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Kassner M, Eaton JB, Tang N, Petit JL, Meurice N, Yin HH, Whiteaker P. High-throughput cell-based assays for identifying antagonists of multiple smoking-associated human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2022; 27:68-76. [PMID: 35058178 PMCID: PMC8816891 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There is substantial evidence that in addition to nicotine, other compounds found in tobacco smoke significantly influence smoking behavior. Further, recent years have seen an explosion in the availability of non-combusted products that deliver nicotine, such as e-cigarettes and “home-brew” vaping devices that are essentially unregulated. There are many thousands of compounds in tobacco smoke alone, and new products are constantly introducing new compounds. Uncovering which of these compounds are active, across multiple smoking-relevant subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) that influence tobacco/nicotine addiction, requires a high-throughput screening (HTS) approach. Accordingly, we developed a panel of HTS-friendly cell-based assays, all performed in the same cellular background and using the same membrane potential dye readout, to measure the function of the α3β4-, α4β2-, and α6β2-nAChR subtypes. These subtypes have each been prominently and consistently associated with human smoking behavior. We validated our assays by performing pilot screening of an expanded set of the Prestwick FDA-approved drug library. The screens displayed excellent performance parameters, and moderate hit rates (mean of 1.2% across all three assays) were achieved when identifying antagonists (chosen since effects of endogenous antagonists on consumption of nicotine/tobacco products are under-studied). Validation rates using an orthogonal assay (86Rb+ efflux) averaged 73% across the three assays. The resulting panel of assays represents a valuable new platform with which to screen and identify nAChR subtype-selective compounds. This provides a resource for identifying smoking-related compounds in both combusted and non-combusted tobacco products, with potential relevance in the search for additional smoking-cessation therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Kassner
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States
| | - J Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States
| | - Nanyun Tang
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States
| | - Joachim L Petit
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, United States
| | - Nathalie Meurice
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, United States
| | - Hongwei Holly Yin
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States.
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States.
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2
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Pisapati AV, Cao W, Anderson KR, Jones G, Holick KH, Whiteaker P, Im W, Zhang XF, Miwa JM. Biophysical characterization of lynx-nicotinic receptor interactions using atomic force microscopy. FASEB Bioadv 2021; 3:1034-1042. [PMID: 34938964 PMCID: PMC8664008 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2021-00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are broadly expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, playing essential roles in cholinergic neurotransmission. The lynx family proteins, a subset of the Ly6/uPAR superfamily expressed in multiple brain regions, have been shown to bind to nAChRs and modulate their function via allosteric regulation. The binding interactions between lynx and nAChRs, however, have not been systematically quantified and compared. In this work, we characterized the interactions between lynx1 or lynx2 and α3β4- or α7-nAChRs using single-molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM technique allows the quantification of the off-rate of lynx-nAChR binding and of the energetic barrier width between the bound state and transition state, providing a biophysical means to compare the selectivity of lynx proteins for nAChR subtypes. Results indicate that lynx1 has a marginal preference for α7- over α3β4-nAChRs. Strikingly, lynx2 exhibits a two order of magnitude stronger affinity for α3β4- compared to α7-nAChRs. Together, the AFM assay serves as a valuable tool for the biophysical characterization of lynx-nAChR binding affinities. Revealing the differential affinities of lynx proteins for nAChR subtypes will help elucidate how lynx regulates nAChR-dependent functions in the brain, including nicotine addiction and other critical pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avani V. Pisapati
- Department of BioengineeringLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Wenpeng Cao
- Department of BioengineeringLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Griffin Jones
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | | | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of NeurobiologyBarrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical CenterLehigh UniversityPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Wonpil Im
- Department of BioengineeringLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of ChemistryLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - X. Frank Zhang
- Department of BioengineeringLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Julie M. Miwa
- Department of Biological SciencesLehigh UniversityBethlehemPennsylvaniaUSA
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3
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Zhu M, Zhou H, Ma L, Dong B, Zhou J, Zhang G, Wang M, Wang J, Cen S, Wang Y. Design and evaluation of novel piperidine HIV-1 protease inhibitors with potency against DRV-resistant variants. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 220:113450. [PMID: 33906049 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
A novel class of HIV-1 protease inhibitors with flexible piperidine as the P2 ligand was designed with the aim of improving extensive interactions with the active subsites. Many inhibitors exhibited good to excellent inhibitory effect on enzymatic activity and viral infectivity. In particular, inhibitor 3a with (R)-piperidine-3-carboxamide as the P2 ligand and 4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide as the P2' ligand showed an enzyme Ki value of 29 pM and antiviral IC50 value of 0.13 nM, more than six-fold enhancement of activity compared to DRV. Furthermore, there was no significant change in potency against DRV-resistant mutations and HIV-1NL4-3 variant for 3a. Besides, inhibitor 3a exhibited potent antiviral activity against subtype C variants with low nanomole EC50 values. In addition, the molecular modeling revealed important hydrogen bonds and other favorable van der Waals interactions with the backbone atoms of the protease and provided insight for designing and optimizing more potent HIV-1 protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Huiyu Zhou
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Ling Ma
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Biao Dong
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jinming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Guoning Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Minghua Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Juxian Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Shan Cen
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Yucheng Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China.
