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Mumtaz SM, Khan MA, Jamal A, Hattiwale SH, Parvez S. Toxin-derived peptides: An unconventional approach to alleviating cerebral stroke burden and neurobehavioral impairments. Life Sci 2024; 351:122777. [PMID: 38851419 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122777] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral stroke is a pressing global health concern, ranking as the second leading cause of mortality and resulting in persistent neurobehavioral impairments. Cerebral strokes, triggered by various embolic events, initiate complex signaling pathways involving neuroexcitotoxicity, ionic imbalances, inflammation, oxidative stress, acidosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to programmed cell death. Currently, the FDA has approved tissue plasminogen activator as a relatively benign intervention for cerebral stroke, leaving a significant treatment gap. However, a promising avenue has emerged from Earth's toxic creatures. Animal venoms harbor bioactive molecules, particularly neuropeptides, with potential in innovative healthcare applications. These venomous components, affecting ion channels, receptors, and transporters, encompass neurochemicals, amino acids, and peptides, making them prime candidates for treating cerebral ischemia and neurological disorders. This review explores the composition, applications, and significance of toxin-derived peptides as viable therapeutic agents. It also investigates diverse toxins from select venomous creatures, with the primary objective of shedding light on current stroke treatments and paving the way for pioneering therapeutic strategies capable of addressing neurobehavioral deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Md Mumtaz
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Mohammad Ahmed Khan
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Azfar Jamal
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; Health and Basic Science Research Centre, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaheenkousar H Hattiwale
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suhel Parvez
- Department of Toxicology, School of Chemical and Life Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India.
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2
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Pereira AC, Cunha AOS, Mortari MR, Fachim HA, Campos GAA, Lopes NP, Dos Santos WF. Antiepileptic profile of Parawixin-11, purified from Parawixia bistriata spider venom (Araneae, Araneidae), in Wistar rats. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03299-x. [PMID: 39042155 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03299-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
The pharmacological treatment of epilepsy is often complex due to the lack of efficacy in many patients and profound side effects from current drugs, including sedation, motor impairment, and teratogenesis. In the quest for new antiepileptic drugs, animal venoms offer a valuable source of neuroactive molecules targeting ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. This study investigates the antiepileptic potential of compounds isolated from the venom of the Parawixia bistriata spider. One compound, designated Parawixin-11, demonstrated significant anticonvulsant effects when injected into the cerebral ventricle in a dose-response manner. It effectively countered seizures induced by bicuculline (ED50 0.16 µg/animal), pentylenetetrazole (ED50 0.08 µg/animal), strychnine (ED50 0.05 µg/animal), pilocarpine (ED50 0.10 µg/animal), and NMDA (ED50 0.008 µg/animal). We also assessed whether intracerebroventricular administration of Parawixin-11 caused motor or cognitive impairments in rats using the open field, rotarod, and Morris water maze tests. No differences in exploration or movement were observed with doses of 0.3, 0.2, or 0.1 µg of Parawixin-11. Although there was an increased latency to find the platform during the acquisition phase of the Morris water maze test, no differences in spatial memory retention were noted. Given Parawixin-11's potency against NMDA-induced seizures, we hypothesize that it may modulate the glutamatergic system, aligning with the mechanisms of several spider-derived polyamines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Colsera Pereira
- Neurobiology and Venoms Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14040-090, Brazil
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Olimpio Siqueira Cunha
- Neurobiology and Venoms Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14040-090, Brazil
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Márcia Renata Mortari
- Neurobiology and Venoms Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14040-090, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Helene Aparecida Fachim
- Neurobiology and Venoms Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14040-090, Brazil
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Avohay Alves Campos
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Norberto Peporine Lopes
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Physics and Chemistry, Ribeirão Preto School of Pharmacy (FCFRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner Ferreira Dos Santos
- Neurobiology and Venoms Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature (FFCLRP), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, CEP: 14040-090, Brazil.
