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Kang DY, Kim HC. Functional relation of agouti signaling proteins (ASIPs) to pigmentation and color change in the starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2024; 291:111524. [PMID: 37981006 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111524] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the involvement of agouti-signaling proteins (ASIPs) in morphological pigmentation and physiological color change in flatfishes. We isolated ASIP1 and 2 mRNAs from the skin of starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus), and compared their amino acid (aa) structures to those of other animals. Then, we examined the mRNA expression levels of two ASIPs (Sf-ASIPs) in the pigmented ocular body and in the unpigmented blind body, as well as in the ordinary skin and in albino skin, in flatfishes. To investigate the role of Sf-ASIPs in physiological color change (color camouflage), we compared the expression of the two genes in two background colors (dark-green and white). Sf-ASIP1 cDNA had a 375-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a protein consisting of 125 aa residues, and Sf-ASIP2 cDNA had a 402-bp ORF that encoded a protein consisting of 132 aa residues. RT-PCR revealed that the strongest Sf-ASIP1 and Sf-ASIP2 expression levels were observed in the eye and blind-skin, respectively. In Sf-ASIP1, the gene expression did not differ between the ocular-side skin and blind-side skin, nor between ordinary skin and abnormal skin of the fish. However, in Sf-ASIP2, the expression level was significantly higher in blind-side skin, compared to ocular-side skin, suggesting that the ASIP2 gene is related to the countershading body pigment pattern of the fish. In addition, the Sf-ASIP2 gene expression level was lower in the pigmented spot regions than in the unpigmented spot regions of the malpigmented pseudo-albino skins on the ocular side, implying that ASIP2 is responsible for the ocular-side pseudo-albino. Additionally, ASIP2 gene expression in the blind-side skin of ordinary fish was enhanced by a white tank, implying that a bright background color could inhibit hypermelanosis in the blind-side skin of cultured flounder by increasing the activity of the Sf-ASIP2 gene. However, we did not find any relationship of ASIPs with camouflage color changes. In conclusion, the ASIP2 gene is related to the morphological pigmentation (countershading and malpigmentation) of the skin in starry flounder, but not with physiological color changes (color camouflage) in the ocular-side skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duk-Young Kang
- National Institute of Fisheries Science, West Sea Fisheries Research Institute, 707 Eulwang-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyo-Chan Kim
- KMS & MC, Molecular research, Haneulbyeolbit-ro, YoungJong-1 dong, Joong-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea
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2
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Zakoh K, Fujiwara K, Takada T, Osada N, Suzuki H. Genealogical characterization of regional populations and dorsal coat color variation in the house mouse Mus musculus from Asia based on haplotype structure analysis of a gene-rich region harboring Mc1r. Genes Genet Syst 2023; 98:73-87. [PMID: 37558462 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.22-00157] [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: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We analyzed 196 haplotype sequences from a gene-rich region (250 kb) that includes Mc1r, a gene involved in coat color regulation, to gain insight into the evolution of coat color variation in subspecies of the house mouse Mus musculus. Phylogenetic networks revealed haplotype groups from the major subspecies of M. m. castaneus (CAS), M. m. domesticus (DOM), and M. m. musculus (MUS). Using haplotype sequences assigned to each of CAS and MUS through phylogenetic analysis, we proposed migration routes associated with prehistoric humans from west to east across Eurasia. Comparing nucleotide diversity among subspecies-specific haplotypes in different geographic areas showed a marked reduction during migration, particularly in MUS-derived haplotypes from Korea and Japan, suggesting intensive population bottlenecks during migration. We found that a C>T polymorphism at site 302 (c.302C>T) in the Mc1r coding region correlated with a darkening of dorsal fur color in both CAS and MUS. However, C/C homozygous mice in MUS showed marked variation in lightness, indicating the possibility of another genetic determinant that affects the lightness of dorsal fur color. Detailed sequence comparisons of haplotypes revealed that short fragments assigned to DOM were embedded in CAS-assigned fragments, indicating ancient introgression between subspecies. The estimated age of c.302C>T also supports the hypothesis that genetic interaction between subspecies occurred in ancient times. This suggests that the genome of M. musculus evolved through gene flow between subspecies over an extended period before the movement of the species in conjunction with prehistoric humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Zakoh
- Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University
| | - Kazumichi Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University
| | - Toyoyuki Takada
- Integrated Bioresource Information Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center
| | - Naoki Osada
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University
| | - Hitoshi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University
