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Maleeva G, Nin-Hill A, Wirth U, Rustler K, Ranucci M, Opar E, Rovira C, Bregestovski P, Zeilhofer HU, König B, Alfonso-Prieto M, Gorostiza P. Light-Activated Agonist-Potentiator of GABA A Receptors for Reversible Neuroinhibition in Wildtype Mice. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39383450 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c08446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2024]
Abstract
Gamma aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) play a key role in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) as drivers of neuroinhibitory circuits, which are commonly targeted for therapeutic purposes with potentiator drugs. However, due to their widespread expression and strong inhibitory action, systemic pharmaceutical potentiation of GABAARs inevitably causes adverse effects regardless of the drug selectivity. Therefore, therapeutic guidelines must often limit or exclude clinically available GABAAR potentiators, despite their high efficacy, good biodistribution, and favorable molecular properties. One solution to this problem is to use drugs with light-dependent activity (photopharmacology) in combination with on-demand, localized illumination. However, a suitable light-activated potentiator of GABAARs has been elusive so far for use in wildtype mammals. We have met this need by developing azocarnil, a diffusible GABAergic agonist-potentiator based on the anxiolytic drug abecarnil that is inactive in the dark and activated by visible violet light. Azocarnil can be rapidly deactivated with green light and by thermal relaxation in the dark. We demonstrate that it selectively inhibits neuronal currents in hippocampal neurons in vitro and in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord of mice, decreasing the mechanical sensitivity as a function of illumination without displaying systemic adverse effects. Azocarnil expands the in vivo photopharmacological toolkit with a novel chemical scaffold and achieves a milestone toward future phototherapeutic applications to safely treat muscle spasms, pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galyna Maleeva
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Alba Nin-Hill
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) & Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08020, Spain
| | - Ulrike Wirth
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Karin Rustler
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Matteo Ranucci
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Ekin Opar
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Doctorate program of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08020, Spain
| | - Carme Rovira
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) & Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08020, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Piotr Bregestovski
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, UMR INSERM 1106, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zürich 8057, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Burkhard König
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9 Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain
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2
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Camerin L, Maleeva G, Gomila AMJ, Suárez-Pereira I, Matera C, Prischich D, Opar E, Riefolo F, Berrocoso E, Gorostiza P. Photoswitchable Carbamazepine Analogs for Non-Invasive Neuroinhibition In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202403636. [PMID: 38887153 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
A problem of systemic pharmacotherapy is off-target activity, which causes adverse effects. Outstanding examples include neuroinhibitory medications like antiseizure drugs, which are used against epilepsy and neuropathic pain but cause systemic side effects. There is a need of drugs that inhibit nerve signals locally and on-demand without affecting other regions of the body. Photopharmacology aims to address this problem with light-activated drugs and localized illumination in the target organ. Here, we have developed photoswitchable derivatives of the widely prescribed antiseizure drug carbamazepine. For that purpose, we expanded our method of ortho azologization of tricyclic drugs to meta/para and to N-bridged diazocine. Our results validate the concept of ortho cryptoazologs (uniquely exemplified by Carbazopine-1) and bring to light Carbadiazocine (8), which can be photoswitched between 400-590 nm light (using violet LEDs and halogen lamps) and shows good drug-likeness and predicted safety. Both compounds display photoswitchable activity in vitro and in translucent zebrafish larvae. Carbadiazocine (8) also offers in vivo analgesic efficacy (mechanical and thermal stimuli) in a rat model of neuropathic pain and a simple and compelling treatment demonstration with non-invasive illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Camerin
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Doctorate program in organic chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Galyna Maleeva
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Alexandre M J Gomila
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Irene Suárez-Pereira
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, 11003, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Mental Health (CIBER-SAM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz, INiBICA, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, 11009, Spain
| | - Carlo Matera
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Davia Prischich
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Current address: Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, SW120BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ekin Opar
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Fabio Riefolo
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Current address: Teamit Institute, Partnerships, Barcelona Health Hub, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Esther Berrocoso
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, 11003, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Mental Health (CIBER-SAM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz, INiBICA, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, 11009, Spain
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010, Spain
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Nikolaev M, Tikhonov D. Light-Sensitive Open Channel Block of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors by Quaternary Ammonium Azobenzene Derivatives. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13773. [PMID: 37762075 PMCID: PMC10530362 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate ionotropic receptors mediate fast excitation processes in the central nervous system of vertebrates and play an important role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Here, we describe the action of two azobenene-containing compounds, AAQ (acrylamide-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium) and QAQ (quaternary ammonium-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium), which produced rapid and fully reversible light-dependent inhibition of glutamate ionotropic receptors. The compounds demonstrated voltage-dependent inhibition with only minor voltage-independent allosteric action. Calcium-impermeable AMPA receptors had weaker sensitivity compared to NMDA and calcium-permeable AMPA receptors. We further revealed that the compounds bound to NMDA and calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in different modes. They were able to enter the wide selectivity filter of AMPA receptors, and strong negative voltages caused permeation into the cytoplasm. The narrow selectivity filter of the NMDA receptors did not allow the molecules to bypass them; therefore, QAQ and AAQ bound to the shallow channel site and prevented channel closure by a foot-in-the-door mechanism. Computer simulations employing available AMPA and NMDA receptor structures readily reproduced the experimental findings, allowing for the structure-based design of more potent and selective drugs in the future. Thus, our work creates a framework for the development of light-sensitive blockers of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors, which are desirable tools for neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Nikolaev
- I.M.Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry RAS, 194223 St. Petersburg, Russia;
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4
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Paolino M, de Candia M, Purgatorio R, Catto M, Saletti M, Tondo AR, Nicolotti O, Cappelli A, Brizzi A, Mugnaini C, Corelli F, Altomare CD. Investigation on Novel E/Z 2-Benzylideneindan-1-One-Based Photoswitches with AChE and MAO-B Dual Inhibitory Activity. Molecules 2023; 28:5857. [PMID: 37570828 PMCID: PMC10421270 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The multitarget therapeutic strategy, as opposed to the more traditional 'one disease-one target-one drug', may hold promise in treating multifactorial neurodegenerative syndromes, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias. Recently, combining a photopharmacology approach with the multitarget-directed ligand (MTDL) design strategy, we disclosed a novel donepezil-like compound, namely 2-(4-((diethylamino)methyl)benzylidene)-5-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one (1a), which in the E isomeric form (and about tenfold less in the UV-B photo-induced isomer Z) showed the best activity as dual inhibitor of the AD-related targets acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Herein, we investigated further photoisomerizable 2-benzylideneindan-1-one analogs 1b-h with the unconjugated tertiary amino moiety bearing alkyls of different bulkiness and lipophilicity. For each compound, the thermal stable E geometric isomer, along with the E/Z mixture as produced by UV-B light irradiation in the photostationary state (PSS, 75% Z), was investigated for the inhibition of human ChEs and MAOs. The pure E-isomer of the N-benzyl(ethyl)amino analog 1h achieved low nanomolar AChE and high nanomolar MAO-B inhibition potencies (IC50s 39 and 355 nM, respectively), whereas photoisomerization to the Z isomer (75% Z in the PSS mixture) resulted in a decrease (about 30%) of AChE inhibitory potency, and not in the MAO-B one. Molecular docking studies were performed to rationalize the different E/Z selectivity of 1h toward the two target enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paolino
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Rosa Purgatorio
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Mario Saletti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Anna Rita Tondo
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
| | - Andrea Cappelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Federico Corelli
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro 2, I-53100 Siena, Italy; (M.P.); (M.S.); (A.C.); (A.B.); (C.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Cosimo D. Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy; (M.d.C.); (R.P.); (M.C.); (A.R.T.); (O.N.)