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4
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Ma ZG, Jiang N, Huang YB, Ma XK, Brek Eaton J, Gao M, Chang YC, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P, Neisewander J, Wu J. Cocaine potently blocks neuronal α 3β 4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in SH-SY5Y cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:163-172. [PMID: 31399700 PMCID: PMC7471406 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine is one of the most abused illicit drugs worldwide. It is well known that the dopamine (DA) transporter is its major target; but cocaine also acts on other targets including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In this study, we investigated the effects of cocaine on a special subtype of neuronal nAChR, α3β4-nAChR expressed in native SH-SY5Y cells. α3β4-nAChR-mediated currents were recorded using whole-cell recordings. Drugs were applied using a computer-controlled U-tube drug perfusion system. We showed that bath application of nicotine induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 value of 20 µM. Pre-treatment with cocaine concentration-dependently inhibited nicotine-induced current with an IC50 of 1.5 μM. Kinetic analysis showed that cocaine accelerated α3β4-nAChR desensitization, which caused a reduction of the amplitude of nicotine-induced currents. Co-application of nicotine and cocaine (1.5 μM) depressed the maximum response on the nicotine concentration-response curve without changing the EC50 value, suggesting a non-competitive mechanism. The cocaine-induced inhibition of nicotine response exhibited both voltage- and use-dependence, suggesting an open-channel blocking mechanism. Furthermore, intracellular application of GDP-βS (via recording electrode) did not affect cocaine-induced inhibition, suggesting that cocaine did not alter receptor internalization. Moreover, intracellular application of cocaine (30 µM) failed to alter the nicotine response. Finally, cocaine (1.5 μM) was unable to inhibit the nicotine-induced inward current in heterologous expressed α6/α3β2β3-nAChRs and α4β2-nAChRs expressed in human SH-EP1 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that cocaine is a potent blocker for native α3β4-nAChRs expressed in SH-SY5Y cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Gang Ma
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Nan Jiang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Yuan-Bing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
| | - Xiao-Kuang Ma
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515004, China
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yong-Chang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Janet Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China.
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515004, China.
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5
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Gao F, Chen D, Ma X, Sudweeks S, Yorgason JT, Gao M, Turner D, Eaton JB, McIntosh JM, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P, Chang Y, Steffensen SC, Wu J. Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a highly sensitive target of alcohol. Neuropharmacology 2019; 149:45-54. [PMID: 30710570 PMCID: PMC7323585 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious public health problem that results in tremendous social, legal and medical costs to society. Unlike other addictive drugs, there is no specific molecular target for ethanol (EtOH). Here, we report a novel molecular target that mediates EtOH effects at concentrations below those that cause legally-defined inebriation. Using patch-clamp recording of human α6*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α6*-nAChR) function when heterologously expressed in SH-EP1 human epithelial cells, we found that 0.1-5 mM EtOH significantly enhances α6*-nAChR-mediated currents with effects that are dependent on both EtOH and nicotine concentrations. EtOH exposure increased both whole-cell current rising slope and decay constants. This EtOH modulation was selective for α6*-nAChRs since it did not affect α3β4-, α4β2-, or α7-nAChRs. In addition, 5 mM EtOH also increased the frequency and amplitude of dopaminergic neuron transients in mouse brain nucleus accumbens slices, that were blocked by the α6*-nAChR antagonist, α-conotoxin MII, suggesting a role for native α6*-nAChRs in low-dose EtOH effects. Collectively, our data suggest that α6*-nAChRs are sensitive targets mediating low-dose EtOH effects through a positive allosteric mechanism, which provides new insight into mechanisms involved in pharmacologically-relevant alcohol effects contributing to AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfei Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Dejie Chen
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA; Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, Guangdong, 527300, China
| | - Xiaokuang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Sterling Sudweeks
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Jordan T Yorgason
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Dharshaun Turner
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - J Michael McIntosh
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA 84108, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yongchang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 51504, China; Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA; Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, Guangdong, 527300, China.