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Sooriyabandara MGC, Bandaranayake AU, Hathurusinghe HABM, Jayasundara SM, Marasinghe MSRRP, Prasad GAT, Abeywardana VPMK, Pinidiya MA, Nilanthi RMR, Bandaranayake PCG. A unique single nucleotide polymorphism in Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) gene changes coat colour of Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) to dark black. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0269967. [PMID: 37440497 PMCID: PMC10343082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269967] [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: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is an endangered subspecies restricted to isolated and fragmented populations in Sri Lanka. Among them, melanistic leopards have been recorded on a few occasions. Literature suggests the evolution of melanism several times in the Felidae family, with three species having distinct mutations. Nevertheless, the mutations or other variations in the remaining species, including Sri Lankan melanistic leopard, are unknown. We used reference-based assembled nuclear genomes of Sri Lankan wild type and melanistic leopards and de novo assembled mitogenomes of the same to investigate the genetic basis, adaptive significance, and evolutionary history of the Sri Lankan melanistic leopard. Interestingly, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon-4 Sri Lankan melanistic leopard, which may completely ablate Agouti Signalling Protein (ASIP) function. The wild type leopards in Sri Lanka did not carry this mutation, suggesting the cause for the occurrence of melanistic leopords in the population. Comparative analysis of existing genomic data in the literature suggests it as a P. p. kotiya specific mutation and a novel mutation in the ASIP-gene of the Felidae family, contributing to naturally occurring colour polymorphism. Our data suggested the coalescence time of Sri Lankan leopards at ~0.5 million years, sisters to the Panthera pardus lineage. The genetic diversity was low in Sri Lankan leopards. Further, the P. p. kotiya melanistic leopard is a different morphotype of the P. p. kotiya wildtype leopard resulting from the mutation in the ASIP-gene. The ability of black leopards to camouflage, along with the likelihood of recurrence and transfer to future generations, suggests that this rare mutation could be environment-adaptable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A. U. Bandaranayake
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - H. A. B. M. Hathurusinghe
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | - S. M. Jayasundara
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
| | | | - G. A. T. Prasad
- Department of Wildlife Conservation, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
| | | | - M. A. Pinidiya
- Department of Wildlife Conservation, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
| | | | - P. C. G. Bandaranayake
- Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
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Kempf E, Landgraf K, Stein R, Hanschkow M, Hilbert A, Abou Jamra R, Boczki P, Herberth G, Kühnapfel A, Tseng YH, Stäubert C, Schöneberg T, Kühnen P, Rayner NW, Zeggini E, Kiess W, Blüher M, Körner A. Aberrant expression of agouti signaling protein (ASIP) as a cause of monogenic severe childhood obesity. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1697-1712. [PMID: 36536132 PMCID: PMC9771800 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00703-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Here we report a heterozygous tandem duplication at the ASIP (agouti signaling protein) gene locus causing ubiquitous, ectopic ASIP expression in a female patient with extreme childhood obesity. The mutation places ASIP under control of the ubiquitously active itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase promoter, driving the generation of ASIP in patient-derived native and induced pluripotent stem cells for all germ layers and hypothalamic-like neurons. The patient's phenotype of early-onset obesity, overgrowth, red hair and hyperinsulinemia is concordant with that of mutant mice ubiquitously expressing the homolog nonagouti. ASIP represses melanocyte-stimulating hormone-mediated activation as a melanocortin receptor antagonist, which might affect eating behavior, energy expenditure, adipocyte differentiation and pigmentation, as observed in the index patient. As the type of mutation escapes standard genetic screening algorithms, we rescreened the Leipzig Childhood Obesity cohort of 1,745 patients and identified four additional patients with the identical mutation, ectopic ASIP expression and a similar phenotype. Taken together, our data indicate that ubiquitous ectopic ASIP expression is likely a monogenic cause of human obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kempf
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Kathrin Landgraf
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Stein
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martha Hanschkow
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anja Hilbert
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rami Abou Jamra
- University Medical Center Leipzig, Institute of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Boczki
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gunda Herberth
- Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Kühnapfel
- Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yu-Hua Tseng
- Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Claudia Stäubert
- Division of Molecular Biochemistry, Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Torsten Schöneberg
- Division of Molecular Biochemistry, Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter Kühnen
- Institute for Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - N William Rayner
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eleftheria Zeggini
- Institute of Translational Genomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- TUM School of Medicine, Translational Genomics, Technical University of Munich and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Medical Department III-Endocrinology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Körner
- University Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- LIFE-Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Yuan XC, Tao YX. Ligands for Melanocortin Receptors: Beyond Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones and Adrenocorticotropin. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12101407. [PMID: 36291616 PMCID: PMC9599618 DOI: 10.3390/biom12101407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of melanocortins in 1916 has resulted in more than 100 years of research focused on these peptides. Extensive studies have elucidated well-established functions of melanocortins mediated by cell surface receptors, including MSHR (melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor) and ACTHR (adrenocorticotropin receptor). Subsequently, three additional melanocortin receptors (MCRs) were identified. Among these five MCRs, MC3R and MC4R are expressed primarily in the central nervous system, and are therefore referred to as the neural MCRs. Since the central melanocortin system plays important roles in regulating energy homeostasis, targeting neural MCRs is emerging as a therapeutic approach for treating metabolic conditions such as obesity and cachexia. Early efforts modifying endogenous ligands resulted in the development of many potent and selective ligands. This review focuses on the ligands for neural MCRs, including classical ligands (MSH and agouti-related peptide), nonclassical ligands (lipocalin 2, β-defensin, small molecules, and pharmacoperones), and clinically approved ligands (ACTH, setmelanotide, bremelanotide, and several repurposed drugs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Chen Yuan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230061, China