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5
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Paolino M, Rullo M, Maramai S, de Candia M, Pisani L, Catto M, Mugnaini C, Brizzi A, Cappelli A, Olivucci M, Corelli F, Altomare CD. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of light-driven on-off multitarget AChE and MAO-B inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:873-883. [PMID: 35923722 PMCID: PMC9298480 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00042c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are multifactorial disorders characterized by protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, finally resulting in neuronal loss and cognitive dysfunctions. Nowadays, an attractive strategy to improve the classical treatments is the development of multitarget-directed molecules able to synergistically interact with different enzymes and/or receptors. In addition, an interesting tool to refine personalized therapies may arise from the use of bioactive species able to modify their activity as a result of light irradiation. To this aim, we designed and synthesized a small library of cinnamic acid-inspired isomeric compounds with light modulated activity able to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), with remarkable selectivity over butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and MAO-A, which have been investigated as the enzyme targets related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The inhibitory activities were evaluated for the pure E-diastereomers and the E/Z-diastereomer mixtures, obtained upon UV irradiation. Molecular docking studies were carried out to rationalize the differences in the inhibition potency of the E and Z diastereomers of the best performing analogue 1c. Our preliminary findings may open-up the way for developing innovative multitarget photo-switch drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paolino
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Rullo
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro Via E. Orabona 4 70125 Bari Italy
| | - Samuele Maramai
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro Via E. Orabona 4 70125 Bari Italy
| | - Leonardo Pisani
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro Via E. Orabona 4 70125 Bari Italy
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro Via E. Orabona 4 70125 Bari Italy
| | - Claudia Mugnaini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Antonella Brizzi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Andrea Cappelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Massimo Olivucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
- Chemistry Department, Bowling Green State University USA
| | - Federico Corelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia (Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022), Università degli Studi di Siena Via A. Moro 2 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Cosimo D Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro Via E. Orabona 4 70125 Bari Italy
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6
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Kramer RH, Rajappa R. Interrogating the function of GABA A receptors in the brain with optogenetic pharmacology. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 63:102198. [PMID: 35276498 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To better understand neural circuits and behavior, microbial opsins have been developed as optogenetic tools for stimulating or inhibiting action potentials with high temporal and spatial precision. However, if we seek a more reductionist understanding of how neuronal circuits operate, we also need high-resolution tools for perturbing the function of synapses. By combining photochemical tools and molecular biology, a wide variety of light-regulated neurotransmitter receptors have been developed, enabling photo-control of excitatory, inhibitory, and modulatory synaptic transmission. Here we focus on photo-control of GABAA receptors, ligand-gated Cl- channels that underlie almost all synaptic inhibition in the mammalian brain. By conjugating a photoswitchable tethered ligand onto a genetically-modified subunit of the GABAA receptor, light-sensitivity can be conferred onto specific isoforms of the receptor. Through gene editing, this attachment site can be knocked into the genome, enabling photocontrol of endogenous GABAA receptors. This strategy can be employed to explore the cell biology and neurophysiology of GABAA receptors. This includes investigating how specific isoforms contribute to synaptic and tonic inhibition and understanding the roles they play in brain development, long-term synaptic plasticity, and learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Kramer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States.
| | - Rajit Rajappa
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
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Shen Y, Luchetti A, Fernandes G, Do Heo W, Silva AJ. The emergence of molecular systems neuroscience. Mol Brain 2022; 15:7. [PMID: 34983613 PMCID: PMC8728933 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00885-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systems neuroscience is focused on how ensemble properties in the brain, such as the activity of neuronal circuits, gives rise to internal brain states and behavior. Many of the studies in this field have traditionally involved electrophysiological recordings and computational approaches that attempt to decode how the brain transforms inputs into functional outputs. More recently, systems neuroscience has received an infusion of approaches and techniques that allow the manipulation (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics) and imaging (e.g., two-photon imaging, head mounted fluorescent microscopes) of neurons, neurocircuits, their inputs and outputs. Here, we will review novel approaches that allow the manipulation and imaging of specific molecular mechanisms in specific cells (not just neurons), cell ensembles and brain regions. These molecular approaches, with the specificity and temporal resolution appropriate for systems studies, promise to infuse the field with novel ideas, emphases and directions, and are motivating the emergence of a molecularly oriented systems neuroscience, a new discipline that studies how the spatial and temporal patterns of molecular systems modulate circuits and brain networks, and consequently shape the properties of brain states and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shen
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alessandro Luchetti
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Giselle Fernandes
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, and Psychology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, and Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Volarić J, Szymanski W, Simeth NA, Feringa BL. Molecular photoswitches in aqueous environments. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:12377-12449. [PMID: 34590636 PMCID: PMC8591629 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00547a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Molecular photoswitches enable dynamic control of processes with high spatiotemporal precision, using light as external stimulus, and hence are ideal tools for different research areas spanning from chemical biology to smart materials. Photoswitches are typically organic molecules that feature extended aromatic systems to make them responsive to (visible) light. However, this renders them inherently lipophilic, while water-solubility is of crucial importance to apply photoswitchable organic molecules in biological systems, like in the rapidly emerging field of photopharmacology. Several strategies for solubilizing organic molecules in water are known, but there are not yet clear rules for applying them to photoswitchable molecules. Importantly, rendering photoswitches water-soluble has a serious impact on both their photophysical and biological properties, which must be taken into consideration when designing new systems. Altogether, these aspects pose considerable challenges for successfully applying molecular photoswitches in aqueous systems, and in particular in biologically relevant media. In this review, we focus on fully water-soluble photoswitches, such as those used in biological environments, in both in vitro and in vivo studies. We discuss the design principles and prospects for water-soluble photoswitches to inspire and enable their future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Volarić
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Wiktor Szymanski
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology, Medical Imaging Center, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Nadja A Simeth
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ben L Feringa
- Centre for Systems Chemistry, Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
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9
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Nin-Hill A, Mueller NPF, Molteni C, Rovira C, Alfonso-Prieto M. Photopharmacology of Ion Channels through the Light of the Computational Microscope. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12072. [PMID: 34769504 PMCID: PMC8584574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The optical control and investigation of neuronal activity can be achieved and carried out with photoswitchable ligands. Such compounds are designed in a modular fashion, combining a known ligand of the target protein and a photochromic group, as well as an additional electrophilic group for tethered ligands. Such a design strategy can be optimized by including structural data. In addition to experimental structures, computational methods (such as homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling techniques) can provide structural insights to guide photoswitch design and to understand the observed light-regulated effects. This review discusses the application of such structure-based computational methods to photoswitchable ligands targeting voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels. Structural mapping may help identify residues near the ligand binding pocket amenable for mutagenesis and covalent attachment. Modeling of the target protein in a complex with the photoswitchable ligand can shed light on the different activities of the two photoswitch isomers and the effect of site-directed mutations on photoswitch binding, as well as ion channel subtype selectivity. The examples presented here show how the integration of computational modeling with experimental data can greatly facilitate photoswitchable ligand design and optimization. Recent advances in structural biology, both experimental and computational, are expected to further strengthen this rational photopharmacology approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Nin-Hill
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-H.); (C.R.)
| | - Nicolas Pierre Friedrich Mueller
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Carla Molteni
- Physics Department, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK;
| | - Carme Rovira
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-H.); (C.R.)
