1
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Chellappan S. Smoking Cessation after Cancer Diagnosis and Enhanced Therapy Response: Mechanisms and Significance. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:9956-9969. [PMID: 36547196 PMCID: PMC9776692 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29120782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The adverse effects of smoking on human health have been recognized for several decades, especially in the context of cancer. The ability of tobacco smoke components, including tobacco-specific carcinogens and additive compounds such as nicotine, to initiate or promote tumor growth have been described in hundreds of studies. These investigations have revealed the tumor-promoting activities of nicotine and other tobacco smoke components and have also recognized the ability of these agents to suppress the efficacy of cancer therapy; it is now clear that smoking can reduce the efficacy of most of the widely used therapeutic modalities, including immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Several studies examined if continued smoking after cancer diagnosis affected therapy response; it was found that while never smokers or non-smokers had the best response to therapy, those who quit smoking at the time of diagnosis had higher overall survival and reduced side-effects than those who continued to smoke. These studies also revealed the multiple mechanisms via which smoking enhances the growth and survival of tumors while suppressing therapy-induced cell death. In conclusion, smoking cessation during the course of cancer therapy markedly increases the chances of survival and the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikumar Chellappan
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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2
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Xu P, Xiong Y, Liu Y, Yu S, Zhangsun D, Wu Y, Luo S. Degradation kinetics of α-conotoxin TxID. FEBS Open Bio 2019; 9:1561-1572. [PMID: 31278882 PMCID: PMC6722883 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
α‐Conotoxin (CTx) TxID is a potent α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist that has been suggested as a potential drug candidate to treat addiction and small cell lung cancer. The function and structure of TxID have been well‐studied, but analyses of its stability have not previously been reported. The purpose of this study was to analyze the stability and forced degradation of TxID under various conditions: acid, alkali, water hydrolysis, oxidation, light, thiols, temperature, ionic strength and buffer pH. Different degradation products were formed under various conditions, and the degradation patterns of TxID showed pseudo‐first‐order kinetics. TxID degraded slowest at pH 3 within a pH range of 2–8. The major degradation products were analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and the activity of the main product with α3β4 nAChR was analyzed using electrophysiological methods. Our analysis of TxID stability may aid the selection of appropriate conditions for peptide production, packaging and storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yang Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yiqiao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Shurun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Dongting Zhangsun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Sulan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources of Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, School of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
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3
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Wen J, Hung A. Effects of C-Terminal Carboxylation on α-Conotoxin LsIA Interactions with Human α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: Molecular Simulation Studies. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17040206. [PMID: 30987002 PMCID: PMC6521072 DOI: 10.3390/md17040206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
α-Conotoxins selectively bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which are therapeutic targets due to their important role in signaling transmission in excitable cells. A previous experimental study has demonstrated that carboxylation of the C-terminal of α-conotoxin LsIA reduces its potency to inhibit human α7 nAChR relative to naturally amidated LsIA. However, little is known about the contribution of conformational changes in the receptor and interactions, induced by C-terminal amidation/carboxylation of conotoxins, to selective binding to nAChRs, since most conotoxins and some disulfide-rich peptides from other conotoxin subfamilies possess a naturally amidated C-terminal. In this study, we employ homology modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to propose the determinants for differential interactions between amidated and carboxylated LsIAs with α7 nAChR. Our findings indicate an overall increased number of contacts favored by binding of amidated LsIA versus its carboxylated counterpart. Toxin-receptor pairwise interactions, which may play a role in enhancing the potency of the former, include ARG10-TRP77, LEU141 and CYS17-GLN79 via persistent hydrogen bonds and cation-π interactions, which are weakened in the carboxylated form due to a strong intramolecular salt-bridge formed by ARG10 and carboxylated C-terminus. The binding of amidated LsIA also induces enhanced movements in loop C and the juxtamembrane Cys-loop that are closely associated with receptor function. Additionally, the impacts of binding of LsIA on the overall structure and inter-subunit contacts were examined using inter-residue network analysis, suggesting a clockwise tilting of the α7 C and F loops upon binding to carboxylated LsIA, which is absent for amidated LsIA binding. The predicted molecular mechanism of LsIA binding to the α7 receptor may provide new insights into the important role of the C-terminal in the binding potency of conotoxins at neuronal nAChRs for pharmacological purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jierong Wen
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC3001, Australia.
| | - Andrew Hung
- School of Science, College of Science, Engineering and Health, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC3001, Australia.
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4
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Ning J, Li R, Ren J, Zhangsun D, Zhu X, Wu Y, Luo S. Alanine-Scanning Mutagenesis of α-Conotoxin GI Reveals the Residues Crucial for Activity at the Muscle Acetylcholine Receptor. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16120507. [PMID: 30551685 PMCID: PMC6315591 DOI: 10.3390/md16120507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been pursued as a potential target of several diseases, including myogenic disorders, muscle dystrophies and myasthenia gravis, etc. α-conotoxin GI isolated from Conus geographus selectively and potently inhibited the muscle-type nAChRs which can be developed as a tool to study them. Herein, alanine scanning mutagenesis was used to reveal the structure–activity relationship (SAR) between GI and mouse α1β1δε nAChRs. The Pro5, Gly8, Arg9, and Tyr11 were proved to be the critical residues for receptor inhibiting as the alanine (Ala) replacement led to a significant potency loss on mouse α1β1δε nAChR. On the contrary, substituting Asn4, His10 and Ser12 with Ala respectively did not affect its activity. Interestingly, the [E1A] GI analogue exhibited a three-fold potency for mouse α1β1δε nAChR, whereas it obviously decreased potency at rat α9α10 nAChR compared to wildtype GI. Molecular dynamic simulations also suggest that loop2 of GI significantly affects the interaction with α1β1δε nAChR, and Tyr11 of GI is a critical residue binding with three hydrophobic amino acids of the δ subunit, including Leu93, Tyr95 and Leu103. Our research elucidates the interaction of GI and mouse α1β1δε nAChR in detail that will help to develop the novel analogues of GI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong Ning
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Rui Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Jie Ren
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Dongting Zhangsun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Xiaopeng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Yong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
| | - Sulan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Biological Resources, Ministry of Education, Key Lab for Marine Drugs of Haikou, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, Hainan, China.