| | - Ya-Xiong Tao
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Correspondence:
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6
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Guida S, Guida G, Goding CR. MC1R Functions, Expression, and Implications for Targeted Therapy. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:293-302.e1. [PMID: 34362555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The G protein-coupled MC1R is expressed in melanocytes and has a pivotal role in human skin pigmentation, with reduced function in human genetic variants exhibiting a red hair phenotype and increased melanoma predisposition. Beyond its role in pigmentation, MC1R is increasingly recognized as promoting UV-induced DNA damage repair. Consequently, there is mounting interest in targeting MC1R for therapeutic benefit. However, whether MC1R expression is restricted to melanocytes or is more widely expressed remains a matter of debate. In this paper, we review MC1R function and highlight that unbiased analysis suggests that its expression is restricted to melanocytes, granulocytes, and the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Guida
- Dermatology Unit, Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Guida
- Molecular Biology Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Colin Ronald Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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7
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Whole genome analysis of water buffalo and global cattle breeds highlights convergent signatures of domestication. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4739. [PMID: 32958756 PMCID: PMC7505982 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18550-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
More people globally depend on the water buffalo than any other domesticated species, and as the most closely related domesticated species to cattle they can provide important insights into the shared evolutionary basis of domestication. Here, we sequence the genomes of 79 water buffalo across seven breeds and compare patterns of between breed selective sweeps with those seen for 294 cattle genomes representing 13 global breeds. The genomic regions under selection between cattle breeds significantly overlap regions linked to stature in human genetic studies, with a disproportionate number of these loci also shown to be under selection between water buffalo breeds. Investigation of potential functional variants in the water buffalo genome identifies a rare example of convergent domestication down to the same mutation having independently occurred and been selected for across domesticated species. Cross-species comparisons of recent selective sweeps can consequently help identify and refine important loci linked to domestication. The comparative genomics of domesticated lineages can yield insights into the signatures of artificial selection. This study sequences 79 water buffalo genomes from 7 breeds and reveals examples of convergent domestication at the genetic level between water buffalo and cattle.
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8
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Zhang L, Yin SJ, Zheng X, Chen X, Wang Q, Park YD, Qian GY, Si YX. Screening and analysis of agouti signaling protein interaction partners in Pelodiscus sinensis suggests a role in lipid metabolism. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 157:695-705. [PMID: 31794826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.11.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Agouti signaling protein (ASP) is a secreted paracrine protein that has been widely reported to function in melanogenesis and obesity and could potentially be a core protein that regulates the color and fatty phenotype of P. sinensis. In this study, we screened out interacting proteins of ASP by combined co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry (CoIP-MS), yeast two hybrid (Y2H) analysis, and computational predictions. We performed docking of ASP with its well-known receptor melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) to predict the binding capacity and to screen out actual ASP interacting proteins, CoIP-MS was performed where identified 32 proteins that could bind with ASP and Y2H confirmed seven proteins binding with ASP directly. CoIP-MS and Y2H screening results including PPI prediction revealed that vitronectin (VTN), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and filamin B (FLNB) were the key interacting proteins of ASP. VTN, APOA1, and APOB are functional proteins in lipid metabolism and various skin disorders, suggesting ASP may function in lipid metabolism through these partners. This study provided protein-protein interaction information of ASP, and the results will promote further research into the diverse roles of ASP, as well as its binding partners, and their function in different strains of P. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China; College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China
| | - Shang-Jun Yin
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China
| | - Xuanwei Chen
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China
| | - Yong-Doo Park
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China; Skin Diseases Research Center, Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing 314006, PR China; Department of Dermatology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Guo-Ying Qian
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315100, PR China.
| | - Yue-Xiu Si
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, PR China.