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08020 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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10
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Seo S, Sizemore RJ, Reader KL, Smither RA, Wicky HE, Hughes SM, Bilkey DK, Parr-Brownlie LC, Oorschot DE. A schizophrenia risk factor induces marked anatomical deficits at GABAergic-dopaminergic synapses in the rat ventral tegmental area: Essential evidence for new targeted therapies. J Comp Neurol 2021; 529:3946-3973. [PMID: 34338311 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25225] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
To develop new therapies for schizophrenia, evidence accumulated over decades highlights the essential need to investigate the GABAergic synapses that presynaptically influence midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Since current technology restricts these studies to animals, and evidence accumulated in recent decades indicates a developmental origin of schizophrenia, we investigated synaptic changes in male rat offspring exposed to maternal immune activation (MIA), a schizophrenia risk factor. Using a novel combination of lentiviruses, peroxidase-immunogold double labeling, three-dimensional serial section transmission electron microscopy and stereology, we observed clear anatomical alterations in synaptic inputs on dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain posterior ventral tegmental area (pVTA). These changes relate directly to a characteristic feature of schizophrenia: increased dopamine release. In 3-month-old and 14-month-old MIA rats, we found a marked decrease in the volume of presynaptic GABAergic terminals from the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) and in the length of the synapses they made, when innervating pVTA dopaminergic neurons. In MIA rats in the long-term, we also discovered a decrease in the volume of the postsynaptic density (PSD) and in the maximum thickness of the PSD at the same synapses. These marked deficits were evident in conventional GABA-dopamine synapses and in synaptic triads that we discovered involving asymmetric synapses that innervated RMTg GABAergic presynaptic terminals, which in turn innervated pVTA dopaminergic neurons. In triads, the PSD thickness of asymmetric synapses was significantly decreased in MIA rats in the long-term cohort. The extensive anatomical deficits provide a potential basis for new therapies targeted at synaptic inputs on midbrain pVTA dopaminergic neurons, in contrast to current striatum-targeted antipsychotic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Seo
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rachel J Sizemore
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Karen L Reader
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Roseanna A Smither
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand
| | - Hollie E Wicky
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand.,Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David K Bilkey
- Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Louise C Parr-Brownlie
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Research, New Zealand
| | - Dorothy E Oorschot
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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11
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Bregestovski PD, Ponomareva DN. Photochromic Modulation of Cys-loop
Ligand-gated Ion Channels. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0022093021020162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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Thapaliya ER, Mony L, Sanchez R, Serraz B, Paoletti P, Ellis-Davies GCR. Photochemical control of drug efficacy - a comparison of uncaging and photoswitching ifenprodil on NMDA receptors. CHEMPHOTOCHEM 2021; 5:445-454. [PMID: 36540756 PMCID: PMC9762817 DOI: 10.1002/cptc.202000240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Ifenprodil is an important negative allosteric modulator of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We have synthesized caged and photoswitchable derivatives of this small molecule drug. Caged ifenprodil was biologically inert before photolysis, UV irradiation efficiently released the drug allowing selective inhibition of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors. Azobenzene-modified ifenprodil, on the other hand, is inert in both its trans and cis configurations, although in silico modeling predicted the trans form to be able to bind to the receptor. The disparity in effectiveness between the two compounds reflects, in part, the inherent ability of each method in manipulating the binding properties of drugs. With appropriate structure-activity relationship uncaging enables binary control of effector binding, whereas photoswitching using feely diffusable chromophores shifts the dose-response curve of drug-receptor interaction. Our data suggest that the efficacy of pharmacophores having a confined binding site such as ifenprodil can be controlled more easily by uncaging in comparison to photoswitching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ek Raj Thapaliya
- Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Equal contribution
| | - Laetitia Mony
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris 75005, France
- Equal contribution
| | - Roberto Sanchez
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Drug Discovery Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Benjamin Serraz
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris 75005, France
| | - Pierre Paoletti
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), École Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris 75005, France
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13
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Borghese CM, Wang HYL, McHardy SF, Messing RO, Trudell JR, Harris RA, Bertaccini EJ. Modulation of α1β3γ2 GABA A receptors expressed in X. laevis oocytes using a propofol photoswitch tethered to the transmembrane helix. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2008178118. [PMID: 33593898 PMCID: PMC7923644 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008178118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tethered photoswitches are molecules with two photo-dependent isomeric forms, each with different actions on their biological targets. They include reactive chemical groups capable of covalently binding to their target. Our aim was to develop a β-subunit-tethered propofol photoswitch (MAP20), as a tool to better study the mechanism of anesthesia through the GABAA α1β3γ2 receptor. We used short spacers between the tether (methanethiosulfonate), the photosensitive moiety (azobenzene), and the ligand (propofol), to allow a precise tethering adjacent to the putative propofol binding site at the β+α- interface of the receptor transmembrane helices (TMs). First, we used molecular modeling to identify possible tethering sites in β3TM3 and α1TM1, and then introduced cysteines in the candidate positions. Two mutant subunits [β3(M283C) and α1(V227C)] showed photomodulation of GABA responses after incubation with MAP20 and illumination with lights at specific wavelengths. The α1β3(M283C)γ2 receptor showed the greatest photomodulation, which decreased as GABA concentration increased. The location of the mutations that produced photomodulation confirmed that the propofol binding site is located in the β+α- interface close to the extracellular side of the transmembrane helices. Tethering the photoswitch to cysteines introduced in the positions homologous to β3M283 in two other subunits (α1W288 and γ2L298) also produced photomodulation, which was not entirely reversible, probably reflecting the different nature of each interface. The results are in agreement with a binding site in the β+α- interface for the anesthetic propofol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia M Borghese
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712;
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Hua-Yu L Wang
- Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Stanton F McHardy
- Center for Innovative Drug Discovery, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249
| | - Robert O Messing
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - James R Trudell
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305
- Beckman Program for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305
| | - R Adron Harris
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
- Department of Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Edward J Bertaccini
- Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94305
- Department of Anesthesia, Palo Alto VA Health Care System, Palo Alto Division, Palo Alto, CA 94304
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14
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Dimitrov IV, Suonio EEK. Syntheses of Analogues of Propofol: A Review. SYNTHESIS-STUTTGART 2020. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1707287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPropofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is an intravenous sedative/hypnotic agent that is used extensively for introduction and maintenance of general anaesthesia, sedation of critically ill patients and procedural sedation (e.g., endoscopy). Propofol has a rapid onset and offset of action and shows only minimal accumulation upon prolonged use. Propofol is only sparingly soluble in water and is currently marketed in 10% soybean oil-based lipid emulsion. Propofol’s anaesthetic properties were discovered over forty years ago, and it has been in clinical use for over thirty years. The main use of propofol remains as an anaesthetic but, over the years, analogues have been developed with varying properties from anticancer, anticonvulsant and antioxidant. In addition, large synthetic efforts have been made towards improving propofol’s water-solubility, its activity, and elucidating its structure–activity relationship and exact mechanism of action have been made. This review provides an overview of the research pertaining to propofol-like molecules and covers the efforts of synthetic chemists towards propofol analogues over the last 40 years.1 Introduction2 History3 Early Work4 Improving Water Solubility5 The Importance of the Phenol6 Exploring the Structure–Activity Relationship and Attempts to Improve Activity7 Anticancer Activity8 Anticonvulsant Properties9 Antioxidant Activity10 Photoactive Labelling to Elucidate Mechanism of Action11 Photoregulation12 Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivaylo V. Dimitrov
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland
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15
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Gomila AMJ, Rustler K, Maleeva G, Nin-Hill A, Wutz D, Bautista-Barrufet A, Rovira X, Bosch M, Mukhametova E, Petukhova E, Ponomareva D, Mukhamedyarov M, Peiretti F, Alfonso-Prieto M, Rovira C, König B, Bregestovski P, Gorostiza P. Photocontrol of Endogenous Glycine Receptors In Vivo. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:1425-1433.e7. [PMID: 32846115 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are indispensable for maintaining excitatory/inhibitory balance in neuronal circuits that control reflexes and rhythmic motor behaviors. Here we have developed Glyght, a GlyR ligand controlled with light. It is selective over other Cys-loop receptors, is active in vivo, and displays an allosteric mechanism of action. The photomanipulation of glycinergic neurotransmission opens new avenues to understanding inhibitory circuits in intact animals and to developing drug-based phototherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre M J Gomila
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Karin Rustler
- University of Regensburg, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Galyna Maleeva
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain; Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille 13005, France
| | - Alba Nin-Hill
- University of Barcelona, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Daniel Wutz
- University of Regensburg, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Antoni Bautista-Barrufet
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Xavier Rovira
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Miquel Bosch
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Elvira Mukhametova
- Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille 13005, France; Kazan Federal University, Open Lab of Motor Neurorehabilitation, Kazan, Russia
| | - Elena Petukhova
- Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Daria Ponomareva
- Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
| | | | - Franck Peiretti
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM 1263, INRA 1260, C2VN, Marseille, France
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Institute for Advanced Simulation IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Carme Rovira
- University of Barcelona, Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry (IQTCUB), Barcelona 08028, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08003 Spain.
