Zymeworks and Gandeeva achieve 2.6 Å resolution on <20 kDa antigen epitope
ZYME•Zymeworks and Gandeeva Therapeutics have partnered to generate cryo-EM data for antibody drug discovery, successfully resolving a flexible antigen under 20 kDa bound to a Zymeworks Fab at 2.6 Å resolution. This near-atomic insight into a nine-amino-acid epitope aims to accelerate AI-driven antibody optimization and lead selection.
1. Partnership Between Zymeworks and Gandeeva
Zymeworks has joined forces with Gandeeva Therapeutics to apply Gandeeva's cryo-EM platform to visualize antibody-antigen interfaces, targeting challenging small and flexible proteins to enhance lead selection and biologics optimization.
2. Structural Breakthrough Achieved
The collaboration resolved a fragment of a flexible antigen under 20 kDa bound to a Zymeworks Fab fragment at 2.6 Å resolution, revealing the nine amino acids comprising the binding epitope while leaving unstructured regions unresolved.
3. Implications for Antibody Development
High-resolution cryo-EM data enables rapid feedback for AI-driven antibody design and experimental validation, potentially accelerating Zymeworks' pipeline of multispecific and antibody-drug conjugate candidates targeting difficult-to-treat diseases.