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5
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Chiodo L, Malliavin TE, Giuffrida S, Maragliano L, Cottone G. Closed-Locked and Apo-Resting State Structures of the Human α7 Nicotinic Receptor: A Computational Study. J Chem Inf Model 2018; 58:2278-2293. [PMID: 30359518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.8b00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, belonging to the Cys-loop superfamily of ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs), are membrane proteins present in neurons and at neuromuscular junctions. They are responsible for signal transmission, and their function is regulated by neurotransmitters, agonists, and antagonists drugs. A detailed knowledge of their conformational transition in response to ligand binding is critical to understanding the basis of ligand-receptor interaction, in view of new pharmacological approaches to control receptor activity. However, the scarcity of experimentally derived structures of human channels makes this perspective extremely challenging. To contribute overcoming this issue, we have recently reported structural models for the open and the desensitized states of the human α7 nicotinic receptor. Here, we provide all-atom structural models of the same receptor in two different nonconductive states. The first structure, built via homology modeling and relaxed with extensive Molecular Dynamics simulations, represents the receptor bound to the natural antagonist α-conotoxin ImI. After comparison with available experimental data and computational models of other eukaryotic LGICs, we deem it consistent with the "closed-locked" state. The second model, obtained with simulations from the spontaneous relaxation of the open, agonist-bound α7 structure after ligand removal, recapitulates the characteristics of the apo-resting state of the receptor. These results add to our previous work on the active and desensitized state conformations, contributing to the structural characterization of the conformational landscape of the human α7 receptor and suggesting benchmarks to discriminate among conformations found in experiments or in simulations of LGICs. In particular key interactions at the interface between the extracellular domain and the transmembrane domain are identified, that could be critical to the α7 receptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Chiodo
- Department of Engineering , Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome , Via Á. del Portillo 21 , 00128 Rome , Italy
| | - Thérèse E Malliavin
- Institut Pasteur and CNRS UMR 3528, Unité de Bioinformatique Structurale , 25-28 rue du Dr Roux , 75015 Paris , France.,Centre de Bioinformatique, Biostatistique et Biologie Intégrative , Institut Pasteur and CNRS USR 3756 , 25-28 rue du Dr Roux , 75015 Paris , France
| | - Sergio Giuffrida
- Department of Physics and Chemistry , University of Palermo , Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17 , 90128 Palermo , Italy
| | - Luca Maragliano
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology (NSYN@UniGe) , Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10 , 16132 Genoa , Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino , Largo Rosanna Benzi 10 , 16132 Genoa , Italy
| | - Grazia Cottone
- Department of Physics and Chemistry , University of Palermo , Viale delle Scienze Ed. 17 , 90128 Palermo , Italy
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6
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Abraham N, Lewis RJ. Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Modulators from Cone Snails. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:E208. [PMID: 29899286 PMCID: PMC6024932 DOI: 10.3390/md16060208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine cone snails are a large family of gastropods that have evolved highly potent venoms for predation and defense. The cone snail venom has exceptional molecular diversity in neuropharmacologically active compounds, targeting a range of receptors, ion channels, and transporters. These conotoxins have helped to dissect the structure and function of many of these therapeutically significant targets in the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as unravelling the complex cellular mechanisms modulated by these receptors and ion channels. This review provides an overview of α-conotoxins targeting neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The structure and activity of both classical and non-classical α-conotoxins are discussed, along with their contributions towards understanding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Abraham
- IMB Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Richard J Lewis
- IMB Centre for Pain Research, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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7
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Hung A, Kuyucak S, Schroeder CI, Kaas Q. Modelling the interactions between animal venom peptides and membrane proteins. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:20-31. [PMID: 28778835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The active components of animal venoms are mostly peptide toxins, which typically target ion channels and receptors of both the central and peripheral nervous system, interfering with action potential conduction and/or synaptic transmission. The high degree of sequence conservation of their molecular targets makes a range of these toxins active at human receptors. The high selectivity and potency displayed by some of these toxins have prompted their use as pharmacological tools as well as drugs or drug leads. Molecular modelling has played an essential role in increasing our molecular-level understanding of the activity and specificity of animal toxins, as well as engineering them for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. This review focuses on the biological insights gained from computational and experimental studies of animal venom toxins interacting with membranes and ion channels. A host of recent X-ray crystallography and electron-microscopy structures of the toxin targets has contributed to a dramatic increase in the accuracy of the molecular models of toxin binding modes greatly advancing this exciting field of study. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hung
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Serdar Kuyucak
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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8
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Banerjee J, Yongye AB, Chang YP, Gyanda R, Medina-Franco JL, Armishaw CJ. Design and synthesis of α-conotoxin GID analogues as selective α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists. Biopolymers 2016; 102:78-87. [PMID: 24122487 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is an important target for currently approved smoking cessation therapeutics. However, the development of highly selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists remains a significant challenge. α-Conotoxin GID is an antagonist of α4β2 nAChRs, though it is significantly more potent toward the α3β2 and α7 subtypes. With the goal of obtaining further insights into α-conotoxin GID/nAChR interactions that could lead to the design of GID analogues with improved affinity for α4β2 nAChRs, we built a homology model of the GID/α4β2 complex using an X-ray co-crystal structure of an α-conotoxin/acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) complex. Several additional interactions that could potentially enhance the affinity of GID for α4β2 nAChRs were observed in our model, which led to the design and synthesis of 22 GID analogues. Seven analogues displayed inhibitory activity toward α4β2 nAChRs that was comparable to GID. Significantly, both GID[A10S] and GID[V13I] demonstrated moderately improved selectivity toward α4β2 over α3β2 when compared with GID, while GID[V18N] exhibited no measurable inhibitory activity for the α3β2 subtype, yet retained inhibitory activity for α4β2. In this regard, GID[V18N] is the most α4β2 nAChR selective α-conotoxin analogue identified to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayati Banerjee
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987
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9
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Jin AH, Vetter I, Himaya SWA, Alewood PF, Lewis RJ, Dutertre S. Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom. Proteomics 2015; 15:4030-40. [PMID: 26506909 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201500220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Most venomous predators have evolved complex venom primarily to immobilize their prey and secondarily to defend against predators. In a new paradigm, carnivorous marine gastropods of the genus Conus were shown to rapidly and reversibly switch between two types of venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimulus, suggesting that the defensive use of venom may have a more important role in venom evolution and specialization than previously thought. To further investigate this phenomenon, the defensive repertoire of a vermivorous species, Conus planorbis, was deciphered using second-generation sequencing coupled to high-throughput proteomics. The venom gland transcriptome of C. planorbis revealed 182 unique conotoxin precursors from 25 gene superfamilies, with superfamily T dominating in terms of read and paralog numbers. Analysis of the defense-evoked venom revealed that this vermivorous species uses a similarly complex arsenal to deter aggressors as more recently evolved fish- and mollusk-hunting species, with MS/MS validating 23 conotoxin sequences from six superfamilies. Pharmacological characterization of the defensive venom on human receptors identified the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as a primary target. This work provides the first insights into the composition and biological activity of specifically evolved defensive venoms in vermivorous cone snails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Hua Jin
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Siddhihalu W A Himaya
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sébastien Dutertre
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, Université Montpellier - CNRS, Montpellier, France
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10
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Vehovszky Á, Farkas A, Ács A, Stoliar O, Székács A, Mörtl M, Győri J. Neonicotinoid insecticides inhibit cholinergic neurotransmission in a molluscan (Lymnaea stagnalis) nervous system. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2015; 167:172-179. [PMID: 26340121 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are highly potent and selective systemic insecticides, but their widespread use also has a growing impact on non-target animals and contaminates the environment, including surface waters. We tested the neonicotinoid insecticides commercially available in Hungary (acetamiprid, Mospilan; imidacloprid, Kohinor; thiamethoxam, Actara; clothianidin, Apacs; thiacloprid, Calypso) on cholinergic synapses that exist between the VD4 and RPeD1 neurons in the central nervous system of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis. In the concentration range used (0.01-1 mg/ml), neither chemical acted as an acetylcholine (ACh) agonist; instead, both displayed antagonist activity, inhibiting the cholinergic excitatory components of the VD4-RPeD1 connection. Thiacloprid (0.01 mg/ml) blocked almost 90% of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), while the less effective thiamethoxam (0.1 mg/ml) reduced the synaptic responses by about 15%. The ACh-evoked membrane responses of the RPeD1 neuron were similarly inhibited by the neonicotinoids, confirming that the same ACh receptor (AChR) target was involved. We conclude that neonicotinoids act on nicotinergic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the snail CNS. This has been established previously in the insect CNS; however, our data indicate differences in the background mechanism or the nAChR binding site in the snail. Here, we provide the first results concerning neonicotinoid-related toxic effects on the neuronal connections in the molluscan nervous system. Aquatic animals, including molluscs, are at direct risk while facing contaminated surface waters, and snails may provide a suitable model for further studies of the behavioral/neuronal consequences of intoxication by neonicotinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Á Vehovszky
- Department of Experimental Zoology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, H-8237 Tihany, POB 35, Hungary.
| | - A Farkas
- Department of Experimental Zoology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, H-8237 Tihany, POB 35, Hungary
| | - A Ács
- Department of Experimental Zoology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, H-8237 Tihany, POB 35, Hungary
| | - O Stoliar
- Research Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ternopil National Pedagogical University, M. Kryvonosa Str., 2, Ternopil 46027, Ukraine
| | - A Székács
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Agro-Environmental Research Institute, National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, H-1022 Budapest, Herman O. u. 15, Hungary
| | - M Mörtl
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Agro-Environmental Research Institute, National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, H-1022 Budapest, Herman O. u. 15, Hungary
| | - J Győri
- Department of Experimental Zoology, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, H-8237 Tihany, POB 35, Hungary
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11
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Upert G, Mourier G, Pastor A, Verdenaud M, Alili D, Servent D, Gilles N. High-throughput production of two disulphide-bridge toxins. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 50:8408-11. [PMID: 24947561 DOI: 10.1039/c4cc02679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
A quick and efficient production method compatible with high-throughput screening was developed using 36 toxins belonging to four different families of two disulphide-bridge toxins. Final toxins were characterized using HPLC co-elution, CD and pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Upert
- CEA, DSV, iBiTec-S, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines (SIMOPRO), CEA Saclay, Gif sur Yvette F-91191, France.