| | - Burkhard König
- University of Regensburg, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Regensburg 93053, Germany.
| | - Piotr Bregestovski
- Aix-Marseille Université, INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille 13005, France; Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia.
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona 08003 Spain; CIBER-BBN, Madrid 28001 Spain.
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16
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Rustler K, Maleeva G, Gomila AMJ, Gorostiza P, Bregestovski P, König B. Optical Control of GABA A Receptors with a Fulgimide-Based Potentiator. Chemistry 2020; 26:12722-12727. [PMID: 32307732 PMCID: PMC7589408 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202000710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetic and photopharmacological tools to manipulate neuronal inhibition have limited efficacy and reversibility. We report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of Fulgazepam, a fulgimide derivative of benzodiazepine that behaves as a pure potentiator of ionotropic γ‐aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAARs) and displays full and reversible photoswitching in vitro and in vivo. The compound enables high‐resolution studies of GABAergic neurotransmission, and phototherapies based on localized, acute, and reversible neuroinhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Rustler
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Galyna Maleeva
- INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, 13005, Marseille, France.,Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Alexandre M J Gomila
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08020, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Biomedical Research Center in Biomaterials, Bioengineering and Nanomedicine (CIBER-bbn)
| | - Piotr Bregestovski
- INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, 13005, Marseille, France.,M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Burkhard König
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
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17
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Fuchter MJ. On the Promise of Photopharmacology Using Photoswitches: A Medicinal Chemist's Perspective. J Med Chem 2020; 63:11436-11447. [PMID: 32511922 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Photopharmacology is a growing area of endeavor that employs photoswitchable ligands to allow for light-dependent pharmacological activity. By coupling light to therapeutic action, improved spatial and temporal selectivity can be achieved and subsequently harnessed for new concepts in therapy. Tremendous progress has already been made, with photopharmacological agents now reported against a wide array of target classes and light-dependent results demonstrated in a range of live cell and animal models. Several challenges remain, however, especially in order for photopharmacology to truly impact the clinical management of disease. This Perspective aims to summarize these challenges, particularly with attention to the medicinal chemistry that will be unavoidably required for the further translation of these agents/approaches. By clearly defining challenges for drug hunters, it is hoped that further research into the medicinal chemistry of photopharmacological agents will be stimulated, ultimately enabling full realization of the huge potential for this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fuchter
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, United Kingdom
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18
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Mortensen M, Huckvale R, Pandurangan AP, Baker JR, Smart TG. Optopharmacology reveals a differential contribution of native GABA A receptors to dendritic and somatic inhibition using azogabazine. Neuropharmacology 2020; 176:108135. [PMID: 32445639 PMCID: PMC7482436 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid type-A receptors (GABAARs) are inhibitory ligand-gated ion channels in the brain that are crucial for controlling neuronal excitation. To explore their physiological roles in cellular and neural network activity, it is important to understand why specific GABAAR isoforms are distributed not only to various brain regions and cell types, but also to specific areas of the membrane in individual neurons. To address this aim we have developed a novel photosensitive compound, azogabazine, that targets and reversibly inhibits GABAARs. The receptor selectivity of the compound is based on the competitive antagonist, gabazine, and photosensitivity is conferred by a photoisomerisable azobenzene group. Azogabazine can exist in either cis or trans conformations that are controlled by UV and blue light respectively, to affect receptor inhibition. We report that the trans-isomer preferentially binds and inhibits GABAAR function, whilst promotion of the cis-isomer caused unbinding of azogabazine from GABAARs. Using cultured cerebellar granule cells, azogabazine in conjunction with UV light applied to defined membrane domains, revealed higher densities of GABAARs at somatic inhibitory synapses compared to those populating proximal dendritic zones, even though the latter displayed a higher number of synapses per unit area of membrane. Azogabazine also revealed more pronounced GABA-mediated inhibition of action potential firing in proximal dendrites compared to the soma. Overall, azogabazine is a valuable addition to the photochemical toolkit that can be used to interrogate GABAAR function and inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mortensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Rosemary Huckvale
- The Institute of Cancer Research, 123 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7 3RP, UK
| | - Arun P Pandurangan
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - James R Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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19
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Paoletti P, Ellis-Davies GCR, Mourot A. Optical control of neuronal ion channels and receptors. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 20:514-532. [PMID: 31289380 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-019-0197-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Light-controllable tools provide powerful means to manipulate and interrogate brain function with relatively low invasiveness and high spatiotemporal precision. Although optogenetic approaches permit neuronal excitation or inhibition at the network level, other technologies, such as optopharmacology (also known as photopharmacology) have emerged that provide molecular-level control by endowing light sensitivity to endogenous biomolecules. In this Review, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of photocontrolling native neuronal signalling pathways, focusing on ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors. We describe existing strategies for rendering receptors and channels light sensitive and provide an overview of the neuroscientific insights gained from such approaches. At the crossroads of chemistry, protein engineering and neuroscience, optopharmacology offers great potential for understanding the molecular basis of brain function and behaviour, with promises for future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Paoletti
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France.
| | | | - Alexandre Mourot
- Neuroscience Paris Seine-Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS-IBPS), CNRS, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
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20
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Abstract
As the inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) transmission has a pivotal role in the central nervous system (CNS) and defective forms of its synapses are associated with serious neurological disorders, numerous versions of caged GABA and, more recently, photoswitchable ligands have been developed to investigate such transmission. While the complementary nature of these probes is evident, the mechanisms by which the GABA receptors can be photocontrolled have not been fully exploited. In fact, the ultimate need for specificity is critical for the proper synaptic exploration. No caged allosteric modulators of the GABAA receptor have been reported so far; to introduce such an investigational approach, we exploited the structural motifs of the benzodiazepinic scaffold to develop a photocaged version of diazepam (CD) that was tested on basolateral amygdala (BLa) pyramidal cells in mouse brain slices. CD is devoid of any intrinsic activity toward the GABAA receptor before irradiation. Importantly, CD is a photoreleasable GABAA receptor-positive allosteric modulator that offers a different probing mechanism compared to caged GABA and photoswitchable ligands. CD potentiates the inhibitory signaling by prolonging the decay time of postsynaptic GABAergic currents upon photoactivation. Additionally, no effect on presynaptic GABA release was recorded. We developed a photochemical technology to individually study the GABAA receptor, which specifically expands the toolbox available to study GABAergic synapses.
