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Gleixner J, Kopanchuk S, Grätz L, Tahk MJ, Laasfeld T, Veikšina S, Höring C, Gattor AO, Humphrys LJ, Müller C, Archipowa N, Köckenberger J, Heinrich MR, Kutta RJ, Rinken A, Keller M. Illuminating Neuropeptide Y Y 4 Receptor Binding: Fluorescent Cyclic Peptides with Subnanomolar Binding Affinity as Novel Molecular Tools. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1142-1168. [PMID: 38633582 PMCID: PMC11019746 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y4 receptor (Y4R), a member of the family of NPY receptors, is physiologically activated by the linear 36-amino acid peptide pancreatic polypeptide (PP). The Y4R is involved in the regulation of various biological processes, most importantly pancreatic secretion, gastrointestinal motility, and regulation of food intake. So far, Y4R binding affinities have been mostly studied in radiochemical binding assays. Except for a few fluorescently labeled PP derivatives, fluorescence-tagged Y4R ligands with high affinity have not been reported. Here, we introduce differently fluorescence-labeled (Sulfo-Cy5, Cy3B, Py-1, Py-5) Y4R ligands derived from recently reported cyclic hexapeptides showing picomolar Y4R binding affinity. With pKi values of 9.22-9.71 (radioligand competition binding assay), all fluorescent ligands (16-19) showed excellent Y4R affinity. Y4R saturation binding, binding kinetics, and competition binding with reference ligands were studied using different fluorescence-based methods: flow cytometry (Sulfo-Cy5, Cy3B, and Py-1 label), fluorescence anisotropy (Cy3B label), and NanoBRET (Cy3B label) binding assays. These experiments confirmed the high binding affinity to Y4R (equilibrium pKd: 9.02-9.9) and proved the applicability of the probes for fluorescence-based Y4R competition binding studies and imaging techniques such as single-receptor molecule tracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Gleixner
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sergei Kopanchuk
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maris-Johanna Tahk
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Laasfeld
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Santa Veikšina
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Carina Höring
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Albert O. Gattor
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Laura J. Humphrys
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nataliya Archipowa
- Institute
of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Preclinical
Medicine, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Köckenberger
- Department
of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus R. Heinrich
- Department
of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Roger Jan Kutta
- Institute
of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute
of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Max Keller
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
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2
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Lavogina D, Krõlov MK, Vellama H, Modhukur V, Di Nisio V, Lust H, Eskla KL, Salumets A, Jaal J. Inhibition of epigenetic and cell cycle-related targets in glioblastoma cell lines reveals that onametostat reduces proliferation and viability in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4303. [PMID: 38383756 PMCID: PMC10881536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54707-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The choice of targeted therapies for treatment of glioblastoma patients is currently limited, and most glioblastoma patients die from the disease recurrence. Thus, systematic studies in simplified model systems are required to pinpoint the choice of targets for further exploration in clinical settings. Here, we report screening of 5 compounds targeting epigenetic writers or erasers and 6 compounds targeting cell cycle-regulating protein kinases against 3 glioblastoma cell lines following incubation under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. The viability/proliferation assay indicated that PRMT5 inhibitor onametostat was endowed with high potency under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in cell lines that are strongly MGMT-positive (T98-G), weakly MGMT-positive (U-251 MG), or MGMT-negative (U-87 MG). In U-251 MG and U-87 MG cells, onametostat also affected the spheroid formation at concentrations lower than the currently used chemotherapeutic drug lomustine. In T98-G cell line, treatment with onametostat led to dramatic changes in the transcriptome profile by inducing the cell cycle arrest, suppressing RNA splicing, and down-regulating several major glioblastoma cell survival pathways. Further validation by immunostaining in three cell lines confirmed that onametostat affects cell cycle and causes reduction in nucleolar protein levels. In this way, inhibition of epigenetic targets might represent a viable strategy for glioblastoma treatment even in the case of decreased chemo- and radiation sensitivity, although further studies in clinically more relevant models are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darja Lavogina
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, L. Puusepa 8, 50406, Tartu, Estonia.
- Chair of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Mattias Kaspar Krõlov
- Chair of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Hans Vellama
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vijayachitra Modhukur
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Valentina Di Nisio
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Lust
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, L. Puusepa 8, 50406, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kattri-Liis Eskla
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Andres Salumets
- Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jana Jaal
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, L. Puusepa 8, 50406, Tartu, Estonia.
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncological Therapy, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia.