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9
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Koerperich ZM, Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Speth RC, Pogozheva ID, Mosberg HI, Haskell-Luevano C. Incorporation of Agouti-Related Protein (AgRP) Human Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the AgRP-Derived Macrocyclic Scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-dPro] Decreases Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonist Potency and Results in the Discovery of Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists. J Med Chem 2020; 63:2194-2208. [PMID: 31845801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are known to be involved in numerous biological pathways, the potential roles of the MC5R have not been clearly elucidated in humans. Agouti-related protein (AgRP), an MC3R/MC4R antagonist and MC4R inverse agonist, contains an exposed β-hairpin loop composed of six residues (Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe) that is imperative for binding and function. Within this active loop of AgRP, four human missense polymorphisms were deposited into the NIH Variation Viewer database. These polymorphisms, Arg111Cys, Arg111His, Phe112Tyr, and Ala115Val (AgRP full-length numbering), were incorporated into the peptide macrocycles c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Xaa5-Ala6-Phe7-dPro8], where Xaa was Dap5 or Asn5, to explore the functional effects of these naturally occurring substitutions in a simplified AgRP scaffold. All peptides lowered potency at least 10-fold in a cAMP accumulation assay compared to the parent sequences at the MC4Rs. Compounds MDE 6-82-3c, ZMK 2-82, MDE 6-82-1c, ZMK 2-85, and ZMK 2-112 are also the first AgRP-based chemotypes that antagonize the MC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe M Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Robert C Speth
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328-2018, United States.,College of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Irina D Pogozheva
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Henry I Mosberg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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10
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Cal L, Suarez-Bregua P, Comesaña P, Owen J, Braasch I, Kelsh R, Cerdá-Reverter JM, Rotllant J. Countershading in zebrafish results from an Asip1 controlled dorsoventral gradient of pigment cell differentiation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3449. [PMID: 30837630 PMCID: PMC6401153 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40251-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dorso-ventral (DV) countershading is a highly-conserved pigmentary adaptation in vertebrates. In mammals, spatially regulated expression of agouti-signaling protein (ASIP) generates the difference in shading by driving a switch between the production of chemically-distinct melanins in melanocytes in dorsal and ventral regions. In contrast, fish countershading seemed to result from a patterned DV distribution of differently-coloured cell-types (chromatophores). Despite the cellular differences in the basis for counter-shading, previous observations suggested that Agouti signaling likely played a role in this patterning process in fish. To test the hypotheses that Agouti regulated counter-shading in fish, and that this depended upon spatial regulation of the numbers of each chromatophore type, we engineered asip1 homozygous knockout mutant zebrafish. We show that loss-of-function asip1 mutants lose DV countershading, and that this results from changed numbers of multiple pigment cell-types in the skin and on scales. Our findings identify asip1 as key in the establishment of DV countershading in fish, but show that the cellular mechanism for translating a conserved signaling gradient into a conserved pigmentary phenotype has been radically altered in the course of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cal
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Aquaculture. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, 36208, Spain
| | - Paula Suarez-Bregua
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Aquaculture. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, 36208, Spain
| | - Pilar Comesaña
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Aquaculture. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, 36208, Spain
| | - Jennifer Owen
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry and Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Ingo Braasch
- Department of Integrative Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Robert Kelsh
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry and Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | | | - Josep Rotllant
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Aquaculture. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, 36208, Spain.
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11
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Fleming KA, Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Adank DN, Lunzer MM, Wilber SL, Haskell-Luevano C. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of a Macrocyclic AGRP-Mimetic Scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro] Yield Potent and Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonists and Melanocortin-5 Receptor Inverse Agonists That Increase Food Intake in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:1141-1151. [PMID: 29363944 PMCID: PMC5955836 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system has five receptors, and antagonists of the central melanocortin receptors (MC3R, MC4R) are postulated to be viable therapeutics for disorders of negative energy balance such as anorexia, cachexia, and failure to thrive. Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is an antagonist of the MC3R and an antagonist/inverse agonist of the MC4R. Biophysical NMR-based structural studies have demonstrated that the active sequence of this hormone, Arg-Phe-Phe, is located on an exposed β-hairpin loop. It has previously been demonstrated that the macrocyclic octapeptide scaffold c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Asn5-Ala6-Phe7-DPro8] is 16-fold less potent than AGRP at the mouse MC4R (mMC4R). Herein it was hypothesized that the Phe7 position may be substituted to produce more potent and/or selective melanocortin receptor antagonist ligands based on this template. A 10-membered library was synthesized that substituted small (Gly), polar (Ser), acidic (Asp), basic (Lys), aliphatic (Leu, Nle, and Cha), and aromatic (Trp, Tyr, hPhe) amino acids to explore potential modifications at the Phe7 position. The most potent mMC4R antagonist contained a Nle7 substitution, was equipotent to the lead ligand 200-fold selective for the mMC4R over the mMC3R, and caused a significant increase in food intake when injected intrathecally into male mice. Three compounds possessed sigmoidal dose-response inverse agonist curves at the mMC5R, while the remaining seven decreased cAMP production from basal levels at a concentration of 100 μM. These findings will add to the knowledge base toward the development of potent and selective probes to study the role of the melanocortin system in diseases of negative energy balance and can be useful in the design of molecular probes to examine the physiological functions of the mMC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katlyn A. Fleming