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21
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Trads JB, Hüll K, Matsuura BS, Laprell L, Fehrentz T, Görldt N, Kozek KA, Weaver CD, Klöcker N, Barber DM, Trauner D. Sign Inversion in Photopharmacology: Incorporation of Cyclic Azobenzenes in Photoswitchable Potassium Channel Blockers and Openers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201905790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julie B. Trads
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
- Center for DNA Nanotechnology Department of Chemistry and iNANO Aarhus University Gustav Wieds Vej 14 8000 Aarhus C Denmark
| | - Katharina Hüll
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
- Department of Chemistry New York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003-6699 USA
| | - Bryan S. Matsuura
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
- Department of Chemistry New York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003-6699 USA
| | - Laura Laprell
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Timm Fehrentz
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty University of Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Nicole Görldt
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty University of Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Krystian A. Kozek
- Department of Pharmacology Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville TN USA
| | - C. David Weaver
- Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry Institute of Chemical Biology Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville TN USA
| | - Nikolaj Klöcker
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty University of Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - David M. Barber
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM) Ludwig Maximilian University Munich Butenandtstr. 5–13 81377 Munich Germany
- Department of Chemistry New York University 100 Washington Square East New York NY 10003-6699 USA
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22
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Trads JB, Hüll K, Matsuura BS, Laprell L, Fehrentz T, Görldt N, Kozek KA, Weaver CD, Klöcker N, Barber DM, Trauner D. Sign Inversion in Photopharmacology: Incorporation of Cyclic Azobenzenes in Photoswitchable Potassium Channel Blockers and Openers. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:15421-15428. [PMID: 31441199 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201905790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Photopharmacology relies on ligands that change their pharmacodynamics upon photoisomerization. Many of these ligands are azobenzenes that are thermodynamically more stable in their elongated trans-configuration. Often, they are biologically active in this form and lose activity upon irradiation and photoisomerization to their cis-isomer. Recently, cyclic azobenzenes, so-called diazocines, have emerged, which are thermodynamically more stable in their bent cis-form. Incorporation of these switches into a variety of photopharmaceuticals could convert dark-active ligands into dark-inactive ligands, which is preferred in most biological applications. This "pharmacological sign-inversion" is demonstrated for a photochromic blocker of voltage-gated potassium channels, termed CAL, and a photochromic opener of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, termed CLOGO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie B Trads
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Center for DNA Nanotechnology, Department of Chemistry and iNANO, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Katharina Hüll
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003-6699, USA
| | - Bryan S Matsuura
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003-6699, USA
| | - Laura Laprell
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Timm Fehrentz
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicole Görldt
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Krystian A Kozek
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - C David Weaver
- Departments of Pharmacology and Chemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nikolaj Klöcker
- Institute of Neural and Sensory Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - David M Barber
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science (CIPSM), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003-6699, USA
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23
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Maleeva G, Wutz D, Rustler K, Nin-Hill A, Rovira C, Petukhova E, Bautista-Barrufet A, Gomila-Juaneda A, Scholze P, Peiretti F, Alfonso-Prieto M, König B, Gorostiza P, Bregestovski P. A photoswitchable GABA receptor channel blocker. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:2661-2677. [PMID: 30981211 PMCID: PMC6609548 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Anion-selective Cys-loop receptors (GABA and glycine receptors) provide the main inhibitory drive in the CNS. Both types of receptor operate via chloride-selective ion channels, though with different kinetics, pharmacological profiles, and localization. Disequilibrium in their function leads to a variety of disorders, which are often treated with allosteric modulators. The few available GABA and glycine receptor channel blockers effectively suppress inhibitory currents in neurons, but their systemic administration is highly toxic. With the aim of developing an efficient light-controllable modulator of GABA receptors, we constructed azobenzene-nitrazepam (Azo-NZ1), which is composed of a nitrazepam moiety merged to an azobenzene photoisomerizable group. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The experiments were carried out on cultured cells expressing Cys-loop receptors of known subunit composition and in brain slices using patch-clamp. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modelling approaches were applied to evaluate the mechanism of action of Azo-NZ1. KEY RESULTS At visible light, being in trans-configuration, Azo-NZ1 blocked heteromeric α1/β2/γ2 GABAA receptors, ρ2 GABAA (GABAC ), and α2 glycine receptors, whereas switching the compound into cis-state by UV illumination restored the activity. Azo-NZ1 successfully photomodulated GABAergic currents recorded from dentate gyrus neurons. We demonstrated that in trans-configuration, Azo-NZ1 blocks the Cl-selective ion pore of GABA receptors interacting mainly with the 2' level of the TM2 region. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Azo-NZ1 is a soluble light-driven Cl-channel blocker, which allows photo-modulation of the activity induced by anion-selective Cys-loop receptors. Azo-NZ1 is able to control GABAergic postsynaptic currents and provides new opportunities to study inhibitory neurotransmission using patterned illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galyna Maleeva
- INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Daniel Wutz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Karin Rustler
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alba Nin-Hill
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Rovira
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Petukhova
- Department of Normal Physiology, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Antoni Bautista-Barrufet
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandre Gomila-Juaneda
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Petra Scholze
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Franck Peiretti
- INSERM 1263, INRA 1260, C2VN, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany.,Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Burkhard König
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.,Network Biomedical Research Center in Biomaterials, Bioengineering and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain
| | - Piotr Bregestovski
- INSERM, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Department of Normal Physiology, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, Kazan, Russia
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24
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Abstract
γ-aminobutyric acid has become one of the most widely known neurotransmitter molecules in the brain over the last 50 years, recognised for its pivotal role in inhibiting neural excitability. It emerged from studies of crustacean muscle and neurons before its significance to the mammalian nervous system was appreciated. Now, after five decades of investigation, we know that most neurons are γ-aminobutyric-acid-sensitive, it is a cornerstone of neural physiology and dysfunction to γ-aminobutyric acid signalling is increasingly documented in a range of neurological diseases. In this review, we briefly chart the neurodevelopment of γ-aminobutyric acid and its two major receptor subtypes: the γ-aminobutyric acidA and γ-aminobutyric acidB receptors, starting from the humble invertebrate origins of being an 'interesting molecule' acting at a single γ-aminobutyric acid receptor type, to one of the brain's most important neurochemical components and vital drug targets for major therapeutic classes of drugs. We document the period of molecular cloning and the explosive influence this had on the field of neuroscience and pharmacology up to the present day and the production of atomic γ-aminobutyric acidA and γ-aminobutyric acidB receptor structures. γ-Aminobutyric acid is no longer a humble molecule but the instigator of rich and powerful signalling processes that are absolutely vital for healthy brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
