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Wu H, Hoare BL, Handley TNG, Akhter Hossain M, Bathgate RAD. Development of a synthetic relaxin-3/INSL5 chimeric peptide ligand for NanoBiT complementation binding assays. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116238. [PMID: 38677442 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116238] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
INSL5 and relaxin-3 are relaxin family peptides with important roles in gut and brain function, respectively. They mediate their actions through the class A GPCRs RXFP4 and RXFP3. RXFP4 has been proposed to be a therapeutic target for colon motility disorders whereas RXFP3 targeting could be effective for neurological conditions such as anxiety. Validation of these targets has been limited by the lack of specific ligands and the availability of robust ligand-binding assays for their development. In this study, we have utilized NanoBiT complementation to develop a SmBiT-conjugated tracer for use with LgBiT-fused RXFP3 and RXFP4. The low affinity between LgBiT:SmBiT should result in a low non-specific luminescence signal and enable the quantification of binding without the tedious separation of non-bound ligands. We used solid-phase peptide synthesis to produce a SmBiT-labelled RXFP3/4 agonist, R3/I5, where SmBiT was conjugated to the B-chain N-terminus via a PEG12 linker. Both SmBiT-R3/I5 and R3/I5 were synthesized and purified in high purity and yield. Stable HEK293T cell lines expressing LgBiT-RXFP3 and LgBiT-RXFP4 were produced and demonstrated normal signaling in response to the synthetic R3/I5 peptide. Binding was first characterized in whole-cell binding kinetic assays validating that the SmBiT-R3/I5 bound to both cell lines with nanomolar affinity with minimal non-specific binding without bound and free SmBiT-R3/I5 separation. We then optimized membrane binding assays, demonstrating easy and robust analysis of both saturation and competition binding from frozen membranes. These assays therefore provide an appropriate rigorous binding assay for the high-throughput analysis of RXFP3 and RXFP4 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkang Wu
- The Florey, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- The Florey, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- The Florey, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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2
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Rahman MT, Chaminda Lakmal HH, Hussain J, Jin C. Targeting the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system: a patent review for the last two decades. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2024; 34:71-81. [PMID: 38573177 PMCID: PMC11027024 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2024.2338099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neuropeptide relaxin-3/RXFP3 system belongs to the relaxin/insulin superfamily and is involved in many important physiological processes, such as stress responses, appetite control, and motivation for reward. Although relaxin-3 is the endogenous agonist for RXFP3, it can also bind to and activate RXFP1 and RXFP4. Consequently, research has been focused on the development of RXFP3-specific peptides and small-molecule ligands to validate the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system as a novel drug target. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of patents on the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system covering ligand development and pharmacological studies since 2003. Related patents and literature reports were obtained from established sources including SciFinder, Google Patents, and Espacenet for patents and SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar for literature reports. EXPERT OPINION There has been an increasing amount of patent activities around relaxin-3/RXFP3, highlighting the importance of this novel neuropeptide system for drug discovery. The development of relaxin-3 derived peptides and small-molecule modulators, as well as behavioral studies in rodents, have shown that the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system is a promising drug target for treating various metabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases including obesity, anxiety, and alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Toufiqur Rahman
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Javeena Hussain
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Chunyang Jin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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3
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Chen D, Rehfeld JF, Watts AG, Rorsman P, Gundlach AL. History of key regulatory peptide systems and perspectives for future research. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13251. [PMID: 37053148 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the 20th Century, regulatory peptide discovery advanced from the identification of gut hormones to the extraction and characterization of hypothalamic hypophysiotropic factors, and to the isolation and cloning of multiple brain neuropeptides. These discoveries were followed by the discovery of G-protein-coupled and other membrane receptors for these peptides. Subsequently, the systems physiology associated with some of these multiple regulatory peptides and receptors has been comprehensively elucidated and has led to improved therapeutics and diagnostics and their approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. In light of this wealth of information and further potential, it is truly a time of renaissance for regulatory peptides. In this perspective, we review what we have learned from the pioneers in exemplified fields of gut peptides, such as cholecystokinin, enterochromaffin-like-cell peptides, and glucagon, from the trailblazing studies on the key stress hormone, corticotropin-releasing factor, as well as from more recently characterized relaxin-family peptides and receptors. The historical viewpoints are based on our understanding of these topics in light of the earliest phases of research and on subsequent studies and the evolution of knowledge, aiming to sharpen our vision of the current state-of-the-art and those studies that should be prioritized in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duan Chen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jens F Rehfeld