- Instituto de Neurociências e Comportamento (INeC), Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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3
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Rádis-Baptista G, Konno K. Spider and Wasp Acylpolyamines: Venom Components and Versatile Pharmacological Leads, Probes, and Insecticidal Agents. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:234. [PMID: 38922129 PMCID: PMC11209471 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16060234] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyamines (PAs) are polycationic biogenic amines ubiquitously present in all life forms and are involved in molecular signaling and interaction, determining cell fate (e.g., cell proliferation, dif-ferentiation, and apoptosis). The intricate balance in the PAs' levels in the tissues will determine whether beneficial or detrimental effects will affect homeostasis. It's crucial to note that endoge-nous polyamines, like spermine and spermidine, play a pivotal role in our understanding of neu-rological disorders as they interact with membrane receptors and ion channels, modulating neuro-transmission. In spiders and wasps, monoamines (histamine, dopamine, serotonin, tryptamine) and polyamines (spermine, spermidine, acyl polyamines) comprise, with peptides and other sub-stances, the low molecular weight fraction of the venom. Acylpolyamines are venom components exclusively from spiders and a species of solitary wasp, which cause inhibition chiefly of iono-tropic glutamate receptors (AMPA, NMDA, and KA iGluRs) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The first venom acylpolyamines ever discovered (argiopines, Joro and Nephila toxins, and philanthotoxins) have provided templates for the design and synthesis of numerous analogs. Thus far, analogs with high potency exert their effect at nanomolar concentrations, with high se-lectivity toward their ionotropic and ligand receptors. These potent and selective acylpolyamine analogs can serve biomedical purposes and pest control management. The structural modification of acylpolyamine with photolabile and fluorescent groups converted these venom toxins into use-ful molecular probes to discriminate iGluRs and nAchRs in cell populations. In various cases, the linear polyamines, like spermine and spermidine, constituting venom acyl polyamine backbones, have served as cargoes to deliver active molecules via a polyamine uptake system on diseased cells for targeted therapy. In this review, we examined examples of biogenic amines that play an essential role in neural homeostasis and cell signaling, contributing to human health and disease outcomes, which can be present in the venom of arachnids and hymenopterans. With an empha-sis on the spider and wasp venom acylpolyamines, we focused on the origin, structure, derivatiza-tion, and biomedical and biotechnological application of these pharmacologically attractive, chemically modular venom components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gandhi Rádis-Baptista
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Institute for Marine Sciences, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza 60165-081, Brazil
| | - Katsuhiro Konno
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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4
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Fontana ACK, Poli AN, Gour J, Srikanth YV, Anastasi N, Ashok D, Khatiwada A, Reeb KL, Cheng MH, Bahar I, Rawls SM, Salvino JM. Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships for Glutamate Transporter Allosteric Modulators. J Med Chem 2024; 67:6119-6143. [PMID: 38626917 PMCID: PMC11056993 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01909] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are essential CNS proteins that regulate glutamate levels. Excess glutamate release and alteration in EAAT expression are associated with several CNS disorders. Previously, we identified positive allosteric modulators (PAM) of EAAT2, the main CNS transporter, and have demonstrated their neuroprotective properties in vitro. Herein, we report on the structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the analogs identified from virtual screening and from our medicinal chemistry campaign. This work identified several selective EAAT2 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) such as compounds 4 (DA-023) and 40 (NA-014) from a library of analogs inspired by GT949, an early generation compound. This series also provides nonselective EAAT PAMs, EAAT inhibitors, and inactive compounds that may be useful for elucidating the mechanism of EAAT allosteric modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréia C. K. Fontana
- Department
of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University
College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Adi N.R. Poli
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jitendra Gour
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Yellamelli V.V. Srikanth
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Nicholas Anastasi
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Devipriya Ashok
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Apeksha Khatiwada
- Department
of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University
College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Katelyn L. Reeb
- Department
of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University
College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, United States
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Laufer
Center for Physical & Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department
of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, College of Arts & Sciences and
School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, United States
- Laufer
Center for Physical & Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony
Brook, New York 11794, United States
| | - Scott M. Rawls
- Center
for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140United States
| | - Joseph M. Salvino
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis (MCO) Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- The
Wistar
Cancer Center Molecular Screening, The Wistar
Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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5
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Fontana IC, Souza DG, Souza DO, Gee A, Zimmer ER, Bongarzone S. A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective on Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2330-2346. [PMID: 36787643 PMCID: PMC9969404 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) plays a key role in the clearance and recycling of glutamate - the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. EAAT2 loss/dysfunction triggers a cascade of neurodegenerative events, comprising glutamatergic excitotoxicity and neuronal death. Nevertheless, our current knowledge regarding EAAT2 in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), is restricted to post-mortem analysis of brain tissue and experimental models. Thus, detecting EAAT2 in the living human brain might be crucial to improve diagnosis/therapy for ALS and AD. This perspective article describes the role of EAAT2 in physio/pathological processes and provides a structure-activity relationship of EAAT2-binders, bringing two perspectives: therapy (activators) and diagnosis (molecular imaging tools).