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25
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Schmidt D, Rodat T, Heintze L, Weber J, Horbert R, Girreser U, Raeker T, Bußmann L, Kriegs M, Hartke B, Peifer C. Axitinib: A Photoswitchable Approved Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:2415-2426. [PMID: 30199151 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The goal of photopharmacology is to develop photoswitchable enzyme modulators as tunable (pro-)drugs that can be spatially and temporally controlled by light. In this context, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib, which contains a photosensitive stilbene-like moiety that allows for E/Z isomerization, is of interest. Axitinib is an approved drug that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and is licensed for second-line therapy of renal cell carcinoma. The photoinduced E/Z isomerization of axitinib has been investigated to explore if its inhibitory effect can be turned "on" and "off", as triggered by light. Under controlled light conditions, (Z)-axitinib is 43 times less active than that of the E isomer in an VEGFR2 assay. Furthermore, it was proven that kinase activity in human umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) was decreased by (E)-axitinib, but only weakly affected by (Z)-axitinib. By irradiating (Z)-axitinib in vitro with UV light (λ=385 nm), it is possible to switch it almost quantitatively into the E isomer and to completely restore the biological activity of (E)-axitinib. However, switching the biological activity off from (E)- to (Z)-axitinib was not possible in aqueous solution due to a competing irreversible [2+2]-photocycloaddition, which yielded a biologically inactive axitinib dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorian Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Theo Rodat
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Linda Heintze
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jantje Weber
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Rebecca Horbert
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Ulrich Girreser
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
| | - Tim Raeker
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Max-Eyth-Strasse 1, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lara Bußmann
- University Cancer Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.,Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiooncology and UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Kriegs
- Laboratory of Radiobiology & Experimental Radiooncology and UCCH Kinomics Core Facility, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Hartke
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Max-Eyth-Strasse 1, 24118, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Peifer
- Institute of Pharmacy, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Gutenbergstraße 76, 24116, Kiel, Germany
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26
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hüll
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003-6699, United States
| | - Johannes Morstein
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003-6699, United States
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, New York 10003-6699, United States
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27
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Tochitsky I, Kienzler MA, Isacoff E, Kramer RH. Restoring Vision to the Blind with Chemical Photoswitches. Chem Rev 2018; 118:10748-10773. [PMID: 29874052 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Degenerative retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affect millions of people around the world and lead to irreversible vision loss if left untreated. A number of therapeutic strategies have been developed over the years to treat these diseases or restore vision to already blind patients. In this Review, we describe the development and translational application of light-sensitive chemical photoswitches to restore visual function to the blind retina and compare the translational potential of photoswitches with other vision-restoring therapies. This therapeutic strategy is enabled by an efficient fusion of chemical synthesis, chemical biology, and molecular biology and is broadly applicable to other biological systems. We hope this Review will be of interest to chemists as well as neuroscientists and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Tochitsky
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center , Boston Children's Hospital , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States.,Department of Neurobiology , Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Michael A Kienzler
- Department of Chemistry , University of Maine , Orono , Maine 04469 , United States
| | - Ehud Isacoff
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of California , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute , University of California , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States.,Bioscience Division , Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States
| | - Richard H Kramer
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of California , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute , University of California , Berkeley , California 94720 , United States
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28
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Bregestovski P, Maleeva G, Gorostiza P. Light-induced regulation of ligand-gated channel activity. Br J Pharmacol 2018; 175:1892-1902. [PMID: 28859250 PMCID: PMC5979632 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of ligand-gated receptors with light using photochromic compounds has evolved from the first handcrafted examples to accurate, engineered receptors, whose development is supported by rational design, high-resolution protein structures, comparative pharmacology and molecular biology manipulations. Photoswitchable regulators have been designed and characterized for a large number of ligand-gated receptors in the mammalian nervous system, including nicotinic acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA receptors. They provide a well-equipped toolbox to investigate synaptic and neuronal circuits in all-optical experiments. This focused review discusses the design and properties of these photoswitches, their applications and shortcomings and future perspectives in the field. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.11/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Bregestovski
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM 1106 Institut de Neurosciences des SystèmesMarseilleFrance
- Department of PhysiologyKazan Medical State UniversityKazanRussia
| | - Galyna Maleeva
- Aix Marseille Université, INSERM 1106 Institut de Neurosciences des SystèmesMarseilleFrance
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelonaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
- CIBER‐BBNMadridSpain
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29
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Optocapacitive Generation of Action Potentials by Microsecond Laser Pulses of Nanojoule Energy. Biophys J 2017; 114:283-288. [PMID: 29273263 PMCID: PMC5984948 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Millisecond pulses of laser light delivered to gold nanoparticles residing in close proximity to the surface membrane of neurons can induce membrane depolarization and initiate an action potential. An optocapacitance mechanism proposed as the basis of this effect posits that the membrane-interfaced particle photothermally induces a cell-depolarizing capacitive current, and predicts that delivering a given laser pulse energy within a shorter period should increase the pulse's action-potential-generating effectiveness by increasing the magnitude of this capacitive current. Experiments on dorsal root ganglion cells show that, for each of a group of interfaced gold nanoparticles and microscale carbon particles, reducing pulse duration from milliseconds to microseconds markedly decreases the minimal pulse energy required for AP generation, providing strong support for the optocapacitance mechanism hypothesis.