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alan G Watts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Patrik Rorsman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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4
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Shehzad A, Rabail R, Munir S, Jan H, Fernández-Lázaro D, Aadil RM. Impact of Oats on Appetite Hormones and Body Weight Management: A Review. Curr Nutr Rep 2023; 12:66-82. [PMID: 36790719 PMCID: PMC9930024 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-023-00454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This study aims to review the hunger hormones in obesity management and the impact of oats in regulating these hormones for hunger suppression and body weight management. In this review, the impact of various edible forms of oats like whole, naked, sprouted, or supplemented has been investigated for their appetite hormones regulation and weight management. RECENT FINDINGS The onset of obesity has been greatly associated with the appetite-regulating hormones that control, regulate, and suppress hunger, satiety, or energy expenditure. Many observational and clinical studies prove that oats have a positive effect on anthropometric measures like BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, lipid profile, total cholesterol, weight, appetite, and blood pressure. Many studies support the concept that oats are rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, Fe, Zn, Mg, Mn, free phenolics, ß-glucan, ferulic acid, avenanthramides, and many more. Beta-glucan is the most important bioactive component that lowers cholesterol levels and supports the defense system of the body to prevent infections. Hence, several clinical studies supported oats utilization against obesity, appetite hormones, and energy regulation but still, some studies have shown no or little significance on appetite. Results of various studies revealed the therapeutic potentials of oats for body weight management, appetite control, strengthening the immune system, lowering serum cholesterol, and gut microbiota promotion by increased production of short-chain fatty acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Shehzad
- grid.413016.10000 0004 0607 1563National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan
| | - Roshina Rabail
- grid.413016.10000 0004 0607 1563National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan
| | - Seemal Munir
- grid.413016.10000 0004 0607 1563National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan
| | - Hamza Jan
- grid.508534.fDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, Nur International University, Lahore, 54950 Pakistan
| | - Diego Fernández-Lázaro
- grid.5239.d0000 0001 2286 5329Departamento de Biología Celular, Genética, Histología y Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Campus de Soria, Universidad de Valladolid, Soria, 42004 Spain
- grid.5239.d0000 0001 2286 5329Grupo de Investigación Reconocido “Neurobiología”, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, 47005 Spain
| | - Rana Muhammad Aadil
- grid.413016.10000 0004 0607 1563National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000 Pakistan
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5
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Chen Y, Zhou Q, Wang J, Xu Y, Wang Y, Yan J, Wang Y, Zhu Q, Zhao F, Li C, Chen CW, Cai X, Bathgate RAD, Shen C, Eric Xu H, Yang D, Liu H, Wang MW. Ligand recognition mechanism of the human relaxin family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4). Nat Commun 2023; 14:492. [PMID: 36717591 PMCID: PMC9886975 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36182-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the insulin superfamily regulate pleiotropic biological processes through two types of target-specific but structurally conserved peptides, insulin/insulin-like growth factors and relaxin/insulin-like peptides. The latter bind to the human relaxin family peptide receptors (RXFPs). Here, we report three cryo-electron microscopy structures of RXFP4-Gi protein complexes in the presence of the endogenous ligand insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) or one of the two small molecule agonists, compound 4 and DC591053. The B chain of INSL5 adopts a single α-helix that penetrates into the orthosteric pocket, while the A chain sits above the orthosteric pocket, revealing a peptide-binding mode previously unknown. Together with mutagenesis and functional analyses, the key determinants responsible for the peptidomimetic agonism and subtype selectivity were identified. Our findings not only provide insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity among class A G protein-coupled receptors, but also expand the knowledge of signaling mechanisms in the insulin superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, 200031, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Youwei Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Genova Biotech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd, Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Jiahui Yan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yibing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Genova Biotech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd, Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - Fenghui Zhao
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chenghao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Chuan-Wei Chen
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, 572025, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Chun Shen
- Genova Biotech (Changzhou) Co., Ltd, Changzhou, 213125, China
| | - H Eric Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, 572025, China.
