Analytical studies on the conjugation site specificity of trastuzumab modified by Escherichia coli lipoate ligase A: multiple-enzyme digestion approach for peptide mapping

Tag-free protein modification has received considerable attention in the field of chemical biology owing to the versatility and simplicity of the reaction sequence. In 2021, a novel tag-free enzymatic modification of antibodies utilizing lipoate ligase A (LplA) was reported to reveal its potential in the production of site-specific antibody conjugates. Primary peptide mapping analysis revealed the biased site specificity of antibodies modified by LplA; however, quantitative analysis remains challenging because of the complicated heterogeneity derived from biased selective modification. In an effort to further understand the site occupancy of LplA-modified antibodies, this study employed numerous unconventional techniques and strategies. Optimization of HPLC conditions and utilization of enzymes such as trypsin, Glu-C, and chymotrypsin significantly increased sequence data coverage. The transition from traditional spectral counting to a more accurate peak area–based label-free quantification helped better analyze peptide modification levels. The results obtained indicate that LplA-induced modifications are specific lysines, particularly the light chain Lys188/190 site, which have an increased modification rate compared to chemically induced modifications. This study not only contributes to the understanding of peptide modification, but also presents an improved methodology that promises to stimulate further research in this field. Graphical Abstract