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30
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Durand-de Cuttoli R, Mondoloni S, Mourot A. [Optically dissecting brain nicotinic receptor function with photo-controllable designer receptors]. Biol Aujourdhui 2017; 211:173-188. [PMID: 29236669 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2017022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels widely expressed in the central nervous system and the periphery. They play an important modulatory role in learning, memory and attention, and have been implicated in various diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia and addiction. These receptors are activated by the endogenous neurotransmitter acetylcholine, or by nicotine, the alkaloid found in tobacco leaves. Both molecules open the ion channel and cause the movement of cations across the membrane, which directly affects neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity. nAChRs are very heterogeneous in their subunit composition (α2-10 et β2-4), in their brain distribution (cortex, midbrain, striatum…) and in their sub-cellular localization (pre- vs post-synaptic, axonal, dendritic…). This heterogeneity highly contributes to the very diverse roles these receptors have in health and disease. The ability to activate or block a specific nAChR subtype, at a defined time and space within the brain, would greatly help obtaining a clearer picture of these various functions. To this aim, we are developing novel optogenetic pharmacology strategies for optically controlling endogenous nAChR isoforms within the mouse brain. The idea is to tether a chemical photoswitch on the surface of a cysteine-modified nAChR, and use light for rapidly and reversibly turning that receptor mutant on and off. Here we will discuss the history of optogenetic pharmacology, and the recent advances for the optical control of brain nicotinic receptors in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Durand-de Cuttoli
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sarah Mondoloni
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Mourot
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (NPS - IBPS), 75005 Paris, France
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31
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Kienzler MA, Isacoff EY. Precise modulation of neuronal activity with synthetic photoswitchable ligands. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2017; 45:202-209. [PMID: 28690101 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2017.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ehud Y Isacoff
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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32
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Berlin S, Isacoff EY. Synapses in the spotlight with synthetic optogenetics. EMBO Rep 2017; 18:677-692. [PMID: 28396573 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane receptors and ion channels respond to various stimuli and relay that information across the plasma membrane by triggering specific and timed processes. These include activation of second messengers, allowing ion permeation, and changing cellular excitability, to name a few. Gaining control over equivalent processes is essential to understand neuronal physiology and pathophysiology. Recently, new optical techniques have emerged proffering new remote means to control various functions of defined neuronal populations by light, dubbed optogenetics. Still, optogenetic tools do not typically address the activity of receptors and channels native to neurons (or of neuronal origin), nor gain access to their signaling mechanisms. A related method-synthetic optogenetics-bridges this gap by endowing light sensitivity to endogenous neuronal receptors and channels by the appending of synthetic, light-receptive molecules, or photoswitches. This provides the means to photoregulate neuronal receptors and channels and tap into their native signaling mechanisms in select regions of the neurons, such as the synapse. This review discusses the development of synthetic optogenetics as a means to study neuronal receptors and channels remotely, in their natural environment, with unprecedented spatial and temporal precision, and provides an overview of tool design, mode of action, potential clinical applications and insights and achievements gained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Berlin
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ehud Y Isacoff
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Physical Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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33
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Yue L, Weiland JD, Roska B, Humayun MS. Retinal stimulation strategies to restore vision: Fundamentals and systems. Prog Retin Eye Res 2016; 53:21-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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34
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Li S, Song RJ, Wang DH, Tian X, Shao XS, Li Z. Azopyridine-imidacloprid derivatives as photoresponsive neonicotinoids. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2016.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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35
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Abstract
In this issue of Neuron,Lin et al. (2015) report an optical method to precisely manipulate the activity of GABAA receptors by designing a mutant receptor that binds photosensitive compounds. This allows for studying GABAA receptors in situ and represents a valuable tool to investigate how inhibition affects brain physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mortensen
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Trevor G Smart
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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36
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Abstract
Severe loss of photoreceptor cells in inherited or acquired retinal degenerative diseases can result in partial loss of sight or complete blindness. The optogenetic strategy for restoration of vision utilizes optogenetic tools to convert surviving inner retinal neurons into photosensitive cells; thus, light sensitivity is imparted to the retina after the death of photoreceptor cells. Proof-of-concept studies, especially those using microbial rhodopsins, have demonstrated restoration of light responses in surviving retinal neurons and visually guided behaviors in animal models. Significant progress has also been made in improving microbial rhodopsin-based optogenetic tools, developing virus-mediated gene delivery, and targeting specific retinal neurons and subcellular compartments of retinal ganglion cells. In this article, we review the current status of the field and outline further directions and challenges to the advancement of this strategy toward clinical application and improvement in the outcomes of restored vision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo-Hua Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201; , , .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201;
| | - Qi Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201;
| | - Anding Bi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201; , ,
| | | | - Gary W Abrams
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201; , ,
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37
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Broichhagen J, Damijonaitis A, Levitz J, Sokol KR, Leippe P, Konrad D, Isacoff EY, Trauner D. Orthogonal Optical Control of a G Protein-Coupled Receptor with a SNAP-Tethered Photochromic Ligand. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2015; 1:383-393. [PMID: 27162996 PMCID: PMC4827557 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5b00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The covalent attachment of synthetic photoswitches is a general approach to impart light sensitivity onto native receptors. It mimics the logic of natural photoreceptors and significantly expands the reach of optogenetics. Here we describe a novel photoswitch design-the photoswitchable orthogonal remotely tethered ligand (PORTL)-that combines the genetically encoded SNAP-tag with photochromic ligands connected to a benzylguanine via a long flexible linker. We use the method to convert the G protein-coupled receptor mGluR2, a metabotropic glutamate receptor, into a photoreceptor (SNAG-mGluR2) that provides efficient optical control over the neuronal functions of mGluR2: presynaptic inhibition and control of excitability. The PORTL approach enables multiplexed optical control of different native receptors using distinct bioconjugation methods. It should be broadly applicable since SNAP-tags have proven to be reliable, many SNAP-tagged receptors are already available, and photochromic ligands on a long leash are readily designed and synthesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Broichhagen
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Arunas Damijonaitis
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department
of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Kevin R. Sokol
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Philipp Leippe
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - David Konrad
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Ehud Y. Isacoff
- Department
of Molecular and Cell Biology, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Helen
Wills Neuroscience Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Physical
Bioscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department
of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität
München, Butenandtstrasse
5-13, 81377 München, Germany
- Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 München, Germany
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38
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Wang G, Yuan D, Yuan T, Dong J, Feng N, Han G. A visible light responsive azobenzene-functionalized polymer: Synthesis, self-assembly, and photoresponsive properties. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/pola.27747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guojie Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Dong Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Tingting Yuan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Jie Dong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Ning Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Guoxiang Han
- School of Materials Science and Engineering; University of Science and Technology Beijing; Beijing 100083 China
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39
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Schweighauser L, Wegner HA. Chemical Talking with Living Systems: Molecular Switches Steer Quorum Sensing in Bacteria. Chembiochem 2015; 16:1709-11. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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40
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Photosensitivity of neurons enabled by cell-targeted gold nanoparticles. Neuron 2015; 86:207-17. [PMID: 25772189 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2015.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Unmodified neurons can be directly stimulated with light to produce action potentials, but such techniques have lacked localization of the delivered light energy. Here we show that gold nanoparticles can be conjugated to high-avidity ligands for a variety of cellular targets. Once bound to a neuron, these particles transduce millisecond pulses of light into heat, which changes membrane capacitance, depolarizing the cell and eliciting action potentials. Compared to non-functionalized nanoparticles, ligand-conjugated nanoparticles highly resist convective washout and enable photothermal stimulation with lower delivered energy and resulting temperature increase. Ligands targeting three different membrane proteins were tested; all showed similar activity and washout resistance. This suggests that many types of ligands can be bound to nanoparticles, preserving ligand and nanoparticle function, and that many different cell phenotypes can be targeted by appropriate choice of ligand. The findings have applications as an alternative to optogenetics and potentially for therapies involving neuronal photostimulation.