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou, 310024, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, 572025, China. .,Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
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6
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Gay EA, Guan D, Van Voorhies K, Vasukuttan V, Mathews KM, Besheer J, Jin C. Discovery and Characterization of the First Nonpeptide Antagonists for the Relaxin-3/RXFP3 System. J Med Chem 2022; 65:7959-7974. [PMID: 35594150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide relaxin-3/RXFP3 system is involved in many important physiological processes such as stress responses, appetite control, and motivation for reward. To date, pharmacological studies of RXFP3 have been limited to peptide ligands. In this study, we report the discovery of the first small-molecule antagonists of RXFP3 through a high-throughput screening campaign. Focused structure-activity relationship studies of the hit compound resulted in RLX-33 (33) that was able to inhibit relaxin-3 activity in a battery of functional assays. RLX-33 is selective for RXFP3 over RXFP1 and RXFP4, two related members in the relaxin/insulin superfamily, and has favorable pharmacokinetic properties for behavioral assessment. When administered to rats intraperitoneally, RLX-33 blocked food intake induced by the RXFP3-selective agonist R3/I5. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that RLX-33 represents a promising antagonist scaffold for the development of drugs targeting the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine A Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Dongliang Guan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kalynn Van Voorhies
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Vineetha Vasukuttan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kelly M Mathews
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Joyce Besheer
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Chunyang Jin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
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7
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The Relaxin-3 Receptor, RXFP3, Is a Modulator of Aging-Related Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084387. [PMID: 35457203 PMCID: PMC9027355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the aging process our body becomes less well equipped to deal with cellular stress, resulting in an increase in unrepaired damage. This causes varying degrees of impaired functionality and an increased risk of mortality. One of the most effective anti-aging strategies involves interventions that combine simultaneous glucometabolic support with augmented DNA damage protection/repair. Thus, it seems prudent to develop therapeutic strategies that target this combinatorial approach. Studies have shown that the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPase activating protein GIT2 (GIT2) acts as a keystone protein in the aging process. GIT2 can control both DNA repair and glucose metabolism. Through in vivo co-regulation analyses it was found that GIT2 forms a close coexpression-based relationship with the relaxin-3 receptor (RXFP3). Cellular RXFP3 expression is directly affected by DNA damage and oxidative stress. Overexpression or stimulation of this receptor, by its endogenous ligand relaxin 3 (RLN3), can regulate the DNA damage response and repair processes. Interestingly, RLN3 is an insulin-like peptide and has been shown to control multiple disease processes linked to aging mechanisms, e.g., anxiety, depression, memory dysfunction, appetite, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. Here we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the various roles of RXFP3/RLN3 signaling in aging and age-related disorders.
