Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab

The binding properties of bispecific antibodies (bsAb) are crucial for their function, especially when two antigens are targeted on the same cell surface. Dynamic interactions between each of the antibody’s arms and its cognate target cause the formation and decay of a biologically functional ternar...

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Main Authors: Stefanie Mak, Agnes Marszal, Nena Matscheko, Ulrich Rant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:mAbs
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2022.2149053
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author Stefanie Mak
Agnes Marszal
Nena Matscheko
Ulrich Rant
author_facet Stefanie Mak
Agnes Marszal
Nena Matscheko
Ulrich Rant
author_sort Stefanie Mak
collection DOAJ
description The binding properties of bispecific antibodies (bsAb) are crucial for their function, especially when two antigens are targeted on the same cell surface. Dynamic interactions between each of the antibody’s arms and its cognate target cause the formation and decay of a biologically functional ternary complex. How association and dissociation processes work cooperatively, and how they influence the avidity of the ternary complex, is still poorly understood. Here, we present a biosensor assay for the simultaneous measurement of the binding kinetics of the therapeutic bsAb emicizumab (Hemlibra®) and its two targets, the blood coagulation factors IX and X (FIX, FX). We describe an automated workflow to characterize binary and ternary-binding modes, utilizing a Y-shaped DNA nanostructure to immobilize the antigens on a sensor and to emulate conditions on a cell or platelet surface by presenting the antigens with optimal accessibility for the bsAb flown over the sensor as analyte. We find that emicizumab binds FX much stronger than FIX (Kd = 0.05 µM vs. 5 µM, t1/2 = 20 s vs. 1 s) with profound consequences on the avidity of the ternary complex, which is dominated by FX’s binding properties and a hand-off mechanism from FX to FIX. Moreover, formation and decay of the ternary complex depend on the bsAb concentration during the association phase. Emicizumab’s in-vivo mode of action and the catalytic activation of FX can be rationalized from the analyzed binding kinetics. The assay and workflow are well suited for the screening of bispecific binders in drug discovery and provide valuable new kinetic information.Abbreviations: bsAb: bispecific antibody; FVIII/FIX/FX: coagulation factors VIII/IX/X; SPR: surface plasmon resonance; kon: association rate constant; koff: dissociation rate constant; KD: equilibrium dissociation constant; t1/2: dissociation half-life
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spelling doaj-art-8423b38fd5624a7ab6c96193e44bb7da2025-08-20T03:55:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupmAbs1942-08621942-08702023-12-0115110.1080/19420862.2022.2149053Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumabStefanie Mak0Agnes Marszal1Nena Matscheko2Ulrich Rant3Dynamic Biosensors GmbH, Munich, GermanyDynamic Biosensors GmbH, Munich, GermanyDynamic Biosensors GmbH, Munich, GermanyDynamic Biosensors GmbH, Munich, GermanyThe binding properties of bispecific antibodies (bsAb) are crucial for their function, especially when two antigens are targeted on the same cell surface. Dynamic interactions between each of the antibody’s arms and its cognate target cause the formation and decay of a biologically functional ternary complex. How association and dissociation processes work cooperatively, and how they influence the avidity of the ternary complex, is still poorly understood. Here, we present a biosensor assay for the simultaneous measurement of the binding kinetics of the therapeutic bsAb emicizumab (Hemlibra®) and its two targets, the blood coagulation factors IX and X (FIX, FX). We describe an automated workflow to characterize binary and ternary-binding modes, utilizing a Y-shaped DNA nanostructure to immobilize the antigens on a sensor and to emulate conditions on a cell or platelet surface by presenting the antigens with optimal accessibility for the bsAb flown over the sensor as analyte. We find that emicizumab binds FX much stronger than FIX (Kd = 0.05 µM vs. 5 µM, t1/2 = 20 s vs. 1 s) with profound consequences on the avidity of the ternary complex, which is dominated by FX’s binding properties and a hand-off mechanism from FX to FIX. Moreover, formation and decay of the ternary complex depend on the bsAb concentration during the association phase. Emicizumab’s in-vivo mode of action and the catalytic activation of FX can be rationalized from the analyzed binding kinetics. The assay and workflow are well suited for the screening of bispecific binders in drug discovery and provide valuable new kinetic information.Abbreviations: bsAb: bispecific antibody; FVIII/FIX/FX: coagulation factors VIII/IX/X; SPR: surface plasmon resonance; kon: association rate constant; koff: dissociation rate constant; KD: equilibrium dissociation constant; t1/2: dissociation half-lifehttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2022.2149053BispecificantibodybindingkineticsavidityswitchSENSE
spellingShingle Stefanie Mak
Agnes Marszal
Nena Matscheko
Ulrich Rant
Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
mAbs
Bispecific
antibody
binding
kinetics
avidity
switchSENSE
title Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
title_full Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
title_fullStr Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
title_full_unstemmed Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
title_short Kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
title_sort kinetic analysis of ternary and binary binding modes of the bispecific antibody emicizumab
topic Bispecific
antibody
binding
kinetics
avidity
switchSENSE
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19420862.2022.2149053
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AT ulrichrant kineticanalysisofternaryandbinarybindingmodesofthebispecificantibodyemicizumab