid is substituted at a position selected from the group 35, 92, 143, and 145 corresponding to SEQ ID NO:

2.

93. The hGH polypeptide of claim 91 wherein said polypeptide further comprises an amino acid substitution G120A.

94. A hGH polypeptide comprising at least one linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule, wherein said linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule is attached to the polypeptide through a functional group of a non-naturally encoded amino acid ribosomally incorporated into the polypeptide.

95. The hGH polypeptide of claim 94, wherein said hGH polypeptide is monoPEGylated.

96. A hGH polypeptide comprising a linker, polymer or biologically active molecule that is attached to one or more non-naturally encoded amino acid wherein said non-naturally encoded amino acid is ribosomally incorporated into the polypeptide at pre-selected sites.

97. The hGH polypeptide of claim 96, wherein the hGH polypeptide comprises one said linker, polymer, or biologically active molecule.

100. A method of modulating immunogenicity of a hGH polypeptide, the method comprising substituting one or more non-naturally encoded amino acids for any one or more naturally occurring amino acids in the hGH polypeptide.