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12
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Lebbe EKM, Peigneur S, Maiti M, Mille BG, Devi P, Ravichandran S, Lescrinier E, Waelkens E, D'Souza L, Herdewijn P, Tytgat J. Discovery of a new subclass of α-conotoxins in the venom of Conus australis. Toxicon 2014; 91:145-54. [PMID: 25194747 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2014.08.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cone snails (Conus sp.) are poisonous animals that can be found in all oceans where they developed a venomous strategy to prey or to defend. The venom of these species contains an undeniable source of unique and potent pharmacologically active compounds. Their peptide compounds, called conotoxins, are not only interesting for the development of new pharmaceutical ligands, but they are also useful for studying their broad spectrum of targets. One conotoxin family in particular, the α-conotoxins, acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) which dysfunctions play important roles in pathologies such as epilepsy, myasthenic syndromes, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Here we define a new subclass of the α-conotoxin family. We purified the venom of a yet unexplored cone snail species, i.e. Conus australis, and we isolated a 16-amino acid peptide named α-conotoxin AusIA. The peptide has the typical α-conotoxin CC-Xm-C-Xn-C framework, but both loops (m/n) contain 5 amino acids, which has never been described before. Using conventional electrophysiology we investigated the response of synthetically made globular (I-III, II-IV) and ribbon (I-IV, II-III) AusIA to different nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The α7 nAChR was the only receptor found to be blocked with a similar potency by both peptide-configurations. This suggests that both α5/5 conotoxin isomers might be present in the venom gland of C. australis. NMR spectroscopy showed that no secondary structures define the peptides' three-dimensional topology. Moreover, the ribbon configuration, which is generally considered to be non-native, is more stable than the globular isomer. Accordingly, our findings show relevancy concerning the α-conotoxin classification which might be helpful in the design of novel therapeutic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline K M Lebbe
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, O&N2-P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, O&N2-P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mohitosh Maiti
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Dept. of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bea G Mille
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, O&N2-P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Prabha Devi
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403 004 Goa, India
| | | | - Eveline Lescrinier
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Dept. of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Etienne Waelkens
- Laboratorium voor Proteïne Fosforylatie en Proteomics, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, O&N I-P.O. Box 901, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lisette D'Souza
- CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403 004 Goa, India
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Dept. of Pharmaceutical & Pharmacological Sciences, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven-KU Leuven, O&N2-P.O. Box 922, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Akondi KB, Muttenthaler M, Dutertre S, Kaas Q, Craik DJ, Lewis RJ, Alewood PF. Discovery, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of conotoxins. Chem Rev 2014; 114:5815-47. [PMID: 24720541 PMCID: PMC7610532 DOI: 10.1021/cr400401e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sébastien Dutertre
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Richard J Lewis
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul F Alewood
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
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14
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Lykhmus O, Gergalova G, Koval L, Zhmak M, Komisarenko S, Skok M. Mitochondria express several nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes to control various pathways of apoptosis induction. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 53:246-52. [PMID: 24880090 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors control survival, proliferation and cytokine release in non-excitable cells. Previously we reported that α7 nicotinic receptors were present in the outer membranes of mouse liver mitochondria to regulate mitochondrial pore formation and cytochrome c release. Here we used a wide spectrum of nicotinic receptor subunit-specific antibodies to show that mitochondria express several nicotinic receptor subtypes in a tissue-specific manner: brain and liver mitochondria contain α7β2, α4β2 and less α3β2 nicotinic receptors, while mitochondria from the lung express preferentially α3β4 receptor subtype; all of them are non-covalently connected to voltage-dependent anion channels and control cytochrome c release. By using selective ligands of different nicotinic receptor subtypes (acetylcholine (1 μM) or dihydro-β-erythroidine (1 μM) for α4β2), conotoxin MII (1 nM) for α3β2, MLA (50 nM) for α7β2 and acetylcholine (10 μM) for all subtypes) and apoptogenic agents triggering different mitochondrial signaling pathways (1 μM wortmannin, 90 μM Ca(2+) or 0.5 mM H₂O₂) it was found that α7β2 receptors affect mainly PI₃K/Akt pathway, while α3β2 and α4β2 nAChRs also significantly influence CaKMII- and Src-dependent pathways. It is concluded that cholinergic regulation in mitochondria is realized through multiple nicotinic receptor subtypes, which control various pathways inducing mitochondrial type of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Lykhmus
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 9, Leontovicha str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Galyna Gergalova
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 9, Leontovicha str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Lyudmyla Koval
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 9, Leontovicha str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Maxim Zhmak
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 16/10, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 117997 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Sergiy Komisarenko
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 9, Leontovicha str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Maryna Skok
- Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, 9, Leontovicha str., 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine.
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15
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Lebbe EKM, Peigneur S, Maiti M, Devi P, Ravichandran S, Lescrinier E, Ulens C, Waelkens E, D'Souza L, Herdewijn P, Tytgat J. Structure-function elucidation of a new α-conotoxin, Lo1a, from Conus longurionis. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:9573-83. [PMID: 24567324 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.556175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Conotoxins are peptide toxins found in the venom of marine cone snails and potent antagonists of various subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). nAChRs are cholinergic receptors forming ligand-gated ion channels in the plasma membranes of certain neurons and the neuromuscular junction. Because nAChRs have an important role in regulating transmitter release, cell excitability, and neuronal integration, nAChR dysfunctions have been implicated in a variety of severe pathologies such as epilepsy, myasthenic syndromes, schizophrenia, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease. To expand the knowledge concerning cone snail toxins, we examined the venom of Conus longurionis. We isolated an 18-amino acid peptide named α-conotoxin Lo1a, which is active on nAChRs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a conotoxin from this species. The peptide was characterized by electrophysiological screening against several types of cloned nAChRs expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The three-dimensional solution structure of the α-conotoxin Lo1a was determined by NMR spectroscopy. Lo1a, a member of the α4/7 family, blocks the response to acetylcholine in oocytes expressing α7 nAChRs with an IC50 of 3.24 ± 0.7 μM. Furthermore, Lo1a shows a high selectivity for neuronal versus muscle subtype nAChRs. Because Lo1a has an unusual C terminus, we designed two mutants, Lo1a-ΔD and Lo1a-RRR, to investigate the influence of the C-terminal residue. Lo1a-ΔD has a C-terminal Asp deletion, whereas in Lo1a-RRR, a triple-Arg tail replaces the Asp. They blocked the neuronal nAChR α7 with a lower IC50 value, but remarkably, both adopted affinity for the muscle subtype α1β1δε.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline K M Lebbe
- From Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N2, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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16
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Ponce D, López-Vera E, Aguilar MB, Sánchez-Rodríguez J. Preliminary results of the in vivo and in vitro characterization of a tentacle venom fraction from the jellyfish Aurelia aurita. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2420-33. [PMID: 24322597 PMCID: PMC3873694 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5122420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotoxic effects produced by a tentacle venom extract and a fraction were analyzed and correlated by in vivo and in vitro approaches. The tentacle venom extract exhibited a wide range of protein components (from 24 to >225 kDa) and produced tetanic reactions, flaccid paralysis, and death when injected into crabs. Two chromatography fractions also produced uncontrolled appendix movements and leg stretching. Further electrophysiological characterization demonstrated that one of these fractions potently inhibited ACh-elicited currents mediated by both vertebrate fetal and adult muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) subtypes. Receptor inhibition was concentration-dependent and completely reversible. The calculated IC(50) values were 1.77 μg/μL for fetal and 2.28 μg/μL for adult muscle nAChRs. The bioactive fraction was composed of a major protein component at ~90 kDa and lacked phospholipase A activity. This work represents the first insight into the interaction of jellyfish venom components and muscle nicotinic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Ponce
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico; E-Mail:
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Estuardo López-Vera
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Manuel B. Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Marina, Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Juriquilla 76230, Querétaro, Mexico; E-Mail:
| | - Judith Sánchez-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica Puerto Morelos, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico; E-Mail:
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17