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D. Ericson
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Danielle N. Adank
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mary M. Lunzer
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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12
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Kansal RG, McCravy MS, Basham JH, Earl JA, McMurray SL, Starner CJ, Whitt MA, Albritton LM. Inhibition of melanocortin 1 receptor slows melanoma growth, reduces tumor heterogeneity and increases survival. Oncotarget 2018; 7:26331-45. [PMID: 27028866 PMCID: PMC5041983 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma risk is increased in patients with mutations of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) yet the basis for the increased risk remains unknown. Here we report in vivo evidence supporting a critical role for MC1R in regulating melanoma tumor growth and determining overall survival time. Inhibition of MC1R by its physiologically relevant competitive inhibitor, agouti signaling protein (ASIP), reduced melanin synthesis and morphological heterogeneity in murine B16-F10 melanoma cells. In the lungs of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice, mCherry-marked, ASIP-secreting lung tumors inhibited MC1R on neighboring tumors lacking ASIP in a dose dependent manner as evidenced by a proportional loss of pigment in tumors from mice injected with 1:1, 3:1 and 4:1 mixtures of parental B16-F10 to ASIP-expressing tumor cells. ASIP-expressing B16-F10 cells formed poorly pigmented tumors in vivo that correlated with a 20% longer median survival than those bearing parental B16-F10 tumors (p=0.0005). Mice injected with 1:1 mixtures also showed survival benefit (p=0.0054), whereas injection of a 4:1 mixture showed no significant difference in survival. The longer survival time of mice bearing ASIP-expressing tumors correlated with a significantly slower growth rate than parental B16-F10 tumors as judged by quantification of numbers of tumors and total tumor load (p=0.0325), as well as a more homogeneous size and morphology of ASIP-expressing lung tumors. We conclude that MC1R plays an important role in regulating melanoma growth and morphology. Persistent inhibition of MC1R provided a significant survival advantage resulting in part from slower tumor growth, establishing MC1R as a compelling new molecular target for metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita G Kansal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Matthew S McCravy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Jacob H Basham
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Joshua A Earl
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Stacy L McMurray
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Chelsey J Starner
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Michael A Whitt
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Lorraine M Albritton
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
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13
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Sasamori S, Wiewel AS, Thomson VA, Kobayashi M, Nakata K, Suzuki H. Potential Causative Mutation for Melanism in Rats Identified in the Agouti Signaling Protein Gene (Asip) of the Rattus rattus Species Complex on Okinawa Island, Japan. Zoolog Sci 2017; 34:513-522. [PMID: 29219041 DOI: 10.2108/zs170027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of black fur, or melanism, in many mammalian species is known to be linked to DNA sequence variation in the agouti signaling protein (Asip) gene, which is a major determinant of eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments in coat color. We investigated 38 agouti (i.e., banded wildtype) and four melanistic Rattus rattus species complex (RrC) lineage II specimens from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, for genetic variation in three exons and associated flanking regions in the Asip gene. On Okinawa, a predicted loss-of-function mutation caused by a cysteine to serine amino acid change at p.124C>S (c.370T>A) in the highly conserved functional domain of Asip was found in melanistic rats, but was absent in agouti specimens, suggesting that the p.124C>S mutation is responsible for the observed melanism. Phylogeographic analysis found that Asip sequences from Okinawan RrC lineage II, including both agouti and melanistic specimens, differed from: 1) both agouti and melanistic RrC lineage I from Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan, and 2) agouti RrC lineages I and II from South Australia. This suggests the possibility of in-situ mutation of the Asip gene, either within the RrC lineage II population on Okinawa or in an unsampled RrC lineage II population with biogeographic links to Okinawa, although incomplete lineage sorting could not be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Sasamori
- 1 Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Andrew S Wiewel
- 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Vicki A Thomson
- 2 School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Motoko Kobayashi
- 1 Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Katsushi Nakata
- 3 Yambaru Wildlife Conservation Center, Ministry of the Environment, Kunigami-son, Okinawa 905-1413, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Suzuki
- 1 Division of Bioscience, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
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14
