Addressable enzymes as protein therapeutics

Abstract

Adzymes are ‘addressable enzymes’ containing an address domain that binds to a target molecule, and a catalytic domain that degrades or modifies the target. Adzymes are principally designed for the catalytic degradation of bioactive polypeptides, for example, inflammatory mediators. A well-characterised, functional example of an adzyme contains human mesotrypsin as the catalytic domain in fusion with a TNF-α binding protein. Adzymes represent a new generation of protein therapeutics with significant untapped potential, which warrants additional studies to demonstrate in vivo feasibility.