1
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Shi S, Zheng Y, Goulding J, Marri S, Lucarini L, Konecny B, Sgambellone S, Villano S, Bosma R, Wijtmans M, Briddon SJ, Zarzycka BA, Vischer HF, Leurs R. A high-affinity, cis-on photoswitchable beta blocker to optically control β 2-adrenergic receptors in vitro and in vivo. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116396. [PMID: 38942089 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116396] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
This study introduces (S)-Opto-prop-2, a second-generation photoswitchable ligand designed for precise modulation of β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR). Synthesised by incorporating an azobenzene moiety with propranolol, (S)-Opto-prop-2 exhibited a high PSScis (photostationary state for cis isomer) percentage (∼90 %) and a favourable half-life (>10 days), facilitating diverse bioassay measurements. In vitro, the cis-isomer displayed substantially higher β2AR binding affinity than the trans-isomer (1000-fold), making (S)-Opto-prop-2 one of the best photoswitchable GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor) ligands reported so far. Molecular docking of (S)-Opto-prop-2 in the X-ray structure of propranolol-bound β2AR followed by site-directed mutagenesis studies, identified D1133.32, N3127.39 and F2896.51 as crucial residues that contribute to ligand-receptor interactions at the molecular level. In vivo efficacy was assessed using a rabbit ocular hypertension model, revealing that the cis isomer mimicked propranolol's effects in reducing intraocular pressure, while the trans isomer was inactive. Dynamic optical modulation of β2AR by (S)-Opto-prop-2 was demonstrated in two different cAMP bioassays and using live-cell confocal imaging, indicating reversible and dynamic control of β2AR activity using the new photopharmacology tool. In conclusion, (S)-Opto-prop-2 emerges as a promising photoswitchable ligand for precise and reversible β2AR modulation with light. The new tool shows superior cis-on binding affinity, one of the largest reported differences in affinity (1000-fold) between its two configurations, in vivo efficacy, and dynamic modulation. This study contributes valuable insights into the evolving field of photopharmacology, offering a potential avenue for targeted therapy in β2AR-associated pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Shi
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yang Zheng
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joëlle Goulding
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, The Midlands NG7 2UH, U.K; Division of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Silvia Marri
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, 50139, Italy
| | - Laura Lucarini
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, 50139, Italy
| | - Benjamin Konecny
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Silvia Sgambellone
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, 50139, Italy
| | - Serafina Villano
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, 50139, Italy
| | - Reggie Bosma
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maikel Wijtmans
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stephen J Briddon
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, The Midlands NG7 2UH, U.K; Division of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K
| | - Barbara A Zarzycka
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henry F Vischer
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rob Leurs
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Sink A, Gerwe H, Hübner H, Boivin-Jahns V, Fender J, Lorenz K, Gmeiner P, Decker M. "Photo-Adrenalines": Photoswitchable β 2 -Adrenergic Receptor Agonists as Molecular Probes for the Study of Spatiotemporal Adrenergic Signaling. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303506. [PMID: 38212242 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303506] [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: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
β2 -adrenergic receptor (β2 -AR) agonists are used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but also play a role in other complex disorders including cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. As the cellular and molecular mechanisms in various cells and tissues of the β2 -AR remain vastly elusive, we developed tools for this investigation with high temporal and spatial resolution. Several photoswitchable β2 -AR agonists with nanomolar activity were synthesized. The most potent agonist for β2 -AR with reasonable switching is a one-digit nanomolar active, trans-on arylazopyrazole-based adrenaline derivative and comprises valuable photopharmacological properties for further biological studies with high structural accordance to the native ligand adrenaline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sink
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hubert Gerwe
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Harald Hübner
- Medicinal Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Valerie Boivin-Jahns
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Versbacher Straße 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julia Fender
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Versbacher Straße 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kristina Lorenz
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Versbacher Straße 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
- Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften - ISAS-e.V., Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Str. 11, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Medicinal Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Decker
