AUTHOR=Ma Chuang , Qiao Sennan , Liu Zhiyi , Shan Liang , Liang Chongyang , Fan Meiling , Sun Fei TITLE=A Novel Type of PD-L1 Inhibitor rU1 snRNPA From Human-Derived Protein Scaffolds Library JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=11 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.781046 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.781046 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

Three marketed anti-PD-L1 antibodies almost have severe immune-mediated side effects. The therapeutic effects of anti-PD-L1 chemical inhibitors are not satisfied in the clinical trials. Here we constructed human-derived protein scaffolds library and screened scaffolds with a shape complementary to the PD-1 binding domain of PD-L1. The RNA binding domain of U1 snRNPA was selected as one of potential binders because it had the most favorable binding energies with PD-L1 and conformed to pre-established biological criteria for the screening of candidates. The recombinant U1 snRNPA (rU1 snRNPA) in Escherichia coli exhibits anti-cancer activity in melanoma and breast cancer by reactivating tumor-suppressed T cells in vitro and anti-melanoma activity in vivo. Considering hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, three residues were mutated on the interface of U1 snRNPA and PD-L1 complex, and the ranked variants by PatchDock and A32D showed an increased active phenotype. The screening of human-derived protein scaffolds may become the potential development of therapeutic agents.