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41
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Flipping the Photoswitch: Ion Channels Under Light Control. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 869:101-17. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2845-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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42
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Chapter 2 - Restoring Vision to the Blind: Optogenetics. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2014; 3:4. [PMID: 25653888 PMCID: PMC4314991 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.3.7.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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43
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Vandevrede L, Tavassoli E, Luo J, Qin Z, Yue L, Pepperberg DR, Thatcher GR. Novel analogues of chlormethiazole are neuroprotective in four cellular models of neurodegeneration by a mechanism with variable dependence on GABA(A) receptor potentiation. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:389-402. [PMID: 24116891 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2013] [Revised: 09/15/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chlormethiazole (CMZ), a clinical sedative/anxiolytic agent, did not reach clinical efficacy in stroke trials despite neuroprotection demonstrated in numerous animal models. Using CMZ as a lead compound, neuroprotective methiazole (MZ) analogues were developed, and neuroprotection and GABA(A) receptor dependence were studied. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Eight MZs were selected from a novel library, of which two were studied in detail. Neuroprotection, glutamate release, intracellular calcium and response to GABA blockade by picrotoxin were measured in rat primary cortical cultures using four cellular models of neurodegeneration. GABA potentiation was assayed in oocytes expressing the α1β2γ2 GABA(A) receptor. KEY RESULTS Neuroprotection against a range of insults was retained even with substantial chemical modification. Dependence on GABAA receptor activity was variable: at the extremes, neuroprotection by GN-28 was universally sensitive to picrotoxin, while GN-38 was largely insensitive. In parallel, effects on extracellular glutamate and intracellular calcium were associated with GABA(A) dependence. Consistent with these findings, GN-28 potentiated α1β2γ2 GABA(A) function, whereas GN-38 had a weak inhibitory effect. Neuroprotection against moderate dose oligomeric Aβ₁₋₄₂ was also tolerant to structural changes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The results support the concept that CMZ does not contain a single pharmacophore, rather that broad-spectrum neuroprotection results from a GABA(A)-dependent mechanism represented by GN-28, combined with a mechanism represented in GN-38 that shows the least dependence on GABA(A) receptors. These findings allow further refinement of the neuroprotective pharmacophore and investigation into secondary mechanisms that will assist in identifying MZ-based compounds of use in treating neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawren Vandevrede
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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44
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Broichhagen J, Trauner D. The in vivo chemistry of photoswitched tethered ligands. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2014; 21:121-7. [PMID: 25108802 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nature's photoreceptors are typically composed of a chromophore that is covalently bound to a receptor protein at the top of a signaling cascade. The protein can function as a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), an ion channel, or as an enzyme. This logic can be mimicked with synthetic photoswitches, such as azobenzenes, that are linked to naturally 'blind' transmembrane proteins using in vivo-chemistry. The resulting semisynthetic receptors can be employed to optically control cellular functions, especially in neurons, and influence the behavior of animals with the exquisite temporal and spatial precision of light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Broichhagen
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, and Munich Center for Integrated Protein Science, Butenandtstrasse 5-13, Munich 81377, Germany.
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45
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Koduvayur SP, Gussin HA, Parthasarathy R, Hao Z, Kay BK, Pepperberg DR. Generation of recombinant antibodies to rat GABAA receptor subunits by affinity selection on synthetic peptides. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87964. [PMID: 24586298 PMCID: PMC3929611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The abundance and physiological importance of GABAA receptors in the central nervous system make this neurotransmitter receptor an attractive target for localizing diagnostic and therapeutic biomolecules. GABAA receptors are expressed within the retina and mediate synaptic signaling at multiple stages of the visual process. To generate monoclonal affinity reagents that can specifically recognize GABAA receptor subunits, we screened two bacteriophage M13 libraries, which displayed human scFvs, by affinity selection with synthetic peptides predicted to correspond to extracellular regions of the rat α1 and β2 GABAA subunits. We isolated three anti-β2 and one anti-α1 subunit specific scFvs. Fluorescence polarization measurements revealed all four scFvs to have low micromolar affinities with their cognate peptide targets. The scFvs were capable of detecting fully folded GABAA receptors heterologously expressed by Xenopus laevis oocytes, while preserving ligand-gated channel activity. Moreover, A10, the anti-α1 subunit-specific scFv, was capable of detecting native GABAA receptors in the mouse retina, as observed by immunofluorescence staining. In order to improve their apparent affinity via avidity, we dimerized the A10 scFv by fusing it to the Fc portion of the IgG. The resulting scFv-Fc construct had a Kd of ∼26 nM, which corresponds to an approximately 135-fold improvement in binding, and a lower detection limit in dot blots, compared to the monomeric scFv. These results strongly support the use of peptides as targets for generating affinity reagents to membrane proteins and encourage investigation of molecular conjugates that use scFvs as anchoring components to localize reagents of interest at GABAA receptors of retina and other neural tissues, for studies of receptor activation and subunit structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujatha P. Koduvayur
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Hélène A. Gussin
- Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rajni Parthasarathy
- Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Zengping Hao
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Brian K. Kay
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - David R. Pepperberg
- Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
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46
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Bautista-Barrufet A, Izquierdo-Serra M, Gorostiza P. Photoswitchable Ion Channels and Receptors. NOVEL APPROACHES FOR SINGLE MOLECULE ACTIVATION AND DETECTION 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-43367-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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47
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Abstract
The powerful optogenetic pharmacology method allows the optical control of neuronal activity by photoswitchable ligands tethered to channels and receptors. However, this approach is technically demanding, as it requires the design of pharmacologically active ligands. The development of versatile technologies therefore represents a challenging issue. Here, we present optogating, a method in which the gating machinery of an ATP-activated P2X channel was reprogrammed to respond to light. We found that channels covalently modified by azobenzene-containing reagents at the transmembrane segments could be reversibly turned on and off by light, without the need of ATP, thus revealing an agonist-independent, light-induced gating mechanism. We demonstrate photocontrol of neuronal activity by a light-gated, ATP-insensitive P2X receptor, providing an original tool devoid of endogenous sensitivity to delineate P2X signaling in normal and pathological states. These findings open new avenues to specifically activate other ion channels independently of their natural stimulus.
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48
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Kramer RH, Mourot A, Adesnik H. Optogenetic pharmacology for control of native neuronal signaling proteins. Nat Neurosci 2013; 16:816-23. [PMID: 23799474 DOI: 10.1038/nn.3424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The optical neuroscience revolution is transforming how we study neural circuits. By providing a precise way to manipulate endogenous neuronal signaling proteins, it also has the potential to transform our understanding of molecular neuroscience. Recent advances in chemical biology have produced light-sensitive compounds that photoregulate a wide variety of proteins underlying signaling between and within neurons. Chemical tools for optopharmacology include caged agonists and antagonists and reversibly photoswitchable ligands. These reagents act on voltage-gated ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors, enabling control of neuronal signaling with a high degree of spatial and temporal precision. By covalently attaching photoswitch molecules to genetically tagged proteins, the newly emerging methodology of optogenetic pharmacology allows biochemically precise control in targeted subsets of neurons. Now that the tools for manipulating endogenous neuronal signaling proteins are available, they can be implemented in vivo to enhance our understanding of the molecular bases of brain function and dysfunctions.
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49
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Mourot A, Tochitsky I, Kramer RH. Light at the end of the channel: optical manipulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability with chemical photoswitches. Front Mol Neurosci 2013; 6:5. [PMID: 23518818 PMCID: PMC3604625 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2013.00005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are transmembrane proteins that control the movement of ions across the cell membrane. They are the molecular machines that make neurons excitable by enabling the initiation and propagation of action potentials (APs). Rapid signaling within and between neurons requires complex molecular processes that couple the sensing of membrane voltage or neurotransmitter release to the fast opening and closing of the ion channel gate. Malfunction of an ion channel's sensing or gating module can have disastrous pathological consequences. However, linking molecular changes to the modulation of neural circuits and ultimately to a physiological or pathological state is not a straightforward task. It requires precise and sophisticated methods of controlling the function of ion channels in their native environment. To address this issue we have developed new photochemical tools that enable the remote control of neuronal ion channels with light. Due to its optical nature, our approach permits the manipulation of the nervous system with high spatial, temporal and molecular precision that will help us understand the link between ion channel function and physiology. In addition, this strategy may also be used in the clinic for the direct treatment of some neuronal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Mourot
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, CA, USA ; Department of Neurobiology of Adaptive Processes, UMR7102 CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris, France
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