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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Schnell SM, Fleming KA, Haskell-Luevano C. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies on a Macrocyclic Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Scaffold Reveal Agouti Signaling Protein (ASP) Residue Substitutions Maintain Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonist Potency and Result in Inverse Agonist Pharmacology at the Melanocortin-5 Receptor. J Med Chem 2017; 60:8103-8114. [PMID: 28813605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin system consists of five reported receptors, agonists from the proopiomelanocortin gene transcript, and two antagonists, agouti-signaling protein (ASP) and agouti-related protein (AGRP). For both ASP and AGRP, the hypothesized Arg-Phe-Phe pharmacophores are on exposed β-hairpin loops. In this study, the Asn and Ala positions of a reported AGRP macrocyclic scaffold (c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro]) were explored with 14-compound and 8-compound libraries, respectively, to generate more potent, selective melanocortin receptor antagonists. Substituting diaminopropionic acid (Dap), DDap, and His at the Asn position yielded potent MC4R ligands, while replacing Ala with Ser maintained MC4R potency. Since these substitutions correlate to ASP loop residues, an additional Phe to Ala substitution was synthesized and observed to maintain MC4R potency. Seventeen compounds also possessed inverse agonist activity at the MC5R, the first report of this pharmacology. These findings are useful in developing molecular probes to study negative energy balance conditions and unidentified functions of the MC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sathya M Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katlyn A Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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15
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Ericson MD, Lensing CJ, Fleming KA, Schlasner KN, Doering SR, Haskell-Luevano C. Bench-top to clinical therapies: A review of melanocortin ligands from 1954 to 2016. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:2414-2435. [PMID: 28363699 PMCID: PMC5600687 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the endogenous melanocortin agonists in the 1950s have resulted in sixty years of melanocortin ligand research. Early efforts involved truncations or select modifications of the naturally occurring agonists leading to the development of many potent and selective ligands. With the identification and cloning of the five known melanocortin receptors, many ligands were improved upon through bench-top in vitro assays. Optimization of select properties resulted in ligands adopted as clinical candidates. A summary of every melanocortin ligand is outside the scope of this review. Instead, this review will focus on the following topics: classic melanocortin ligands, selective ligands, small molecule (non-peptide) ligands, ligands with sex-specific effects, bivalent and multivalent ligands, and ligands advanced to clinical trials. Each topic area will be summarized with current references to update the melanocortin field on recent progress. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Melanocortin Receptors - edited by Ya-Xiong Tao.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Cody J Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katlyn A Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katherine N Schlasner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Skye R Doering
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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16
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Cal L, Suarez-Bregua P, Cerdá-Reverter JM, Braasch I, Rotllant J. Fish pigmentation and the melanocortin system. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2017; 211:26-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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17
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Kodama S, Nunome M, Moriwaki K, Suzuki H. Ancient onset of geographical divergence, interpopulation genetic exchange, and natural selection on theMc1rcoat-colour gene in the house mouse (Mus musculus). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Kodama
- Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics; Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science; Hokkaido University; Kita-ku Sapporo 060-0810 Japan
| | - Mitsuo Nunome
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics; Department of Applied Molecular Biosciences; Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences; Nagoya University; Furo-cho Chikusa-ku Nagoya 464-8601 Japan
| | - Kazuo Moriwaki
- RIKEN; Bioresource Center; Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-0074 Japan
| | - Hitoshi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics; Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science; Hokkaido University; Kita-ku Sapporo 060-0810 Japan
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18
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García-Borrón JC, Abdel-Malek Z, Jiménez-Cervantes C. MC1R, the cAMP pathway, and the response to solar UV: extending the horizon beyond pigmentation. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2014; 27:699-720. [PMID: 24807163 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a G protein-coupled receptor crucial for the regulation of melanocyte proliferation and function. Upon binding melanocortins, MC1R activates several signaling cascades, notably the cAMP pathway leading to synthesis of photoprotective eumelanin. Polymorphisms in the MC1R gene are a major source of normal variation of human hair color and skin pigmentation, response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and skin cancer susceptibility. The identification of a surprisingly high number of MC1R natural variants strongly associated with pigmentary phenotypes and increased skin cancer risk has prompted research on the functional properties of the wild-type receptor and frequent mutant alleles. We summarize current knowledge on MC1R structural and functional properties, as well as on its intracellular trafficking and signaling. We also review the current knowledge about the function of MC1R as a skin cancer, particularly melanoma, susceptibility gene and how it modulates the response of melanocytes to UVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose C García-Borrón
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
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19
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Agouti signalling protein is an inverse agonist to the wildtype and agonist to the melanic variant of the melanocortin-1 receptor in the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). FEBS Lett 2014; 588:2335-43. [PMID: 24879893 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is a key regulator of mammalian pigmentation. Melanism in the grey squirrel is associated with an eight amino acid deletion in the mutant melanocortin-1 receptor with 24 base pair deletion (MC1RΔ24) variant. We demonstrate that the MC1RΔ24 exhibits a higher basal activity than the wildtype MC1R (MC1R-wt). We demonstrate that agouti signalling protein (ASIP) is an inverse agonist to the MC1R-wt but is an agonist to the MC1RΔ24. We conclude that the deletion in the MC1RΔ24 leads to a receptor with a high basal activity which is further activated by ASIP. This is the first report of ASIP acting as an agonist to MC1R.
