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Site-Directed Pegylation of Recombinant Interleukin-2 at its Glycosylation Site

Bio/Technology volume 8, pages 343–346 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

We have modified recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) to facilitate site-directed covalent attachment of monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (PEG). The site chosen for modification and subsequent covalent attachment with PEG (PEGylation) was the single glycosylation position found in the native interleukin-2 (IL-2). The mutant protein was expressed in E. coli, purified, and PEGylated with a PEG-maleimide reagent to obtain PEG-cys3-rIL-2. The PEG-cys3-rIL-2 had full bioactivity relative to the unmodified molecule and had an increase in hydrodynamic size sufficient to increase its systemic exposure by ∼4 fold. This method has general applicability for modifying any therapeutic protein at a specific site and thereby alter its potency. In particular, it can be used to attach PEG to prokaryotically expressed recombinant proteins at their glycosylation sites.

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Author notes

  1. Nandini V. Katre: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cetus Corporation, 1400 53rd Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608

    Robert J. Goodson & Nandini V. Katre

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  1. Robert J. Goodson
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  2. Nandini V. Katre
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Goodson, R., Katre, N. Site-Directed Pegylation of Recombinant Interleukin-2 at its Glycosylation Site. Nat Biotechnol 8, 343–346 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0490-343

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0490-343

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