Chemical synthesis and evaluation of a backbone-cyclized minimized 2-helix Z-domain

The Z-molecule is a small, engineered IgG-binding affinity protein derived from the immunoglobulin-binding domain B of Staphylococcus aureus protein A. The Z-domain consists of 58 amino acids forming a well-defined antiparallel three-helix structure. Two of the three helices are involved in ligand binding, whereas the third helix provides structural support to the three-helix bundle. The small size and the stable three-helix structure are two attractive properties comprised in the Z-domain, but a further reduction in size of the protein is valuable for several reasons. Reduction in size facilitates synthetic production of any protein-based molecule, which is beneficial from an economical viewpoint. In addition, a smaller protein is easier to manipulate through chemical modifications. By omitting the third stabilizing helix from the Z-domain and joining the N- and C-termini by a native peptide bond, the affinity protein obtains the advantageous properties of a smaller scaffold and in addition becomes resistant to exoproteases. We here demonstrate the synthesis and evaluation of a novel cyclic two-helix Z-domain. The molecule has retained affinity for its target protein, is resistant to heat treatment, and lacks both N- and C-termini.