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Heus F, Vonk F, Otvos RA, Bruyneel B, Smit AB, Lingeman H, Richardson M, Niessen WM, Kool J. An efficient analytical platform for on-line microfluidic profiling of neuroactive snake venoms towards nicotinic receptor affinity. Toxicon 2013; 61:112-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2012] [Revised: 10/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Gründer S, Augustinowski K. Toxin binding reveals two open state structures for one acid-sensing ion channel. Channels (Austin) 2012; 6:409-13. [PMID: 22990981 PMCID: PMC3536724 DOI: 10.4161/chan.22154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the three principal conformations of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs)—closed, open and desensitized—only the atomic structure of the desensitized conformation had been known. Two recent papers report the crystal structure of chicken ASIC1 in complex with the spider toxin psalmotoxin 1, and one of these studies finds that, depending on the pH, channels are in two different open conformations. Compared with the desensitized conformation, toxin binding induces only subtle structural changes in the lower part of the large extracellular domain but a complete rearrangement of the two transmembrane domains (TMDs), suggesting that desensitization gating (the transition from open to desensitized) is mainly associated with conformational rearrangements of the TMDs. Moreover, the study reveals how two different arrangements of the TMDs in the open state give rise to ion pores with different selectivity for monovalent cations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Gründer
- Institute of Physiology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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19
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Azam L, McIntosh JM. Molecular basis for the differential sensitivity of rat and human α9α10 nAChRs to α-conotoxin RgIA. J Neurochem 2012; 122:1137-44. [PMID: 22774872 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2012.07867.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be a potential target in pathophysiology of the auditory system, chronic pain, and breast and lung cancers. Alpha-conotoxins, from the predatory marine snail Conus, are potent nicotinic antagonists, some of which are selective for the α9α10 nAChR. Here, we report a two order of magnitude species difference in the potency of α-conotoxin RgIA for the rat versus human α9α10 nAChR. We investigated the molecular mechanism of this difference. Heterologous expression of the rat α9 with the human α10 subunit in Xenopus oocytes resulted in a receptor that was blocked by RgIA with potency similar to that of the rat α9α10 nAChR. Conversely, expression of the human α9 with that of the rat α10 subunit resulted in a receptor that was blocked by RgIA with potency approaching that of the human α9α10 receptor. Systematic substitution of residues found in the human α9 subunit into the homologous position in the rat α9 subunit revealed that a single point mutation, Thr56 to Ile56, primarily accounts for this species difference. Remarkably, although the α9 nAChR subunit has previously been reported to provide the principal (+) binding face for binding of RgIA, Thr56 is located in the (-) complementary binding face.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla Azam
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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20
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Shi GN, Liu YL, Lin HM, Yang SL, Feng YL, Reid PF, Qin ZH. Involvement of cholinergic system in suppression of formalin-induced inflammatory pain by cobratoxin. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2011; 32:1233-8. [PMID: 21841815 PMCID: PMC4010082 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2011.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the analgesic effect of cobratoxin (CTX), a long-chain α-neurotoxin from Thailand cobra venom, in a rat model of formalin-induced inflammatory pain. METHODS Inflammatory pain was induced in SD rats via injecting 5% formalin (50 μL) into the plantar surface of their right hind paw. CTX and other agents were ip administered before formalin injection. The time that the animals spent for licking the injected paw was counted every 5 min for 1 h. RESULTS CTX (25, 34, and 45 μg/kg) exhibited a dose-dependent analgesic effect during the phase 1 (0-15 min) and phase 2 (20-60 min) response induced by formalin. Pretreatment with naloxone (0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg) did not block the analgesic effect of CTX. Pretreatment with atropine at 5 mg/kg, but not at 2.5 mg/kg, antagonized the analgesic effect of CTX. Treatment with the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (3 mg/kg) inhibited the analgesic effects of CTX in Phase 1 and Phase 2 responses, while with the selective α7-nAChR antagonist methyllycaconitine (3 mg/kg) antagonized the effect of CTX only in the Phase 1 response. Treatment with the α7-nAChR agonist PNU282987 (3 mg/kg) significantly reduced the formalin-induced phase 2 pain response, but only slightly reduced the Phase 1 pain response. CONCLUSION The results suggest that CTX exerts an antinociceptive effect in formalin-induced inflammatory pain, which appears to be mediated by mAChR and α7-nAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao-na Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Pharmacy, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yan-li Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Pharmacy, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hai-ming Lin
- Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Pharmacy, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shi-lin Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Pharmacy, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yu-lin Feng
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
| | - Paul F Reid
- ReceptoPharm Inc, Fortlaudale, Florida 33336, USA
| | - Zheng-hong Qin
- Department of Pharmacology, Soochow University School of Pharmacy, Suzhou 215123, China
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21
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Abstract
This review focuses on biologically active entities from invertebrate sources, especially snails. The reader will encounter several categories of compounds from snails including glycosaminoglycans, peptides, proteins (glycoproteins), and enzymes which possess diverse biological activities. Among glycosaminoglycans, acharan sulfate which was isolated from a giant African snail Acahtina fulica is reviewed extensively. Conotoxins which are also called conopeptides are unique peptide mixtures from marine cone snail. Conotoxins are secreted to capture its prey, and currently have the potential to be highly effective drug candidates. One of the conotoxins is now in the market as a pain killer. Proteins as well as glycoproteins in the snail are known to be involved in the host defense process from an attack of diverse pathogens. Carbohydrate-degrading enzymes characterized and purified in snails are introduced to give an insight into the applicability in glycobiology research such as synthesis and structure characterization of glycoconjugates. It seems that simple snails produce very complicated biological compounds which could be an invaluable source in future therapeutics as well as research areas in natural medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youmie Park
- College of Pharmacy, Inje University, 607 Obang-dong, Gimhae, Gyeongnam 621-749, Republic of Korea
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22
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Jacob RB, Bullock CW, Andersen T, McDougal OM. DockoMatic: automated peptide analog creation for high throughput virtual screening. J Comput Chem 2011; 32:2936-41. [PMID: 21717479 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.21864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2010] [Revised: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 05/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this manuscript is threefold: (1) to describe an update to DockoMatic that allows the user to generate cyclic peptide analog structure files based on protein database (pdb) files, (2) to test the accuracy of the peptide analog structure generation utility, and (3) to evaluate the high throughput capacity of DockoMatic. The DockoMatic graphical user interface interfaces with the software program Treepack to create user defined peptide analogs. To validate this approach, DockoMatic produced cyclic peptide analogs were tested for three-dimensional structure consistency and binding affinity against four experimentally determined peptide structure files available in the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics database. The peptides used to evaluate this new functionality were alpha-conotoxins ImI, PnIA, and their published analogs. Peptide analogs were generated by DockoMatic and tested for their ability to bind to X-ray crystal structure models of the acetylcholine binding protein originating from Aplysia californica. The results, consisting of more than 300 simulations, demonstrate that DockoMatic predicts the binding energy of peptide structures to within 3.5 kcal mol(-1), and the orientation of bound ligand compares to within 1.8 Å root mean square deviation for ligand structures as compared to experimental data. Evaluation of high throughput virtual screening capacity demonstrated that Dockomatic can collect, evaluate, and summarize the output of 10,000 AutoDock jobs in less than 2 hours of computational time, while 100,000 jobs requires approximately 15 hours and 1,000,000 jobs is estimated to take up to a week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reed B Jacob
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA
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23
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Taly A, Colas C, Malliavin T, Blondel A, Nilges M, Corringer PJ, Joseph D. Discrimination of agonists versus antagonists of nicotinic ligands based on docking onto AChBP structures. J Mol Graph Model 2011; 30:100-9. [PMID: 21764343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2011.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Numerous high-resolution crystallographic structures of the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP), a molluscan cholinergic protein, homologous to the extracellular domain of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are available. This offers opportunities to model the interaction between various ligands and the acetylcholine binding site. Herein we present a study of the interplay between ligand binding and motions of the C-loop capping the binding site. Nicotinic agonists and antagonists were docked on AChBP X-ray structures. It is shown that the studied agonists and antagonists can be discriminated according to their higher affinities for structures respectively obtained in the presence of agonists or antagonists, highlighting the fact that AChBP structures retain a pharmacological footprint of the compound used in crystallography experiments. A detailed analysis of the binding site cavities suggests that this property is mainly related to the shape of the cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Taly
- Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives, UMR 7199 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 74 Route du Rhin-BP 60024, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France.
