In Silico Designing and Optimization of the Anti-EGFR Scaffolds by
CDRs-Grafting Technique
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies are attractive therapeutic agents in a wide range
of human disorders that bind specifically to their target through their
complementary-determining regions (CDRs). Small proteins with
structurally preserved CDRs are promising alternatives to antibodies. In
this study, we presented new antibody mimetics against colorectal cancer
marker epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) created by CDRs grafting
technique. Ten potential graft acceptor sites that efficiently
immobilise the grafted CDR loops were selected from three small protein
scaffolds by computational identification. The three most involved CDR
loops in antibody-receptor interactions extracted from panitumumab
monoclonal antibody against domain III of EGFR (EGFR DIII) crystal
structure were then grafted to the selected scaffolds through the loop
randomization technique. The combination of three CDR loops and 10
grafting sites revealed that three of the 36 combinations showed
specific binding to EGFR DIII by binding energy calculation. Thus, the
present strategy and selected small protein scaffolds are promising in
designing new binders against EGFR with high binding energy.