The Scripps Research Institute

Hongkai Zhang

Richard A Lerner

Ian A Wilson

Jia Xie

Philip E Dawson

Patricia McDonald

Emmanuel Sturchler

The invention provides combinatorial peptide or polypeptide libraries that can become membrane tethered once expressed in cells. The invention additionally provides methods for selecting peptide modulators (e.g., agonists) of GPCRs from the combinatorial libraries of the invention. The invention also provides novel GPCR polypeptide modulators, e.g., biased polypeptide agonists of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R). The invention further provides methods of promoting insulin sensitivity, lowering blood glucose, and reducing body weight as well as methods for treating various diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

Methods and compositions related to GPCR agonist polypeptides

The invention provides methods for identifying binding partners (e.g., peptide ligands) that binds to a target protein (e.g., a cellular receptor). The methods entail co-localized expression of the target protein and candidate binding partners, and selection of binding partners based on their proximity in the plasma membrane.

Proximity based methods for selection of binding partners

The invention provides methods for identifying protein modulators (e.g., antibody agonists) of eukaryotic cells. The methods typically involve expressing a combinatorial agent library (e.g., via lentiviral vectors) inside a eukaryotic cell type (e.g., a mammalian cell) and then directly selecting for agents (e.g., antibodies) that are agonist of a target molecule (e.g., a signaling receptor) that modulates a phenotype of or elicits a cellular response in the cell. Some related methods involve co-culturing a cell expressing a combinatorial agent library and a second cell, and then selecting agents that modulate a phenotype of or elicit a cellular response in the second cell. Preferably, the agents are antibodies and are introduced into and expressed in the starting cells under conditions each individual cell expresses no more than 3 different members of the antibody library. In addition, the invention provides methods for identifying protein agonists that capable of reprograming or trans-differentiating a target cell. Also provided in the invention are specific agonist antibodies of signaling receptors or biomolecules that modulate a phenotype or effectuate a cellular response in a eukaryotic cell (e.g., agonist antibodies of EpoR, TpoR or G-CSFR). Further provided in the invention are methods for selecting from combinatorial antibody libraries bispecific antibodies that can regulate cell phenotypes.

Methods and compositions related to modulators of eukaryotic cells

Methods for Identifying protein modulators of eukaryotic cells by expressing a combinatorial library of potential agonists inside a eukaryotic cell and then directly selecting for an agonist of a target molecule. Some methods involve co-culturing a cell expressing a combinatorial library of potential agonists and a second cell, and then selecting agents that modulate a phenotype of or a desired cellular response in the second cell. Preferably, the agonists are antibodies introduced into and expressed in the starting cells, such as agonist anti-EpoR, anti-TpoR, or G-CSFR antibodies. Also disclosed are methods for selecting from combinatorial antibody libraries bispecific antibodies that can regulate cell phenotypes.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Hongkai Zhang