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6
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Chen D, Gao F, Ma X, Eaton JB, Huang Y, Gao M, Chang Y, Ma Z, Der-Ghazarian T, Neisewander J, Whiteaker P, Wu J, Su Q. Cocaine Directly Inhibits α6-Containing Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Human SH-EP1 Cells and Mouse VTA DA Neurons. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:72. [PMID: 30837868 PMCID: PMC6383119 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha6-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are primarily found in neurons of the midbrain dopaminergic (DA) system, suggesting these receptors are potentially involved in drug reward and dependence. Here, we report a novel effect that cocaine directly inhibits α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChR (α6*-nAChRs) function. Human α6*-nAChRs were heterologously expressed within cells of the SH-EP1 cell line for functional characterization. Mechanically dissociated DA neurons from mouse ventral tegmental area (VTA) were used as a model of presynaptic α6*-nAChR activation since this method preserves terminal boutons. Patch-clamp recordings in whole-cell configuration were used to measure α6*-nAChR function as well as evaluate the effects of cocaine. In SH-EP1 cells containing heterologously expressed human α6*-nAChRs, cocaine inhibits nicotine-induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 30 μM. Interestingly, in the presence of 30 μM cocaine, the maximal current response of the nicotine concentration-response curve is reduced without changing nicotine's EC50 value, suggesting a noncompetitive mechanism. Furthermore, analysis of whole-cell current kinetics demonstrated that cocaine slows nAChR channel activation but accelerates whole-cell current decay time. Our findings demonstrate that cocaine-induced inhibition occurs solely with bath application, but not during intracellular administration, and this inhibition is not use-dependent. Additionally, in Xenopus oocytes, cocaine inhibits both α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChRs and α6M211L/α3ICβ2β3-nCAhRs similarly, suggesting that cocaine may not act on the α3 transmembrane domain of chimeric α6N/α3Cβ2β3-nAChR. In mechanically isolated VTA DA neurons, cocaine abolishes α6*-nAChR-mediated enhancement of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that cocaine directly inhibits the function of both heterologously and naturally expressed α6*-nAChRs. These findings suggest that α6*-nAChRs may provide a novel pharmacological target mediating the effects of cocaine and may underlie a novel mechanism of cocaine reward and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejie Chen
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
| | - Fenfei Gao
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
| | - Xiaokuang Ma
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Yuanbing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ming Gao
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Yongchang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Zegang Ma
- Department of Physiology, Qingdao University of Medical College, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Janet Neisewander
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Wu, ;
| | - Quanxi Su
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People’s Hospital, Yunfu, China
- Quanxi Su,
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7
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Chen DJ, Gao FF, Ma XK, Shi GG, Huang YB, Su QX, Sudweeks S, Gao M, Dharshaun T, Eaton JB, Chang YC, Mcintosh JM, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P, Steffensen SC, Wu J. Pharmacological and functional comparisons of α6/α3β2β3-nAChRs and α4β2-nAChRs heterologously expressed in the human epithelial SH-EP1 cell line. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2018; 39:1571-1581. [PMID: 29795357 PMCID: PMC6289390 DOI: 10.1038/aps.2017.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits (α6*-nAChRs) show highly restricted distribution in midbrain neurons associated with pleasure, reward, and mood control, suggesting an important impact of α6*-nAChRs in modulating mesolimbic functions. However, the function and pharmacology of α6*-nAChRs remain poorly understood because of the lack of selective agonists for α6*-nAChRs and the challenging heterologous expression of functional α6*-nAChRs in mammalian cell lines. In particular, the α6 subunit is commonly co-expressed with α4*-nAChRs in the midbrain, which masks α6*-nAChR (without α4) function and pharmacology. In this study, we systematically profiled the pharmacology and function of α6*-nAChRs and compared these properties with those of α4β2 nAChRs expressed in the same cell line. Heterologously expressed human α6/α3 chimeric subunits (α6 N-terminal domain joined with α3 trans-membrane domains and intracellular loops) with β2 and β3 subunits in the human SH-EP1 cell line (α6*-nAChRs) were used. Patch-clamp whole-cell recordings were performed to measure these receptor-mediated currents. Functionally, the heterologously expressed α6*-nAChRs exhibited excellent function and showed distinct nicotine-induced current responses, such as kinetics, inward rectification and recovery from desensitization, compared with α4β2-nAChRs. Pharmacologically, α6*-nAChR was highly sensitive to the α6 subunit-selective antagonist α-conotoxin MII but had lower sensitivity to mecamylamine and dihydro-β-erythroidine. Nicotine and acetylcholine were found to be full agonists for α6*-nAChRs, whereas epibatidine and cytisine were determined to be partial agonists. Heterologously expressed α6*-nAChRs exhibited pharmacology and function distinct from those of α4β2-nAChRs, suggesting that α6*-nAChRs may mediate different cholinergic signals. Our α6*-nAChR expression system can be used as an excellent cell model for future investigations of α6*-nAChR function and pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Jie Chen
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Fen-Fei Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Xiao-Kuang Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Gang-Gang Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Yuan-Bing Huang
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Quang-Xi Su
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China
| | - Sterling Sudweeks
- Departments of Psychology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Turner Dharshaun
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Jason Brek Eaton
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Yong-Chang Chang
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - J Michael Mcintosh
- George E Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Scott C Steffensen
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurology, Yunfu People's Hospital, Yunfu, 527300, China.
