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Hutchinson K, Silva DB, Bohlke J, Clausen C, Thomas AA, Bonomi M, Schlessinger A. Describing inhibitor specificity for the amino acid transporter LAT1 from metainference simulations. Biophys J 2022; 121:4476-4491. [PMID: 36369754 PMCID: PMC9748366 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1; SLC7A5) is a membrane transporter of amino acids, thyroid hormones, and drugs such as the Parkinson's disease drug levodopa (L-Dopa). LAT1 is found in the blood-brain barrier, testis, bone marrow, and placenta, and its dysregulation has been associated with various neurological diseases, such as autism and epilepsy, as well as cancer. In this study, we combine metainference molecular dynamics simulations, molecular docking, and experimental testing, to characterize LAT1-inhibitor interactions. We first conducted a series of molecular docking experiments to identify the most relevant interactions between LAT1's substrate-binding site and ligands, including both inhibitors and substrates. We then performed metainference molecular dynamics simulations using cryoelectron microscopy structures in different conformations of LAT1 with the electron density map as a spatial restraint, to explore the inherent heterogeneity in the structures. We analyzed the LAT1 substrate-binding site to map important LAT1-ligand interactions as well as newly described druggable pockets. Finally, this analysis guided the discovery of previously unknown LAT1 ligands using virtual screening and cellular uptake experiments. Our results improve our understanding of LAT1-inhibitor recognition, providing a framework for rational design of future lead compounds targeting this key drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keino Hutchinson
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Dina Buitrago Silva
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Joshua Bohlke
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska
| | - Chase Clausen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska
| | - Allen A Thomas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska
| | - Massimiliano Bonomi
- Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3528, Paris, France.
| | - Avner Schlessinger
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Cysteine Donor-Based Brain-Targeting Prodrug: Opportunities and Challenges. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:4834117. [PMID: 35251474 PMCID: PMC8894025 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4834117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Overcoming blood-brain barrier (BBB) to improve brain bioavailability of therapeutic drug remains an ongoing concern. Prodrug is one of the most reliable approaches for delivering agents with low-level BBB permeability into the brain. The well-known antioxidant capacities of cysteine (Cys) and its vital role in glutathione (GSH) synthesis indicate that Cys-based prodrug could potentiate therapeutic drugs against oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, prodrug with Cys moiety could be recognized by the excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3) that is highly expressed at the BBB and transports drug into the brain. In this review, we summarized the strategies of crossing BBB, properties of EAAT3 and its natural substrates, Cys and its donors, and Cys donor-based brain-targeting prodrugs by referring to recent investigations. Moreover, the challenges that we are faced with and future research orientations were also addressed and proposed. It is hoped that present review will provide evidence for the pursuit of novel Cys donor-based brain-targeting prodrug.
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Chien HC, Colas C, Finke K, Springer S, Stoner L, Zur AA, Venteicher B, Campbell J, Hall C, Flint A, Augustyn E, Hernandez C, Heeren N, Hansen L, Anthony A, Bauer J, Fotiadis D, Schlessinger A, Giacomini KM, Thomas AA. Reevaluating the Substrate Specificity of the L-Type Amino Acid Transporter (LAT1). J Med Chem 2018; 61:7358-7373. [PMID: 30048132 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1, SLC7A5) transports essential amino acids across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and into cancer cells. To utilize LAT1 for drug delivery, potent amino acid promoieties are desired, as prodrugs must compete with millimolar concentrations of endogenous amino acids. To better understand ligand-transporter interactions that could improve potency, we developed structural LAT1 models to guide the design of substituted analogues of phenylalanine and histidine. Furthermore, we evaluated the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for both enantiomers of naturally occurring LAT1 substrates. Analogues were tested in cis-inhibition and trans-stimulation cell assays to determine potency and uptake rate. Surprisingly, LAT1 can transport amino acid-like substrates with wide-ranging polarities including those containing ionizable substituents. Additionally, the rate of LAT1 transport was generally nonstereoselective even though enantiomers likely exhibit different binding modes. Our findings have broad implications to the development of new treatments for brain disorders and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Chieh Chien
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , California 94158 , United States
| | - Claire Colas
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Karissa Finke
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Seth Springer
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Laura Stoner
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Arik A Zur
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , California 94158 , United States
| | - Brooklynn Venteicher
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Jerome Campbell
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Colton Hall
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Andrew Flint
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Evan Augustyn
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Christopher Hernandez
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Nathan Heeren
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Logan Hansen
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Abby Anthony
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Justine Bauer
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
| | - Dimitrios Fotiadis
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, and Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) TransCure , University of Bern , 3012 Bern , Switzerland
| | - Avner Schlessinger
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Kathleen M Giacomini
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences , University of California, San Francisco , San Francisco , California 94158 , United States
| | - Allen A Thomas
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska at Kearney , Kearney , Nebraska 68849 , United States
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