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20
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Chandramohan B, Renieri C, La Manna V, La Terza A. The alpaca agouti gene: Genomic locus, transcripts and causative mutations of eumelanic and pheomelanic coat color. Gene 2013; 521:303-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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21
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Cai M, Stankova M, Muthu D, Mayorov A, Yang Z, Trivedi D, Cabello C, Hruby VJ. An unusual conformation of γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogues leads to a selective human melanocortin 1 receptor antagonist for targeting melanoma cells. Biochemistry 2013; 52:752-64. [PMID: 23276279 PMCID: PMC3641192 DOI: 10.1021/bi300723f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
γ-MSH (γ-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, H-Tyr-Val-Met-Gly-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Asp-Arg-Phe-Gly-OH), with its exquisite specificity and potency, has recently created much excitement as a drug lead. However, this peptide is like most peptides susceptible to proteolysis in vivo, which potentially decreases its beneficial activities. In our continued effort to design a proteolytically stable ligand with specific receptor binding, we have engineered peptides by cyclizing γ-MSH using a thioether bridge. A number of novel cyclic truncated γ-MSH analogues were designed and synthesized, in which a thioether bridge was incorporated between a cysteine side chain and an N-terminal bromoacyl group. One of these peptides, cyclo-[(CH(2))(3)CO-Gly(1)-His(2)-D-Phe(3)-Arg(4)-D-Trp(5)-Cys(S-)(6)]-Asp(7)-Arg(8)-Phe(9)-Gly(10)-NH(2), demonstrated potent antagonist activity and receptor selectivity for the human melanocortin 1 receptor (hMC1R) (IC(50) = 17 nM). This novel peptide is the most selective antagonist for the hMC1R to date. Further pharmacological studies have shown that this peptide can specifically target melanoma cells. The nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of this peptide in a membrane-like environment revealed a new turn structure, specific to the hMC1R antagonist, at the C-terminus, where the side chain and backbone conformation of D-Trp(5) and Phe(9) of the peptide contribute to hMC1R selectivity. Cyclization strategies represent an approach for stabilizing bioactive peptides while keeping their full potencies and should boost applications of peptide-based drugs in human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minying Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | | | - Dhanasekaran Muthu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Alexander Mayorov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Zhehui Yang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Devendra Trivedi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Christopher Cabello
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Victor J. Hruby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 1306 E. University Blvd., University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
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22
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Suzuki H. Evolutionary and phylogeographic views on Mc1r and Asip variation in mammals. Genes Genet Syst 2013; 88:155-64. [DOI: 10.1266/ggs.88.155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Suzuki
- Laboratory of Ecology and Genetics, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University
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23
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Guillot R, Ceinos RM, Cal R, Rotllant J, Cerdá-Reverter JM. Transient ectopic overexpression of agouti-signalling protein 1 (asip1) induces pigment anomalies in flatfish. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48526. [PMID: 23251332 PMCID: PMC3519472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
While flatfish in the wild exhibit a pronounced countershading of the dorso-ventral pigment pattern, malpigmentation is commonly observed in reared animals. In fish, the dorso-ventral pigment polarity is achieved because a melanization inhibition factor (MIF) inhibits melanoblast differentiation and encourages iridophore proliferation in the ventrum. A previous work of our group suggested that asip1 is the uncharacterized MIF concerned. In order to further support this hypothesis, we have characterized asip1 mRNAs in both turbot and sole and used deduced peptide alignments to analyze the evolutionary history of the agouti-family of peptides. The putative asip precursors have the characteristics of a secreted protein, displaying a putative hydrophobic signal. Processing of the potential signal peptide produces mature proteins that include an N-terminal region, a basic central domain with a high proportion of lysine residues as well as a proline-rich region that immediately precedes the C-terminal poly-cysteine domain. The expression of asip1 mRNA in the ventral area was significantly higher than in the dorsal region. Similarly, the expression of asip1 within the unpigmented patches in the dorsal skin of pseudoalbino fish was higher than in the pigmented dorsal regions but similar to those levels observed in the ventral skin. In addition, the injection/electroporation of asip1 capped mRNA in both species induced long term dorsal skin paling, suggesting the inhibition of the melanogenic pathways. The data suggest that fish asip1 is involved in the dorsal-ventral pigment patterning in adult fish, where it induces the regulatory asymmetry involved in precursor differentiation into mature chromatophore. Adult dorsal pseudoalbinism seems to be the consequence of the expression of normal developmental pathways in an inaccurate position that results in unbalanced asip1 production levels. This, in turn, generates a ventral-like differentiation environment in dorsal regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raúl Guillot
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS-CSIC), Castellón, Spain
| | - Rosa Maria Ceinos
- Aquatic Molecular Pathobiology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
| | - Rosa Cal
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía de Vigo (IEO), Vigo, Spain
| | - Josep Rotllant
- Aquatic Molecular Pathobiology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IIM-CSIC), Vigo, Spain
| | - José Miguel Cerdá-Reverter
- Department of Fish Physiology and Biotechnology, Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IATS-CSIC), Castellón, Spain
- * E-mail:
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24