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8
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Woodward ORM, Gribble FM, Reimann F, Lewis JE. Gut peptide regulation of food intake - evidence for the modulation of hedonic feeding. J Physiol 2022; 600:1053-1078. [PMID: 34152020 DOI: 10.1113/jp280581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of people living with obesity has tripled worldwide since 1975 with serious implications for public health, as obesity is linked to a significantly higher chance of early death from associated comorbidities (metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer). As obesity is a consequence of food intake exceeding the demands of energy expenditure, efforts are being made to better understand the homeostatic and hedonic mechanisms governing food intake. Gastrointestinal peptides are secreted from enteroendocrine cells in response to nutrient and energy intake, and modulate food intake either via afferent nerves, including the vagus nerve, or directly within the central nervous system, predominantly gaining access at circumventricular organs. Enteroendocrine hormones modulate homeostatic control centres at hypothalamic nuclei and the dorso-vagal complex. Additional roles of these peptides in modulating hedonic food intake and/or preference via the neural systems of reward are starting to be elucidated, with both peripheral and central peptide sources potentially contributing to central receptor activation. Pharmacological interventions and gastric bypass surgery for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity elevate enteroendocrine hormone levels and also alter food preference. Hence, understanding of the hedonic mechanisms mediated by gut peptide action could advance development of potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orla R M Woodward
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Fiona M Gribble
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Frank Reimann
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Jo E Lewis
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science Metabolic Research Laboratories, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
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9
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Guan D, Rahman MT, Gay EA, Vasukuttan V, Mathews KM, Decker AM, Williams AH, Zhan CG, Jin C. Indole-Containing Amidinohydrazones as Nonpeptide, Dual RXFP3/4 Agonists: Synthesis, Structure-Activity Relationship, and Molecular Modeling Studies. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17866-17886. [PMID: 34855388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The central relaxin-3/RXFP3 system plays important roles in stress responses, feeding, and motivation for reward. However, exploration of its therapeutic applications has been hampered by the lack of small molecule ligands and the cross-activation of RXFP1 in the brain and RXFP4 in the periphery. Herein, we report the first structure-activity relationship studies of a series of novel nonpeptide amidinohydrazone-based agonists, which were characterized by RXFP3 functional and radioligand binding assays. Several potent and efficacious RXFP3 agonists (e.g., 10d) were identified with EC50 values <10 nM. These compounds also had high potency at RXFP4 but no agonist activity at RXFP1, demonstrating > 100-fold selectivity for RXFP3/4 over RXFP1. In vitro ADME and pharmacokinetic assessments revealed that the amidinohydrazone derivatives may have limited brain permeability. Collectively, our findings provide the basis for further optimization of lead compounds to develop a suitable agonist to probe RXFP3 functions in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Guan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Md Toufiqur Rahman
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Elaine A Gay
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Vineetha Vasukuttan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kelly M Mathews
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Ann M Decker
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Alexander H Williams
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Chang-Guo Zhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Chunyang Jin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
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10
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Lin G, Feng Y, Cai X, Zhou C, Shao L, Chen Y, Chen L, Liu Q, Zhou Q, Bathgate RA, Yang D, Wang MW. High-Throughput Screening Campaign Identified a Potential Small Molecule RXFP3/4 Agonist. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26247511. [PMID: 34946593 PMCID: PMC8709172 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 3 (RXFP3) belongs to class A G protein-coupled receptor family. RXFP3 and its endogenous ligand relaxin-3 are mainly expressed in the brain with important roles in the regulation of appetite, energy metabolism, endocrine homeostasis and emotional processing. It is therefore implicated as a potential target for treatment of various central nervous system diseases. Since selective agonists of RXFP3 are restricted to relaxin-3 and its analogs, we conducted a high-throughput screening campaign against 32,021 synthetic and natural product-derived compounds using a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) measurement-based method. Only one compound, WNN0109-C011, was identified following primary screening, secondary screening and dose-response studies. Although displayed agonistic effect in cells overexpressing the human RXFP3, it also showed cross-reactivity with the human RXFP4. This hit compound may provide not only a chemical probe to investigate the function of RXFP3/4, but also a novel scaffold for the development of RXFP3/4 agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyao Lin
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
| | - Yang Feng
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Caihong Zhou
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Lijun Shao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (Y.C.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Linhai Chen
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Qing Liu
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (Y.C.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Ross A.D. Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Dehua Yang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya 572025, Hainan, China
- Correspondence: (D.Y.); (M.-W.W.)
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; (G.L.); (Y.F.); (X.C.); (C.Z.); (L.C.); (Q.L.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; (Y.C.); (Q.Z.)
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya 572025, Hainan, China
- Correspondence: (D.Y.); (M.-W.W.)