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515063, China.
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8
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Wall TR, Henderson BJ, Voren G, Wageman CR, Deshpande P, Cohen BN, Grady SR, Marks MJ, Yohannes D, Kenny PJ, Bencherif M, Lester HA. TC299423, a Novel Agonist for Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:641. [PMID: 29033834 PMCID: PMC5626944 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
(E)-5-(Pyrimidin-5-yl)-1,2,3,4,7,8-hexahydroazocine (TC299423) is a novel agonist for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We examined its efficacy, affinity, and potency for α6β2∗ (α6β2-containing), α4β2∗, and α3β4∗ nAChRs, using [125I]-epibatidine binding, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, synaptosomal 86Rb+ efflux, [3H]-dopamine release, and [3H]-acetylcholine release. TC299423 displayed an EC50 of 30–60 nM for α6β2∗ nAChRs in patch-clamp recordings and [3H]-dopamine release assays. Its potency for α6β2∗ in these assays was 2.5-fold greater than that for α4β2∗, and much greater than that for α3β4∗-mediated [3H]-acetylcholine release. We observed no major off-target binding on 70 diverse molecular targets. TC299423 was bioavailable after intraperitoneal or oral administration. Locomotor assays, measured with gain-of-function, mutant α6 (α6L9′S) nAChR mice, show that TC299423 elicits α6β2∗ nAChR-mediated responses at low doses. Conditioned place preference assays show that low-dose TC299423 also produces significant reward in α6L9′S mice, and modest reward in WT mice, through a mechanism that probably involves α6(non-α4)β2∗ nAChRs. However, TC299423 did not suppress nicotine self-administration in rats, indicating that it did not block nicotine reinforcement in the dosage range that was tested. In a hot-plate test, TC299423 evoked antinociceptive responses in mice similar to those of nicotine. TC299423 and nicotine similarly inhibited mouse marble burying as a measure of anxiolytic effects. Taken together, our data suggest that TC299423 will be a useful small-molecule agonist for future in vitro and in vivo studies of nAChR function and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teagan R Wall
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Brandon J Henderson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - George Voren
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Charles R Wageman
- Institute of Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Purnima Deshpande
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Bruce N Cohen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Sharon R Grady
- Institute of Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Michael J Marks
- Institute of Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States.,Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | | | - Paul J Kenny
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Henry A Lester
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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9
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Sapegin AV, Kalinin SA, Smirnov AV, Dorogov MV, Krasavin M. Efficient Use of 1,2-Dihaloazine Synthons in Transition-Metal-Free Preparation of Diverse Heterocycle-Fused 1,4-Oxazepines. European J Org Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201403397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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10
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Cooperative activation of cyclobutanones and olefins leads to bridged ring systems by a catalytic [4 + 2] coupling. Nat Chem 2014; 6:739-44. [PMID: 25054946 PMCID: PMC4150356 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Bridged-ring systems are widely found in natural products and successful syntheses of them frequently feature intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions. These reactions are subclassified as either type I or type II IMDAs depending on how the diene motif is tethered to the rest of the substrate - type I are tethered at the 1-position of the diene and type II at the 2-position. While the type I IMDA has been used to great success, the molecular scaffolds accessible by type II IMDAs are limited by the strain inherent in the formation of a sp2-carbon at a bridgehead position. Here, we describe a complementary approach that provides access to these structures through the C−C activation of cyclobutanones and their coupling with olefins. Various alkenes have been coupled with cyclobutanones to provide a range of bridged skeletons. The ketone group of the products serves as a convenient handle for downstream functionalization.