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Ersoy BA, Pardo L, Zhang S, Thompson DA, Millhauser G, Govaerts C, Vaisse C. Mechanism of N-terminal modulation of activity at the melanocortin-4 receptor GPCR. Nat Chem Biol 2012; 8:725-30. [PMID: 22729149 PMCID: PMC3657613 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Most of our understanding of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation has been focused on the direct interaction between diffusible ligands and their seven-transmembrane domains. However, a number of these receptors depend on their extracellular N-terminal domain for ligand recognition and activation. To dissect the molecular interactions underlying both modes of activation at a single receptor, we used the unique properties of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a GPCR that shows constitutive activity maintained by its N-terminal domain and is physiologically activated by the peptide α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH). We find that activation by the N-terminal domain and αMSH relies on different key residues in the transmembrane region. We also demonstrate that agouti-related protein, a physiological antagonist of MC4R, acts as an inverse agonist by inhibiting N terminus-mediated activation, leading to the speculation that a number of constitutively active orphan GPCRs could have physiological inverse agonists as sole regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baran A Ersoy
- Department of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- The Diabetes Center, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sumei Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- The Diabetes Center, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Darren A Thompson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California–Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Glenn Millhauser
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California–Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Cedric Govaerts
- Structure et Fonction des Membranes Biologiques, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christian Vaisse
- Department of Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- The Diabetes Center, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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25
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Madonna ME, Schurdak J, Yang YK, Benoit S, Millhauser GL. Agouti-related protein segments outside of the receptor binding core are required for enhanced short- and long-term feeding stimulation. ACS Chem Biol 2012; 7:395-402. [PMID: 22129136 DOI: 10.1021/cb2003412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The agouti-related protein (AgRP) plays a central role in energy balance by reducing signaling through the hypothalamic melanocortin receptors (McRs) 3 and 4, in turn stimulating feeding and decreasing energy expenditure. Mature AgRP(83-132), produced by endoproteolytic processing, contains a central region that folds as an inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) stabilized by a network of disulfide bonds; this domain alone carries the molecular features for high affinity McR binding and inverse agonism. Outside of the ICK domain are two polypeptide segments, an N-terminal extension and a C-terminal loop, both completely conserved but of unknown function. Here we examine the physiological roles of these non-ICK segments by developing a panel of modified AgRPs that were administered to rats through intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. Analysis of food consumption demonstrates that basic (positively charged) residues are essential for potent short- and long-term AgRP stimulated feeding. Moreover, we demonstrate an approximate linear relationship between protein charge density and 24 h food intake. Next, we developed artificial AgRP(83-132) analogues with increased positive charge and found that these species were substantially more potent than wild type. A single dose of one protein, designated AgRP-4K, results in enhanced feeding for well over a week and weight gain that is nearly double that of AgRP(83-132). These studies suggest new strategies for the development of potent orexigenic species and may serve as leads for the development of therapeutics for treating wasting conditions such as cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E. Madonna
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of California,
Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Jennifer Schurdak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237, United
States
| | - Ying-kui Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
35205, United States
| | - Stephen Benoit
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237, United
States
| | - Glenn L. Millhauser
- Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry, University of California,
Santa Cruz, California 95064, United States
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Targeting protein-trafficking pathways alters melanoma treatment sensitivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 109:553-8. [PMID: 22203954 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1118366109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-trafficking pathways are targeted here in human melanoma cells using methods independent of oncogene mutational status, and the ability to up-regulate and down-regulate tumor treatment sensitivity is demonstrated. Sensitivity of melanoma cells to cis-diaminedichloroplatinum II (cDDP, cis-platin), carboplatin, dacarbazine, or temozolomide together with velaparib, an inhibitor of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase 1, is increased by up to 10-fold by targeting genes that regulate both protein trafficking and the formation of melanosomes, intracellular organelles unique to melanocytes and melanoma cells. Melanoma cells depleted of either of the protein-trafficking regulators vacuolar protein sorting 33A protein (VPS33A) or cappuccino protein (CNO) have increased nuclear localization of cDDP, increased nuclear DNA damage by platination, and increased apoptosis, resulting in increased treatment sensitivity. Depleted cells also exhibit a decreased proportion of intracellular, mature melanosomes compared with undepleted cells. Modulation of protein trafficking via cell-surface signaling by binding the melanocortin 1 receptor with the antagonist agouti-signaling protein decreased the proportion of mature melanosomes formed and increased cDDP sensitivity, whereas receptor binding with the agonist melanocyte-stimulating hormone resulted in an increased proportion of mature melanosomes formed and in decreased sensitivity (i.e., increased resistance) to cDDP. Mutation of the protein-trafficking gene Hps6, known to impair the formation of mature melanosomes, also increased cDDP sensitivity. Together, these results indicate that targeting protein-trafficking molecules markedly increases melanoma treatment sensitivity and influences the degree of melanosomes available for sequestration of therapeutic agents.
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