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11
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Wong WLE, Dawe GS, Young AH. The putative role of the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system in clinical depression and anxiety: A systematic literature review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:429-450. [PMID: 34537263 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin-3/RXFP3 system is one of several neuropeptidergic systems putatively implicated in regulating the behavioural alterations that characterise clinical depression and anxiety, making it a potential target for clinical translation. Accordingly, this systematic review identified published reports on the role of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling in these neuropsychiatric disorders and their behavioural endophenotypes, evaluating evidence from animal and human studies to ascertain any relationship. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Google Scholar databases up to February 2021, finding 609 relevant records. After stringent screening, 51 of these studies were included in the final synthesis. There was considerable heterogeneity in study designs and some inconsistency across study outcomes. However, experimental evidence is consistent with an ability of relaxin-3/RXFP3 signalling to promote arousal and suppress depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour. Moreover, meta-analyses of six to eight articles investigating food intake revealed that acute RXFP3 activation had strong orexigenic effects in rats. This appraisal also identified the lack of high-quality clinical studies pertinent to the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system, a gap that future research should attempt to bridge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Win Lee Edwin Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Gavin Stewart Dawe
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Neurobiology and Ageing Programme, Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Allan H Young
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Monks Orchard Road, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Ricardo-Silgado ML, McRae A, Acosta A. Role of Enteroendocrine Hormones in Appetite and Glycemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 23. [PMID: 34179564 DOI: 10.1016/j.obmed.2021.100332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are specialized cells that are widely distributed throughout the gastrointestinal tract. EECs sense luminal content and release hormones, such as: ghrelin, cholecystokinin, glucagon like peptide 1, peptide YY, insulin like peptide 5, and oxyntomodulin. These hormones can enter the circulation to act on distant targets or act locally on neighboring cells and neuronal pathways to modulate food digestion, food intake, energy balance and body weight. Obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with alterations in the levels of enteroendocrine hormones. Evidence also suggests that modified regulation and release of gut hormones are the result of compensatory mechanisms in states of excess adipose tissue and hyperglycemia. This review collects the evidence available detailing pathophysiological alterations in enteroendocrine hormones and their association with appetite, obesity and glycemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura Ricardo-Silgado
- Precision Medicine for Obesity Program, and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Alison McRae
- Precision Medicine for Obesity Program, and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Andres Acosta
- Precision Medicine for Obesity Program, and Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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13
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Lin L, Lin G, Zhou Q, Bathgate RAD, Gong GQ, Yang D, Liu Q, Wang MW. Design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of tricyclic derivatives as selective RXFP4 agonists. Bioorg Chem 2021; 110:104782. [PMID: 33730669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.104782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin family peptide receptors (RXFPs) are the potential therapeutic targets for neurological, cardiovascular, and metabolic indications. Among them, RXFP3 and RXFP4 (formerly known as GPR100 or GPCR142) are homologous class A G protein-coupled receptors with short N-terminal domain. Ligands of RXFP3 or RXFP4 are only limited to endogenous peptides and their analogues, and no natural product or synthetic agonists have been reported to date except for a scaffold of indole-containing derivatives as dual agonists of RXFP3 and RXFP4. In this study, a new scaffold of tricyclic derivatives represented by compound 7a was disclosed as a selective RXFP4 agonist after a high-throughput screening campaign against a diverse library of 52,000 synthetic and natural compounds. Two rounds of structural modification around this scaffold were performed focusing on three parts: 2-chlorophenyl group, 4-hydroxylphenyl group and its skeleton including cyclohexane-1,3-dione and 1,2,4-triazole group. Compound 14b with a new skeleton of 7,9-dihydro-4H-thiopyrano[3,4-d][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-8(5H)-one was thus obtained. The enantiomers of 7a and 14b were also resolved with their 9-(S)-conformer favoring RXFP4 agonism. Compared with 7a, compound 9-(S)-14b exhibited 2.3-fold higher efficacy and better selectivity for RXFP4 (selective ratio of RXFP4 vs. RXFP3 for 9-(S)-14b and 7a were 26.9 and 13.9, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Guangyao Lin
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Grace Qun Gong
- The National Center for Drug Screening and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; The National Center for Drug Screening and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Qing Liu
- The National Center for Drug Screening and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; The National Center for Drug Screening and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 201203, China.