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor C Fontana
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.,Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16 - Neo floor seventh, 141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Débora G Souza
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Diogo O Souza
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Antony Gee
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo R Zimmer
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite 500, sala, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (PPGBioq), and Pharmacology and Therapeutics (PPGFT), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite 500, sala, 305 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Salvatore Bongarzone
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
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Abram M, Jakubiec M, Reeb K, Cheng MH, Gedschold R, Rapacz A, Mogilski S, Socała K, Nieoczym D, Szafarz M, Latacz G, Szulczyk B, Kalinowska-Tłuścik J, Gawel K, Esguerra CV, Wyska E, Müller CE, Bahar I, Fontana ACK, Wlaź P, Kamiński RM, Kamiński K. Discovery of ( R)- N-Benzyl-2-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide [ (R)-AS-1], a Novel Orally Bioavailable EAAT2 Modulator with Drug-like Properties and Potent Antiseizure Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11703-11725. [PMID: 35984707 PMCID: PMC9469208 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
(R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] showed broad-spectrum antiseizure activity across in vivo mouse seizure models: maximal electroshock (MES), 6 Hz (32/44 mA), acute pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and PTZ-kindling. A remarkable separation between antiseizure activity and CNS-related adverse effects was also observed. In vitro studies with primary glia cultures and COS-7 cells expressing the glutamate transporter EAAT2 showed enhancement of glutamate uptake, revealing a stereoselective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) effect, further supported by molecular docking simulations. (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] was not active in EAAT1 and EAAT3 assays and did not show significant off-target activity, including interactions with targets reported for marketed antiseizure drugs, indicative of a novel and unprecedented mechanism of action. Both in vivo pharmacokinetic and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADME-Tox) profiles confirmed the favorable drug-like potential of the compound. Thus, (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] may be considered as the first-in-class small-molecule PAM of EAAT2 with potential for further preclinical and clinical development in epilepsy and possibly other CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Abram
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Jakubiec
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Katelyn Reeb
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19102, United States
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Robin Gedschold
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Rapacz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Szczepan Mogilski
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Socała
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Szafarz
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Szulczyk
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Kalinowska-Tłuścik
- Department of Crystal Chemistry and Crystal Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387Krakow, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349Oslo, Norway
| | - Elżbieta Wyska
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Christa E Müller
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121Bonn, Germany
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Andréia C K Fontana
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19102, United States
| | - Piotr Wlaź
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Rafał M Kamiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kamiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
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7
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Kato T, Kusakizako T, Jin C, Zhou X, Ohgaki R, Quan L, Xu M, Okuda S, Kobayashi K, Yamashita K, Nishizawa T, Kanai Y, Nureki O. Structural insights into inhibitory mechanism of human excitatory amino acid transporter EAAT2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4714. [PMID: 35953475 PMCID: PMC9372063 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is a pivotal excitatory neurotransmitter in mammalian brains, but excessive glutamate causes numerous neural disorders. Almost all extracellular glutamate is retrieved by the glial transporter, Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 (EAAT2), belonging to the SLC1A family. However, in some cancers, EAAT2 expression is enhanced and causes resistance to therapies by metabolic disturbance. Despite its crucial roles, the detailed structural information about EAAT2 has not been available. Here, we report cryo-EM structures of human EAAT2 in substrate-free and selective inhibitor WAY213613-bound states at 3.2 Å and 2.8 Å, respectively. EAAT2 forms a trimer, with each protomer consisting of transport and scaffold domains. Along with a glutamate-binding site, the transport domain possesses a cavity that could be disrupted during the transport cycle. WAY213613 occupies both the glutamate-binding site and cavity of EAAT2 to interfere with its alternating access, where the sensitivity is defined by the inner environment of the cavity. We provide the characterization of the molecular features of EAAT2 and its selective inhibition mechanism that may facilitate structure-based drug design for EAAT2. EAAT2 is an amino acid transporter implicated in glutamate homeostasis in brain and therapy resistance of cancer cells. Here, the authors report cryo-EM structures and reveal inhibitory mechanisms via selective inhibitor WAY213613.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takafumi Kato
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Biochemistry, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tsukasa Kusakizako
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Chunhuan Jin
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Ohgaki
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiative (OTRI), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - LiLi Quan
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minhui Xu
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Suguru Okuda
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kan Kobayashi
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Peptidream Inc, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Keitaro Yamashita
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tomohiro Nishizawa
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoshikatsu Kanai
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. .,Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiative (OTRI), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Osamu Nureki
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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8
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Green JL, Dos Santos WF, Fontana ACK. Role of glutamate excitotoxicity and glutamate transporter EAAT2 in epilepsy: Opportunities for novel therapeutics development. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114786. [PMID: 34571003 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a complex neurological syndrome characterized by seizures resulting from neuronal hyperexcitability and sudden and synchronized bursts of electrical discharges. Impaired astrocyte function that results in glutamate excitotoxicity has been recognized to play a key role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy. While there are 26 drugs marketed as anti-epileptic drugs no current treatments are disease modifying as they only suppress seizures rather than the development and progression of epilepsy. Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are critical for maintaining low extracellular glutamate concentrations and preventing excitotoxicity. When extracellular glutamate concentrations rise to abnormal levels, glutamate receptor overactivation and the subsequent excessive influx of calcium into the post-synaptic neuron can trigger cell death pathways. In this review we discuss targeting EAAT2, the predominant glutamate transporter in the CNS, as a promising approach for developing therapies for epilepsy. EAAT2 upregulation via transcriptional and translational regulation has proven successful in vivo in reducing spontaneous recurrent seizures and offering neuroprotective effects. Another approach to regulate EAAT2 activity is through positive allosteric modulation (PAM). Novel PAMs of EAAT2 have recently been identified and are under development, representing a promising approach for the advance of novel therapeutics for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Leigh Green
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, United States
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