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24
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Marquer C, Fruchart-Gaillard C, Letellier G, Marcon E, Mourier G, Zinn-Justin S, Ménez A, Servent D, Gilquin B. Structural model of ligand-G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) complex based on experimental double mutant cycle data: MT7 snake toxin bound to dimeric hM1 muscarinic receptor. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:31661-75. [PMID: 21685390 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.261404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The snake toxin MT7 is a potent and specific allosteric modulator of the human M1 muscarinic receptor (hM1). We previously characterized by mutagenesis experiments the functional determinants of the MT7-hM1 receptor interaction (Fruchart-Gaillard, C., Mourier, G., Marquer, C., Stura, E., Birdsall, N. J., and Servent, D. (2008) Mol. Pharmacol. 74, 1554-1563) and more recently collected evidence indicating that MT7 may bind to a dimeric form of hM1 (Marquer, C., Fruchart-Gaillard, C., Mourier, G., Grandjean, O., Girard, E., le Maire, M., Brown, S., and Servent, D. (2010) Biol. Cell 102, 409-420). To structurally characterize the MT7-hM1 complex, we adopted a strategy combining double mutant cycle experiments and molecular modeling calculations. First, thirty-three ligand-receptor proximities were identified from the analysis of sixty-one double mutant binding affinities. Several toxin residues that are more than 25 Å apart still contact the same residues on the receptor. As a consequence, attempts to satisfy all the restraints by docking the toxin onto a single receptor failed. The toxin was then positioned onto two receptors during five independent flexible docking simulations. The different possible ligand and receptor extracellular loop conformations were described by performing simulations in explicit solvent. All the docking calculations converged to the same conformation of the MT7-hM1 dimer complex, satisfying the experimental restraints and in which (i) the toxin interacts with the extracellular side of the receptor, (ii) the tips of MT7 loops II and III contact one hM1 protomer, whereas the tip of loop I binds to the other protomer, and (iii) the hM1 dimeric interface involves the transmembrane helices TM6 and TM7. These results structurally support the high affinity and selectivity of the MT7-hM1 interaction and highlight the atypical mode of interaction of this allosteric ligand on its G protein-coupled receptor target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Marquer
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale et Radiobiologie, Service de Bioénergétique, Biologie Structurale et Mécanismes (SB2SM), CNRS Unité de Recherche Associée 2096, Gif sur Yvette F-91191, France
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25
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Lovelace ES, Gunasekera S, Alvarmo C, Clark RJ, Nevin ST, Grishin AA, Adams DJ, Craik DJ, Daly NL. Stabilization of α-conotoxin AuIB: influences of disulfide connectivity and backbone cyclization. Antioxid Redox Signal 2011; 14:87-95. [PMID: 20486767 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2009.3068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
α-Conotoxins are peptides isolated from the venom ducts of cone snails that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). They are valuable pharmacological tools and have potential applications for treating a range of conditions in humans, including pain. However, like all peptides, conotoxins are susceptible to degradation, and to enhance their therapeutic potential it is important to elucidate the factors contributing to instability and to develop approaches for improving stability. AuIB is a unique member of the α-conotoxin family because the nonnative "ribbon" disulfide isomer exhibits enhanced activity at the nAChR in rat parasympathetic neurons compared with the native "globular" isomer. Here we show that the ribbon isomer of AuIB is also more resistant to disulfide scrambling, despite having a nonnative connectivity and flexible structure. This resistance to disulfide scrambling does not correlate with overall stability in serum because the ribbon isomer is degraded in human serum more rapidly than the globular isomer. Cyclization via the joining of the N- and C-termini with peptide linkers of four to seven amino acids prevented degradation of the ribbon isomer in serum and stabilized the globular isomers to disulfide scrambling. The linker length used for cyclization strongly affected the relative proportions of the disulfide isomers produced by oxidative folding. Overall, the results of this study provide important insights into factors influencing the stability and oxidative folding of α-conotoxin AuIB and might be valuable in the design of more stable antagonists of nAChRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica S Lovelace
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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26
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Brams M, Gay EA, Sáez JC, Guskov A, van Elk R, van der Schors RC, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Strelkov SV, Smit AB, Yakel JL, Ulens C. Crystal structures of a cysteine-modified mutant in loop D of acetylcholine-binding protein. J Biol Chem 2010; 286:4420-8. [PMID: 21115477 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.188730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Covalent modification of α7 W55C nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) with the cysteine-modifying reagent [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl] methanethiosulfonate (MTSET(+)) produces receptors that are unresponsive to acetylcholine, whereas methyl methanethiolsulfonate (MMTS) produces enhanced acetylcholine-gated currents. Here, we investigate structural changes that underlie the opposite effects of MTSET(+) and MMTS using acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP), a homolog of the extracellular domain of the nAChR. Crystal structures of Y53C AChBP show that MTSET(+)-modification stabilizes loop C in an extended conformation that resembles the antagonist-bound state, which parallels our observation that MTSET(+) produces unresponsive W55C nAChRs. The MMTS-modified mutant in complex with acetylcholine is characterized by a contracted C-loop, similar to other agonist-bound complexes. Surprisingly, we find two acetylcholine molecules bound in the ligand-binding site, which might explain the potentiating effect of MMTS modification in W55C nAChRs. Unexpectedly, we observed in the MMTS-Y53C structure that ten phosphate ions arranged in two rings at adjacent sites are bound in the vestibule of AChBP. We mutated homologous residues in the vestibule of α1 GlyR and observed a reduction in the single channel conductance, suggesting a role of this site in ion permeation. Taken together, our results demonstrate that targeted modification of a conserved aromatic residue in loop D is sufficient for a conformational switch of AChBP and that a defined region in the vestibule of the extracellular domain contributes to ion conduction in anion-selective Cys-loop receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke Brams
- Laboratory of Structural Neurobiology, KULeuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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Armishaw CJ. Synthetic α-conotoxin mutants as probes for studying nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and in the development of novel drug leads. Toxins (Basel) 2010; 2:1471-99. [PMID: 22069647 PMCID: PMC3153239 DOI: 10.3390/toxins2061471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Revised: 05/27/2010] [Accepted: 06/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Conotoxins are peptide neurotoxins isolated from venomous marine cone snails that are potent and selective antagonists for different subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). As such, they are valuable probes for dissecting the role that nAChRs play in nervous system function. In recent years, extensive insight into the binding mechanisms of α-conotoxins with nAChRs at the molecular level has aided in the design of synthetic analogs with improved pharmacological properties. This review examines the structure-activity relationship studies involving α-conotoxins as research tools for studying nAChRs in the central and peripheral nervous systems and their use towards the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Armishaw
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Pkwy, Port St Lucie, FL 34987, USA.