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11
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Yu LF, Brek Eaton J, Zhang HK, Sabath E, Hanania T, Li GN, van Breemen RB, Whiteaker P, Liu Q, Wu J, Chang YC, Lukas RJ, Brunner D, Kozikowski AP. The potent and selective α4β2*/α6*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist 2-[5-[5-((S)Azetidin-2-ylmethoxy)-3-pyridinyl]-3-isoxazolyl]ethanol demonstrates antidepressive-like behavior in animal models and a favorable ADME-tox profile. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2014; 2:e00026. [PMID: 25505580 PMCID: PMC4184702 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that the inhibition of cholinergic supersensitivity through nicotinic antagonists and partial agonists can be used successfully to treat depressed patients, especially those who are poor responders to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In our effort to develop novel antidepressant drugs, LF-3-88 was identified as a potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist with subnanomolar to nanomolar affinities for β2-containing nAChRs (α2β2, α3β2, α4β2, and α4β2*) and superior selectivity away from α3β4 - (K i > 10(4) nmol/L) and α7-nAChRs (K i > 10(4) nmol/L) as well as 51 other central nervous system (CNS)-related neurotransmitter receptors and transporters. Functional activities at different nAChR subtypes were characterized utilizing (86)Rb(+) ion efflux assays, two-electrode voltage-clamp (TEVC) recording in oocytes, and whole-cell current recording measurements. In mouse models, administration of LF-3-88 resulted in antidepressive-like behavioral signatures 15 min post injection in the SmartCube® test (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.; about 45-min session), decreased immobility in the forced swim test (1-3 mg/kg, i.p.; 1-10 mg/kg, p.o.; 30 min pretreatment, 6-min trial), and decreased latency to approach food in the novelty-suppressed feeding test after 29 days chronic administration once daily (5 mg/kg but not 10 mg/kg, p.o.; 15-min trial). In addition, LF-3-88 exhibited a favorable profile in pharmacokinetic/ADME-Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) assays. This compound was also shown to cause no mortality in wild-type Balb/CJ mice when tested at 300 mg/kg. These results further support the potential of potent and selective nicotinic partial agonists for use in the treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Fang Yu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612 ; Institute of Drug Design and Development, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, East China Normal University 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - J Brek Eaton
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Han-Kun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612 ; Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Emily Sabath
- PsychoGenics, Inc. 765 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York, 10591
| | - Taleen Hanania
- PsychoGenics, Inc. 765 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York, 10591
| | - Guan-Nan Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612
| | - Richard B van Breemen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612
| | - Paul Whiteaker
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Qiang Liu
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013 ; Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Jie Wu
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Yong-Chang Chang
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Ronald J Lukas
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute 350 West Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013
| | - Dani Brunner
- PsychoGenics, Inc. 765 Old Saw Mill River Road, Tarrytown, New York, 10591 ; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, NYSPI 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, New York, 10032
| | - Alan P Kozikowski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60612
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12
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Zhang HK, Yu LF, Eaton JB, Whiteaker P, Onajole OK, Hanania T, Brunner D, Lukas RJ, Kozikowski AP. Chemistry, pharmacology, and behavioral studies identify chiral cyclopropanes as selective α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonists exhibiting an antidepressant profile. Part II. J Med Chem 2013; 56:5495-504. [PMID: 23734673 DOI: 10.1021/jm400510u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A 3-pyridyl ether scaffold bearing a cyclopropane-containing side chain was recently identified in our efforts to create novel antidepressants that act as partial agonists at α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In this study, a systematic structure-activity relationship investigation was carried out on both the azetidine moiety present in compound 3 and its right-hand side chain, thereby discovering a variety of novel nicotinic ligands that retain bioactivity and feature improved chemical stability. The most promising compounds, 24, 26, and 30, demonstrated comparable or enhanced pharmacological profiles compared to the parent compound 4, and the N-methylpyrrolidine analogue 26 also exhibited robust antidepressant-like efficacy in the mouse forced swim test. The favorable ADMET profile and chemical stability of 26 further indicate this compound to be a promising lead as a drug candidate warranting further advancement down the drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Kun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, University of Illinois at Chicago , 833 South Wood Street, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
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13
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Breining SR, Genus JF, Mitchener JP, Cuthbertson TJ, Heemstra R, Melvin MS, Dull GM, Yohannes D. Development of a Scalable Synthesis of a Pyridinyl-3-azabicyclononene, a Novel Nicotinic Partial Agonist. Org Process Res Dev 2013. [DOI: 10.1021/op400002r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott R. Breining
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - John F. Genus
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - J. Pike Mitchener
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - Timothy J. Cuthbertson
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - Ronald Heemstra
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - Matt S. Melvin
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - Gary M. Dull
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
| | - Daniel Yohannes
- Formerly, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and ‡Formerly, Department
of Chemical Process and Development, Targacept, Inc. 200 East First Street, Suite 300, Winston-Salem,
North Carolina 27101, United States
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