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3
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Tahk MJ, Laasfeld T, Meriste E, Brea J, Loza MI, Majellaro M, Contino M, Sotelo E, Rinken A. Fluorescence based HTS-compatible ligand binding assays for dopamine D3 receptors in baculovirus preparations and live cells. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1119157. [PMID: 37006609 PMCID: PMC10062709 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1119157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that are connected to severe neurological disorders. The development of new ligands targeting these receptors enables gaining a deeper insight into the receptor functioning, including binding mechanisms, kinetics and oligomerization. Novel fluorescent probes allow the development of more efficient, cheaper, reliable and scalable high-throughput screening systems, which speeds up the drug development process. In this study, we used a novel Cy3B labelled commercially available fluorescent ligand CELT-419 for developing dopamine D3 receptor-ligand binding assays with fluorescence polarization and quantitative live cell epifluorescence microscopy. The fluorescence anisotropy assay using 384-well plates achieved Z’ value of 0.71, which is suitable for high-throughput screening of ligand binding. The assay can also be used to determine the kinetics of both the fluorescent ligand as well as some reference unlabeled ligands. Furthermore, CELT-419 was also used with live HEK293-D3R cells in epifluorescence microscopy imaging for deep-learning-based ligand binding quantification. This makes CELT-419 quite a universal fluorescence probe which has the potential to be also used in more advanced microscopy techniques resulting in more comparable studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tõnis Laasfeld
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Elo Meriste
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jose Brea
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | - Maria Isabel Loza
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | - Maria Majellaro
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
- Celtarys Research S.L., Santiago, Spain
| | - Marialessandra Contino
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica e Materiais Moleculares (CiQUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- *Correspondence: Ago Rinken,
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4
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Tahk MJ, Torp J, Ali MAS, Fishman D, Parts L, Grätz L, Müller C, Keller M, Veiksina S, Laasfeld T, Rinken A. Live-cell microscopy or fluorescence anisotropy with budded baculoviruses-which way to go with measuring ligand binding to M 4 muscarinic receptors? Open Biol 2022; 12:220019. [PMID: 35674179 PMCID: PMC9175271 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has been associated with alcohol and cocaine abuse, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia which makes it an interesting drug target. For many GPCRs, the high-affinity fluorescence ligands have expanded the options for high-throughput screening of drug candidates and serve as useful tools in fundamental receptor research. Here, we explored two TAMRA-labelled fluorescence ligands, UR-MK342 and UR-CG072, for development of assays for studying ligand-binding properties to M4 receptor. Using budded baculovirus particles as M4 receptor preparation and fluorescence anisotropy method, we measured the affinities and binding kinetics of both fluorescence ligands. Using the fluorescence ligands as reporter probes, the binding affinities of unlabelled ligands could be determined. Based on these results, we took a step towards a more natural system and developed a method using live CHO-K1-hM4R cells and automated fluorescence microscopy suitable for the routine determination of unlabelled ligand affinities. For quantitative image analysis, we developed random forest and deep learning-based pipelines for cell segmentation. The pipelines were integrated into the user-friendly open-source Aparecium software. Both image analysis methods were suitable for measuring fluorescence ligand saturation binding and kinetics as well as for screening binding affinities of unlabelled ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris-Johanna Tahk
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jane Torp
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mohammed A. S. Ali
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Dmytro Fishman
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Leopold Parts
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Keller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Santa Veiksina
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tõnis Laasfeld
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Narva Street 20, 51009 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
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Lingasamy P, Põšnograjeva K, Kopanchuk S, Tobi A, Rinken A, General IJ, Asciutto EK, Teesalu T. PL1 Peptide Engages Acidic Surfaces on Tumor-Associated Fibronectin and Tenascin Isoforms to Trigger Cellular Uptake. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13121998. [PMID: 34959279 PMCID: PMC8707168 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13121998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is a high-capacity target for the precision delivery of affinity ligand-guided drugs and imaging agents. Recently, we developed a PL1 peptide (sequence: PPRRGLIKLKTS) for systemic targeting of malignant ECM. Here, we map the dynamics of PL1 binding to its receptors Fibronectin Extra Domain B (FN-EDB) and Tenascin C C-isoform (TNC-C) by computational modeling and cell-free binding studies on mutated receptor proteins, and study cellular binding and internalization of PL1 nanoparticles in cultured cells. Molecular dynamics simulation and docking analysis suggested that the engagement of PL1 peptide with both receptors is primarily driven by electrostatic interactions. Substituting acidic amino acid residues with neutral amino acids at predicted PL1 binding sites in FN-EDB (D52N-D49N-D12N) and TNC-C (D39N-D45N) resulted in the loss of binding of PL1 nanoparticles. Remarkably, PL1-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) were not only deposited on the target ECM but bound the cells and initiated a robust cellular uptake via a pathway resembling macropinocytosis. Our studies establish the mode of engagement of the PL1 peptide with its receptors and suggest applications for intracellular delivery of nanoscale payloads. The outcomes of this work can be used for the development of PL1-derived peptides with improved stability, affinity, and specificity for precision targeting of the tumor ECM and malignant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Lingasamy
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.L.); (K.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Kristina Põšnograjeva
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.L.); (K.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Sergei Kopanchuk
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (S.K.); (A.R.)
| | - Allan Tobi
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.L.); (K.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Ago Rinken
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (S.K.); (A.R.)
| | - Ignacio J. General
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA;
| | - Eliana K. Asciutto
- School of Science and Technology, National University of San Martin (UNSAM), ICIFI and CONICET, 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín 1650, Argentina;
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (P.L.); (K.P.); (A.T.)
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA;
- Correspondence: Estonia
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