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28
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Aráoz R, Vilariño N, Botana LM, Molgó J. Ligand-binding assays for cyanobacterial neurotoxins targeting cholinergic receptors. Anal Bioanal Chem 2010; 397:1695-704. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-3533-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Revised: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 01/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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29
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Specific membrane binding of neurotoxin II can facilitate its delivery to acetylcholine receptor. Biophys J 2009; 97:2089-97. [PMID: 19804741 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2009] [Revised: 06/26/2009] [Accepted: 07/24/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The action of three-finger snake alpha-neurotoxins at their targets, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR), is widely studied because of its biological and pharmacological relevance. Most such studies deal only with ligands and receptor models; however, for many ligand/receptor systems the membrane environment may affect ligand binding. In this work we focused on binding of short-chain alpha-neurotoxin II (NTII) from Naja oxiana to the native-like lipid bilayer, and the possible role played by the membrane in delivering the toxin to nAChR. Experimental (NMR and mutagenesis) and molecular modeling (molecular-dynamics simulation) studies revealed a specific interaction of the toxin molecule with the phosphatidylserine headgroup of lipids, resulting in the proper topology of NTII on lipid bilayers favoring the attack of nAChR. Analysis of short-chain alpha-neurotoxins showed that most of them possess a high positive charge and sequence homology in the lipid-binding motif of NTII, implying that interaction with the membrane surrounding nAChR may be common for the toxin family.
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30
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Yakel JL. Gating of nicotinic ACh receptors: latest insights into ligand binding and function. J Physiol 2009; 588:597-602. [PMID: 19917567 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.182691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are in the superfamily of cys-loop receptors, and are widely expressed in the nervous system where they participate in a variety of physiological functions, including regulating excitability and neurotransmitter release, as well as neuromuscular contraction. Members of the cys-loop family of receptors, which also includes the molluscan ACh-binding protein (AChBP), a soluble protein that is analogous to the extracellular ligand-binding domain of the cys-loop receptors, are pentameric assemblies of five subunits, with each subunit arranged around a central pore. The binding of ACh to the extracellular interface between two subunits induces channel opening. With the recent 4 A resolution of the Torpedo nAChR, and the crystal structure of the AChBP, much has been learned about the structure of the ligand-binding domain and the channel pore, as well as major structural rearrangements that may confer channel opening, including a major rearrangement of the C-loop within the ligand binding pocket, and perhaps other regions including the F-loop (the beta8-beta9 linker), the beta1-beta2 linker and the cys-loop. Here I will review the latest findings from my lab aimed at a further understanding of the function of the neuronal nAChR channels (and in particular the role of desensitization), and our search for novel AChBP species that may lead to a further understanding of the function of the cys-loop receptor family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrel L Yakel
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Department of Health and Human Services, PO Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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31
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Bartos M, Corradi J, Bouzat C. Structural basis of activation of cys-loop receptors: the extracellular-transmembrane interface as a coupling region. Mol Neurobiol 2009; 40:236-52. [PMID: 19859835 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-009-8084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2009] [Accepted: 09/22/2009] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cys-loop receptors mediate rapid transmission throughout the nervous system by converting a chemical signal into an electric one. They are pentameric proteins with an extracellular domain that carries the transmitter binding sites and a transmembrane region that forms the ion pore. Their essential function is to couple the binding of the agonist at the extracellular domain to the opening of the ion pore. How the structural changes elicited by agonist binding are propagated through a distance of 50 A to the gate is therefore central for the understanding of the receptor function. A step forward toward the identification of the structures involved in gating has been given by the recently elucidated high-resolution structures of Cys-loop receptors and related proteins. The extracellular-transmembrane interface has attracted attention because it is a structural transition zone where beta-sheets from the extracellular domain merge with alpha-helices from the transmembrane domain. Within this zone, several regions form a network that relays structural changes from the binding site toward the pore, and therefore, this interface controls the beginning and duration of a synaptic response. In this review, the most recent findings on residues and pairwise interactions underlying channel gating are discussed, the main focus being on the extracellular-transmembrane interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Bartos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas, UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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32
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Nicotinic receptors: allosteric transitions and therapeutic targets in the nervous system. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2009; 8:733-50. [PMID: 19721446 DOI: 10.1038/nrd2927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinic receptors - a family of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine - are among the most well understood allosteric membrane proteins from a structural and functional perspective. There is also considerable interest in modulating nicotinic receptors to treat nervous-system disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and tobacco addiction. This article describes both recent advances in our understanding of the assembly, activity and conformational transitions of nicotinic receptors, as well as developments in the therapeutic application of nicotinic receptor ligands, with the aim of aiding novel drug discovery by bridging the gap between these two rapidly developing fields.
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Kasheverov IE, Zhmak MN, Fish A, Rucktooa P, Khruschov AY, Osipov AV, Ziganshin RH, D'hoedt D, Bertrand D, Sixma TK, Smit AB, Tsetlin VI. Interaction of alpha-conotoxin ImII and its analogs with nicotinic receptors and acetylcholine-binding proteins: additional binding sites on Torpedo receptor. J Neurochem 2009; 111:934-44. [PMID: 19712060 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06359.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
alpha-Conotoxins interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBPs) at the sites for agonists/competitive antagonists. alpha-Conotoxins blocking muscle-type or alpha7 nAChRs compete with alpha-bungarotoxin. However, alpha-conotoxin ImII, a close homolog of the alpha7 nAChR-targeting alpha-conotoxin ImI, blocked alpha7 and muscle nAChRs without displacing alpha-bungarotoxin (Ellison et al. 2003, 2004), suggesting binding at a different site. We synthesized alpha-conotoxin ImII, its ribbon isomer (ImIIiso), 'mutant' ImII(W10Y) and found similar potencies in blocking human alpha7 and muscle nAChRs in Xenopus oocytes. Both isomers displaced [(125)I]-alpha-bungarotoxin from human alpha7 nAChRs in the cell line GH(4)C(1) (IC(50) 17 and 23 microM, respectively) and from Lymnaea stagnalis and Aplysia californica AChBPs (IC(50) 2.0-9.0 microM). According to SPR measurements, both isomers bound to immobilized AChBPs and competed with AChBP for immobilized alpha-bungarotoxin (K(d) and IC(50) 2.5-8.2 microM). On Torpedo nAChR, alpha-conotoxin [(125)I]-ImII(W10Y) revealed specific binding (K(d) 1.5-6.1 microM) and could be displaced by alpha-conotoxin ImII, ImIIiso and ImII(W10Y) with IC(50) 2.7, 2.2 and 3.1 microM, respectively. As alpha-cobratoxin and alpha-conotoxin ImI displaced [(125)I]-ImII(W10Y) only at higher concentrations (IC(50)> or = 90 microM), our results indicate that alpha-conotoxin ImII and its congeners have an additional binding site on Torpedo nAChR distinct from the site for agonists/competitive antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor E Kasheverov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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34
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Zouridakis M, Zisimopoulou P, Poulas K, Tzartos SJ. Recent advances in understanding the structure of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. IUBMB Life 2009; 61:407-23. [PMID: 19319967 DOI: 10.1002/iub.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), members of the Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels (LGICs) superfamily, are involved in signal transduction upon binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or exogenous ligands, such as nicotine. nAChRs are pentameric assemblies of homologous subunits surrounding a central pore that gates cation flux, and are expressed at the neuromuscular junction and in the nervous system and several nonneuronal cell types. The 17 known nAChR subunits assemble into a variety of pharmacologically distinct receptor subtypes. nAChRs are implicated in a range of physiological functions and pathophysiological conditions related to muscle contraction, learning and memory, reward, motor control, arousal, and analgesia, and therefore present an important target for drug research. Such studies would be greatly facilitated by knowledge of the high-resolution structure of the nAChR. Although this information is far from complete, important progress has been made mainly based on electron microscopy studies of Torpedo nAChR and the high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of the homologous molluscan acetylcholine-binding proteins, the extracellular domain of the mouse nAChR alpha1 subunit, and two prokaryotic pentameric LGICs. Here, we review some of the latest advances in our understanding of nAChR structure and gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios Zouridakis
- Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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35
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Paleari L, Cesario A, Fini M, Russo P. alpha7-Nicotinic receptor antagonists at the beginning of a clinical era for NSCLC and Mesothelioma? Drug Discov Today 2009; 14:822-36. [PMID: 19616116 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2009.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Revised: 06/25/2009] [Accepted: 06/26/2009] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Of the human solid cancers, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) display a natural history supporting the concept that they develop from multiple preneoplastic pathways. Recently, new evidence suggested that nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs) play a significant role in lung cancer predisposition and natural history. This review is based on some translational research aimed at evaluating the potential therapeutic effect of nAChR antagonists on NSCLC and MPM. The background and rationale of this approach are based on the experimental observations that: (a) NSCLC and MPM cells express nAChRs and (b) the activation of these receptors by agonists, namely nicotine, inhibits apoptosis, whereas receptor antagonists have a pro-apoptotic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Paleari
- Lung Cancer Unit, National Cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy.