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14
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Lin GY, Lin L, Cai XQ, Dai AT, Zhu Y, Li J, Liu Q, Yang DH, Bathgate RAD, Wang MW. High-throughput screening campaign identifies a small molecule agonist of the relaxin family peptide receptor 4. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:1328-1336. [PMID: 32235863 PMCID: PMC7608467 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0390-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4) is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), and insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is its endogenous ligand. Although the precise physiological role of INSL5/RXFP4 remains elusive, a number of studies have suggested it to be a potential therapeutic target for obesity and other metabolic disorders. Since selective agonists of RXFP4 are scarcely available and peptidic analogs of INSL5 are hard to make, we conducted a high-throughput screening campaign against 52,000 synthetic and natural compounds targeting RXFP4. Of the 109 initial hits discovered, only 3 compounds were confirmed in secondary screening, with JK0621-D008 displaying the best agonism at human RXFP4. Its S-configuration stereoisomer (JK1) was subsequently isolated and validated by a series of bioassays, demonstrating a consistent agonistic effect in cells overexpressing RXFP4. This scaffold may provide a valuable tool to further explore the biological functions of RXFP4.
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15
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Eiden LE, Gundlach AL, Grinevich V, Lee MR, Mecawi AS, Chen D, Buijs RM, Hernandez VS, Fajardo-Dolci G, Zhang L. Regulatory peptides and systems biology: A new era of translational and reverse-translational neuroendocrinology. J Neuroendocrinol 2020; 32:e12844. [PMID: 32307768 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recently, there has been a resurgence in regulatory peptide science as a result of three converging trends. The first is the increasing population of the drug pipeline with peptide-based therapeutics, mainly in, but not restricted to, incretin-like molecules for treatment of metabolic disorders such as diabetes. The second is the development of genetic and optogenetic tools enabling new insights into how peptides actually function within brain and peripheral circuits to accomplish homeostatic and allostatic regulation. The third is the explosion in defined structures of the G-protein coupled receptors to which most regulatory peptides bind and exert their actions. These trends have closely wedded basic systems biology to drug discovery and development, creating a "two-way street" on which translational advances travel from basic research to the clinic, and, equally importantly, "reverse-translational" information is gathered, about the molecular, cellular and circuit-level mechanisms of action of regulatory peptides, comprising information required for the fine-tuning of drug development through testing in animal models. This review focuses on a small group of 'influential' peptides, including oxytocin, vasopressin, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, ghrelin, relaxin-3 and glucagon-like peptide-1, and how basic discoveries and their application to therapeutics have intertwined over the past decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee E Eiden
- Section on Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Heath-Intramural Research Program, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Andrew L Gundlach
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Mary R Lee
- Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, NIAAA and NIDA, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - André S Mecawi
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Duan Chen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ruud M Buijs
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Institute for Biomedical Research, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Vito S Hernandez
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Germán Fajardo-Dolci
- School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Limei Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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16
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Engineering of chimeric peptides as antagonists for the G protein-coupled receptor, RXFP4. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17828. [PMID: 31780677 PMCID: PMC6882824 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53707-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a very important pharma target for treating human conditions such as anorexia and diabetes. However, INSL5 with two chains and three disulfide bridges is an extremely difficult peptide to assemble by chemical or recombinant means. In a recent study, we were able to engineer a simplified INSL5 analogue 13 which is a relaxin family peptide receptor 4 (RXFP4)-specific agonist. To date, however, no RXFP4-specific antagonist (peptide or small molecule) has been reported in the literature. The focus of this study was to utilize the non-specific RXFP3/RXFP4 antagonist ΔR3/I5 as a template to rationally design an RXFP4 specific antagonist. Unexpectedly, we demonstrated that ΔR3/I5 exhibited partial agonism at RXFP4 when expressed in CHO cells which is associated with only partial antagonism of INSL5 analogue activation. In an attempt to improve RXFP4 specificity and antagonist activity we designed and chemically synthesized a series of analogues of ΔR3/I5. While all the chimeric analogues still demonstrated partial agonism at RXFP4, one peptide (Analogue 17) exhibited significantly improved RXFP4 specificity. Importantly, analogue 17 has a simplified structure which is more amenable to chemical synthesis. Therefore, analogue 17 is an ideal template for further development into a specific high affinity RXFP4 antagonist which will be an important tool to probe the physiological role of RXFP4/INSL5 axis.
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