J 2024

Computer-aided engineering of stabilized fibroblast growth factor 21

DE LA BOURDONNAYE, Gabin; Tereza GHAZALOVÁ; Petr FOJTÍK; Katerina KUTALKOVA; David BEDNÁŘ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Computer-aided engineering of stabilized fibroblast growth factor 21

Authors

DE LA BOURDONNAYE, Gabin; Tereza GHAZALOVÁ; Petr FOJTÍK; Katerina KUTALKOVA; David BEDNÁŘ; Jiří DAMBORSKÝ; Vladimír ROTREKL; Veronika STEPANKOVA and Radka CHALOUPKOVÁ

Edition

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 2024, 2001-0370

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Organization

Přírodovědecká fakulta – Repository – Repository

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2024.02.001

UT WoS

001187819700001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85184993217

Keywords in English

Fibroblast growth factor 21; Protein engineering; Protein stabilization

Links

LM2023055, research and development project. LX22NPO5107, research and development project. RECETOX RI II, large research infrastructures.
Changed: 15/3/2025 00:51, RNDr. Daniel Jakubík

Abstract

V originále

FGF21 is an endocrine signaling protein belonging to the family of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). It has emerged as a molecule of interest for treating various metabolic diseases due to its role in regulating glucogenesis and ketogenesis in the liver. However, FGF21 is prone to heat, proteolytic, and acid-mediated degradation, and its low molecular weight makes it susceptible to kidney clearance, significantly reducing its therapeutic potential. Protein engineering studies addressing these challenges have generally shown that increasing the thermostability of FGF21 led to improved pharmacokinetics. Here, we describe the computer-aided design and experimental characterization of FGF21 variants with enhanced melting temperature up to 15 ◦C, uncompromised efficacy at activation of MAPK/ERK signaling in Hep G2 cell culture, and ability to stimulate proliferation of Hep G2 and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts cells comparable with FGF21-WT. We propose that stabilizing the FGF21 molecule by rational design should be combined with other reported stabilization strategies to maximize the pharmaceutical potential of FGF21.
Displayed: 19/7/2025 23:54