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36
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Armishaw C, Jensen AA, Balle T, Clark RJ, Harpsøe K, Skonberg C, Liljefors T, Strømgaard K. Rational design of alpha-conotoxin analogues targeting alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: improved antagonistic activity by incorporation of proline derivatives. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:9498-512. [PMID: 19131337 PMCID: PMC2666602 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m806136200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2008] [Revised: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that belong to the superfamily of Cys loop receptors. Valuable insight into the orthosteric ligand binding to nAChRs in recent years has been obtained from the crystal structures of acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBPs) that share significant sequence homology with the amino-terminal domains of the nAChRs. alpha-Conotoxins, which are isolated from the venom of carnivorous marine snails, selectively inhibit the signaling of neuronal nAChR subtypes. Co-crystal structures of alpha-conotoxins in complex with AChBP show that the side chain of a highly conserved proline residue in these toxins is oriented toward the hydrophobic binding pocket in the AChBP but does not have direct interactions with this pocket. In this study, we have designed and synthesized analogues of alpha-conotoxins ImI and PnIA[A10L], by introducing a range of substituents on the Pro(6) residue in these toxins to probe the importance of this residue for their binding to the nAChRs. Pharmacological characterization of the toxin analogues at the alpha(7) nAChR shows that although polar and charged groups on Pro(6) result in analogues with significantly reduced antagonistic activities, analogues with aromatic and hydrophobic substituents in the Pro(6) position exhibit moderate activity at the receptor. Interestingly, introduction of a 5-(R)-phenyl substituent at Pro(6) in alpha-conotoxin ImI gives rise to a conotoxin analogue with a significantly higher binding affinity and antagonistic activity at the alpha(7) nAChR than those exhibited by the native conotoxin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Armishaw
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen Ø DK-2100, Denmark
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37
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Parthiban M, Rajasekaran MB, Ramakumar S, Shanmughavel P. Molecular Modeling of Human Pentameric α7Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor and Its Interaction with its Agonist and Competitive Antagonist. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2009; 26:535-47. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2009.10507269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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38
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Karayiannis NC, Laso M, Kröger M. Detailed Atomistic Molecular Dynamics Simulations of α-Conotoxin AuIB in Water. J Phys Chem B 2009; 113:5016-24. [DOI: 10.1021/jp806734c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Ch. Karayiannis
- Institute for Optoelectronics and Microsystems (ISOM) and ETSII, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Laso
- Institute for Optoelectronics and Microsystems (ISOM) and ETSII, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Martin Kröger
- Polymer Physics, ETH Zürich, Department of Materials, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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39
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A radioisotope label-free alpha-bungarotoxin-binding assay using BIAcore sensor chip technology for real-time analysis. Anal Biochem 2009; 389:86-8. [PMID: 19289092 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2009.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2009] [Accepted: 03/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
alpha-Bungarotoxin (alpha-bgtx)-binding proteins, including certain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBPs), are frequently characterized with radioisotope-labeled alpha-bgtx-binding assays. Such assays, however, preclude investigations of binding interactions in real time and are hampered by the inconveniences associated with radioisotope-labeled reagents. We used surface plasmon resonance-based technology (BIAcore) to investigate the binding of recombinant AChBP to CM-5 sensor chip surfaces with directly immobilized alpha-bgtx. We validated our BIAcore results by comparing the same biological samples using the traditional (125)I-labeled alpha-bgtx-binding assay. An alpha-bgtx sensor chip, as described here, enables detailed, real-time, radioisotope-free interaction studies that can greatly facilitate the characterization of novel alpha-bgtx-binding proteins and complexes.
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40
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Probing protein packing surrounding the residues in and flanking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor M2M3 loop. J Neurosci 2009; 29:1626-35. [PMID: 19211870 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4121-08.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are cation-selective, ligand-gated ion channels of the cysteine (Cys)-loop gene superfamily. The recent crystal structure of a bacterial homolog from Erwinia chrysanthemi (ELIC) agrees with previous structures of the N-terminal domain of AChBP (acetylcholine-binding protein) and of the electron-microscopy-derived Torpedo nAChR structure. However, the ELIC transmembrane domain is significantly more tightly packed than the corresponding region of the Torpedo nAChR. We investigated the tightness of protein packing surrounding the extracellular end of the M2 transmembrane segment and around the loop connecting the M2 and M3 segments using the substituted cysteine accessibility method. The M2 20' to 27' residues were highly water accessible and the variation in reaction rates were consistent with this region being alpha-helical. At all positions tested, the presence of ACh changed methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA) modification rates by <10-fold. In the presence of ACh, reaction rates for residues in the last extracellular alpha-helical turn of M2 and in the M2M3 loop increased, whereas rates in the penultimate alpha-helical turn of M2 decreased. Only three of eight M2M3 loop residues were accessible to MTSEA in both the presence and absence of ACh. We infer that the protein packing around the M2M3 loop is tight, consistent with its location at the interdomain interface where it is involved in the transduction of ligand binding in the extracellular domain to gating in the transmembrane domain. Our data indicate that the Torpedo nAChR transmembrane domain structure is a better model than the ELIC structure for eukaryotic Cys-loop receptors.
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41
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Conotoxins: molecular and therapeutic targets. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2009; 46:45-65. [PMID: 19184584 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-87895-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine molluscs known as cone snails produce beautiful shells and a complex array of over 50,000 venom peptides evolved for prey capture and defence. Many of these peptides selectively modulate ion channels and transporters, making them a valuable source of new ligands for studying the role these targets play in normal and disease physiology. A number of conopeptides reduce pain in animal models, and several are now in pre-clinical and clinical development for the treatment of severe pain often associated with diseases such as cancer. Less than 1% of cone snail venom peptides are pharmacologically characterised.