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry Institute for Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Dumazer A, Gómez-Santacana X, Malhaire F, Jopling C, Maurel D, Lebon G, Llebaria A, Goudet C. Optical Control of Adenosine A 2A Receptor Using Istradefylline Photosensitivity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:645-655. [PMID: 38275568 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00721] [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] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential therapeutic use of inhibitors of adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Nevertheless, the widespread expression of A2AR throughout the body emphasizes the importance of temporally and spatially selective ligands. Photopharmacology is an emerging strategy that utilizes photosensitive ligands to attain high spatiotemporal precision and regulate the function of biomolecules using light. In this study, we combined photochemistry and cellular and in vivo photopharmacology to investigate the light sensitivity of the FDA-approved antagonist istradefylline and its potential use as an A2AR photopharmacological tool. Our findings reveal that istradefylline exhibits rapid trans-to-cis isomerization under near-UV light, and prolonged exposure results in the formation of photocycloaddition products. We demonstrate that exposure to UV light triggers a time-dependent decrease in the antagonistic activity of istradefylline in A2AR-expressing cells and enables real-time optical control of A2AR signaling in living cells and zebrafish. Together, these data demonstrate that istradefylline is a photoinactivatable A2AR antagonist and that this property can be utilized to perform photopharmacological experiments in living cells and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaëlle Dumazer
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Synthesis, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Gómez-Santacana
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Synthesis, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fanny Malhaire
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Chris Jopling
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Damien Maurel
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Lebon
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Amadeu Llebaria
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Synthesis, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cyril Goudet
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
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4
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Leemann S, Schneider-Warme F, Kleinlogel S. Cardiac optogenetics: shining light on signaling pathways. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1421-1437. [PMID: 38097805 PMCID: PMC10730638 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02892-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
In the early 2000s, the field of neuroscience experienced a groundbreaking transformation with the advent of optogenetics. This innovative technique harnesses the properties of naturally occurring and genetically engineered rhodopsins to confer light sensitivity upon target cells. The remarkable spatiotemporal precision offered by optogenetics has provided researchers with unprecedented opportunities to dissect cellular physiology, leading to an entirely new level of investigation. Initially revolutionizing neuroscience, optogenetics quickly piqued the interest of the wider scientific community, and optogenetic applications were expanded to cardiovascular research. Over the past decade, researchers have employed various optical tools to observe, regulate, and steer the membrane potential of excitable cells in the heart. Despite these advancements, achieving control over specific signaling pathways within the heart has remained an elusive goal. Here, we review the optogenetic tools suitable to control cardiac signaling pathways with a focus on GPCR signaling, and delineate potential applications for studying these pathways, both in healthy and diseased hearts. By shedding light on these exciting developments, we hope to contribute to the ongoing progress in basic cardiac research to facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic possibilities for treating cardiovascular pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siri Leemann
- Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Franziska Schneider-Warme
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Kleinlogel
- Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Translational Medicine Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland
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5
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Simon I, Homan EJ, Wijtmans M, Sundström M, Leurs R, De Esch IJP, Zarzycka BA. PSW-Designer: An Open-Source Computational Platform for the Design and Virtual Screening of Photopharmacological Ligands. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6696-6705. [PMID: 37831965 PMCID: PMC10647043 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Photoswitchable (PSW) molecules offer an attractive opportunity for the optical control of biological processes. However, the successful design of such compounds remains a challenging multioptimization endeavor, resulting in several biological target classes still relatively poorly explored by photoswitchable ligands, as is the case for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Here, we present the PSW-Designer, a fully open-source computational platform, implemented in the KNIME Analytics Platform, to design and virtually screen novel photoswitchable ligands for photopharmacological applications based on privileged scaffolds. We demonstrate the applicability of the PSW-Designer to GPCRs and assess its predictive capabilities via two retrospective case studies. Furthermore, by leveraging bioactivity information on known ligands, typical and atypical strategies for photoswitchable group incorporation, and the increasingly structural information available for biological targets, the PSW-Design will facilitate the design of novel photoswitchable molecules with improved photopharmacological properties and increased binding affinity shifts upon illumination for GPCRs and many other protein targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Icaro
A. Simon
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute for
Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Evert J. Homan
- Science
for Life Laboratory, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maikel Wijtmans
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute for
Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Sundström
- Centre
for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rob Leurs
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute for
Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iwan J. P. De Esch
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute for
Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara A. Zarzycka
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute for
Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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