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42
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Albuquerque EX, Pereira EFR, Alkondon M, Rogers SW. Mammalian nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: from structure to function. Physiol Rev 2009; 89:73-120. [PMID: 19126755 PMCID: PMC2713585 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00015.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1227] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The classical studies of nicotine by Langley at the turn of the 20th century introduced the concept of a "receptive substance," from which the idea of a "receptor" came to light. Subsequent studies aided by the Torpedo electric organ, a rich source of muscle-type nicotinic receptors (nAChRs), and the discovery of alpha-bungarotoxin, a snake toxin that binds pseudo-irreversibly to the muscle nAChR, resulted in the muscle nAChR being the best characterized ligand-gated ion channel hitherto. With the advancement of functional and genetic studies in the late 1980s, the existence of nAChRs in the mammalian brain was confirmed and the realization that the numerous nAChR subtypes contribute to the psychoactive properties of nicotine and other drugs of abuse and to the neuropathology of various diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and schizophrenia, has since emerged. This review provides a comprehensive overview of these findings and the more recent revelations of the impact that the rich diversity in function and expression of this receptor family has on neuronal and nonneuronal cells throughout the body. Despite these numerous developments, our understanding of the contributions of specific neuronal nAChR subtypes to the many facets of physiology throughout the body remains in its infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson X Albuquerque
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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43
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Millard EL, Nevin ST, Loughnan ML, Nicke A, Clark RJ, Alewood PF, Lewis RJ, Adams DJ, Craik DJ, Daly NL. Inhibition of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes by alpha-Conotoxin GID and analogues. J Biol Chem 2008; 284:4944-51. [PMID: 19098004 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m804950200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
alpha-Conotoxins are small disulfide-rich peptides from the venom of the Conus species that target the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). They are valuable pharmacological tools and also have potential therapeutic applications particularly for the treatment of chronic pain. alpha-Conotoxin GID is isolated from the venom of Conus geographus and has an unusual N-terminal tail sequence that has been shown to be important for binding to the alpha4beta2 subtype of the nAChR. To date, only four conotoxins that inhibit the alpha4beta2 subtype have been characterized, but they are of considerable interest as it is the most abundant nAChR subtype in the mammalian brain and has been implicated in a range of diseases. In this study, analysis of alanine-scan and truncation mutants of GID reveals that a conserved proline in alpha-conotoxins is important for activity at the alpha7, alpha3beta2, and alpha4beta2 subtypes. Although the proline residue was the most critical residue for activity at the alpha3beta2 subtype, Asp(3), Arg(12), and Asn(14) are also critical at the alpha7 subtype. Interestingly, very few of the mutations tested retained activity at the alpha4beta2 subtype indicating a tightly defined binding site. This lack of tolerance to sequence variation may explain the lack of selective ligands discovered for the alpha4beta2 subtype to date. Overall, our findings contribute to the understanding of the structure-activity relationships of alpha-conotoxins and may be beneficial for the ongoing attempts to exploit modulators of the neuronal nAChRs as therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Millard
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia
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44
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Taly A, Changeux JP. Functional Organization and Conformational Dynamics of the Nicotinic Receptor. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2008; 1132:42-52. [DOI: 10.1196/annals.1405.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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45
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Changeux JP, Taly A. Nicotinic receptors, allosteric proteins and medicine. Trends Mol Med 2008; 14:93-102. [PMID: 18262468 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2008.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2007] [Revised: 01/16/2008] [Accepted: 01/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) was the first ion channel and membrane receptor of a neurotransmitter to be isolated and chemically identified and is one of the best known membrane proteins involved in signal transduction. Subsequently, nAChRs have been a target for drug discovery because of their potential to impact numerous brain diseases and disorders. Here, we consider recent developments in our understanding of nAChR structure and of the conformational transitions that link the acetylcholine (ACh)-binding site and the ion channel to mediate fast neurotransmission. The knowledge of such allosteric mechanisms is essential to understand pathologies such as congenital myasthenia, autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsies, sudden infant death syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and nicotine addiction and to design novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Changeux
- Research unit, National Center of Scientific Research 2182, Department of Neuroscience, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France.
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46
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Gay EA, Yakel JL. Gating of nicotinic ACh receptors; new insights into structural transitions triggered by agonist binding that induce channel opening. J Physiol 2007; 584:727-33. [PMID: 17823204 PMCID: PMC2276999 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.142554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are in the superfamily of Cys-loop ligand-gated ion channels, and are pentameric assemblies of five subunits, with each subunit arranged around the central ion-conducting pore. The binding of ACh to the extracellular interface between two subunits induces channel opening. With the recent 4 A resolution of the Torpedo nAChR, and the crystal structure of the related molluscan ACh binding protein, much has been learned about the structure of the ligand binding domain and the channel pore, as well as major structural rearrangements that may confer channel opening. For example, the putative pathway coupling agonist binding to channel gating may include a major rearrangement of the C-loop within the ligand binding pocket, and the disruption of a salt bridge between an arginine residue at the end of the beta10 strand and a glutamate residue in the beta1-beta2 linker. Here we will review and discuss the latest structural findings aiming to further refine the transduction pathway linking binding to gating for the nAChR channels, and discuss similarities and differences among the different members of this Cys-loop superfamily of receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine A Gay
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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47
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Craik DJ, Adams DJ. Chemical modification of conotoxins to improve stability and activity. ACS Chem Biol 2007; 2:457-68. [PMID: 17649970 DOI: 10.1021/cb700091j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Conotoxins are small disulfide-rich peptides from the venom of cone snails. Along with other conopeptides, they target a wide range of membrane receptors, ion channels, and transporters, and because of their high potency and selectivity for defined subtypes of these receptors, they have attracted a great deal of attention recently as leads in drug development. However, like most peptides, conopeptides potentially suffer from the disadvantages of poor absorption, poor stability, or short biological half-lives. Recently, various chemical approaches, including residue substitutions, backbone cyclization, and disulfide-bridge modification, have been reported to increase the stability of conopeptides. These manufactured interventions add to the array of post-translational modifications that occur naturally in conopeptides. They enhance the versatility of these peptides as tools in neuroscience and as drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Taly A. Opened by a twist: a gating mechanism for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL: EBJ 2007; 36:911-8. [PMID: 17609938 DOI: 10.1007/s00249-007-0189-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2007] [Revised: 04/27/2007] [Accepted: 05/07/2007] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Taly
- Unité de Recherche Associée Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2182 "Récepteurs et Cognition", Département de Neuroscience, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France.
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Gay EA, Bienstock RJ, Lamb PW, Yakel JL. Structural determinates for apolipoprotein E-derived peptide interaction with the alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Mol Pharmacol 2007; 72:838-49. [PMID: 17609418 PMCID: PMC2742887 DOI: 10.1124/mol.107.035527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) signaling has been implicated in a variety of normal central nervous system (CNS) functions as well as an array of neuropathologies. Previous studies have demonstrated both neurotoxic and neuroprotective actions of peptides derived from apolipoprotein E (apoE). It has been discovered that apoE-derived peptides inhibit native and recombinant alpha7-containing nAChRs, indicating a direct interaction between apoE peptides and nAChRs. To probe the structure/function interaction between alpha7 nAChRs and the apoE peptide apoE(141-148), experiments were conducted in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing wild-type and mutated nAChRs. Mutation of Trp55 to alanine blocks apoE peptide-induced inhibition of acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated alpha7 nAChR responses. Additional mutations at Trp55 suggest that hydrophobic interactions between the receptor and apoE(141-148) are essential for inhibition of alpha7 nAChR function. A mutated apoE peptide also demonstrated decreased inhibition at alpha7-W55A nAChRs as well as activity-dependent inhibition of both wild-type alpha7 nAChRs and alpha7-W55A receptors. Finally, a three-dimensional model of the alpha7 nAChR was developed based on the recently refined Torpedo marmorata nACh receptor. A structural model is proposed for the binding of apoE(141-148) to the alpha7 nAChR where the peptide binds at the interface between two subunits, near the ACh binding site. Similar to the functional data, the computational docking suggests the importance of hydrophobic interactions between the alpha7 nAChR and the apoE peptide for inhibition of receptor function. The current data suggest a mode for apoE peptide binding that directly blocks alpha7 nAChR activity and consequently may disrupt nAChR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine A Gay
- NIEHS, F2-08, P.O. Box 12233, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Romanelli MN, Gratteri P, Guandalini L, Martini E, Bonaccini C, Gualtieri F. Central Nicotinic Receptors: Structure, Function, Ligands, and Therapeutic Potential. ChemMedChem 2007; 2:746-67. [PMID: 17295372 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.200600207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The growing interest in nicotinic receptors, because of their wide expression in neuronal and non-neuronal tissues and their involvement in several important CNS pathologies, has stimulated the synthesis of a high number of ligands able to modulate their function. These membrane proteins appear to be highly heterogeneous, and still only incomplete information is available on their structure, subunit composition, and stoichiometry. This is due to the lack of selective ligands to study the role of nAChR under physiological or pathological conditions; so far, only compounds showing selectivity between alpha4beta2 and alpha7 receptors have been obtained. The nicotinic receptor ligands have been designed starting from lead compounds from natural sources such as nicotine, cytisine, or epibatidine, and, more recently, through the high-throughput screening of chemical libraries. This review focuses on the structure of the new agonists, antagonists, and allosteric ligands of nicotinic receptors, it highlights the current knowledge on the binding site models as a molecular modeling approach to design new compounds, and it discusses the nAChR modulators which have entered clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Novella Romanelli
- Laboratory of Design, Synthesis, and Study of Biologically Active Heterocycles (HeteroBioLab), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florence, via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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