1
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Gan Z, Guo Y, Zhao M, Ye Y, Liao Y, Liu B, Yin J, Zhou X, Yan Y, Yin Y, Ren W. Excitatory amino acid transporter supports inflammatory macrophage responses. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2024; 69:2405-2419. [PMID: 38614854 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are responsible for excitatory amino acid transportation and are associated with auto-immune diseases in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. However, the subcellular location and function of EAAT2 in macrophages are still obscure. In this study, we demonstrated that LPS stimulation increases expression of EAAT2 (coded by Slc1a2) via NF-κB signaling. EAAT2 is necessary for inflammatory macrophage polarization through sustaining mTORC1 activation. Mechanistically, lysosomal EAAT2 mediates lysosomal glutamate and aspartate efflux to maintain V-ATPase activation, which sustains macropinocytosis and mTORC1. We also found that mice with myeloid depletion of Slc1a2 show alleviated inflammatory responses in LPS-induced systemic inflammation and high-fat diet induced obesity. Notably, patients with type II diabetes (T2D) have a higher level of expression of lysosomal EAAT2 and activation of mTORC1 in blood macrophages. Taken together, our study links the subcellular location of amino acid transporters with the fate decision of immune cells, which provides potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhending Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Muyang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuyi Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yuexia Liao
- School of Nursing & School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Bingnan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jie Yin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xihong Zhou
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Yuqi Yan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Wenkai Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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2
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Borowska AM, Chiariello MG, Garaeva AA, Rheinberger J, Marrink SJ, Paulino C, Slotboom DJ. Structural basis of the obligatory exchange mode of human neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6570. [PMID: 39095408 PMCID: PMC11297037 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50888-8] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
ASCT2 is an obligate exchanger of neutral amino acids, contributing to cellular amino acid homeostasis. ASCT2 belongs to the same family (SLC1) as Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters (EAATs) that concentrate glutamate in the cytosol. The mechanism that makes ASCT2 an exchanger rather than a concentrator remains enigmatic. Here, we employ cryo-electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the structural basis of the exchange mechanism of ASCT2. We establish that ASCT2 binds three Na+ ions per transported substrate and visits a state that likely acts as checkpoint in preventing Na+ ion leakage, both features shared with EAATs. However, in contrast to EAATs, ASCT2 retains one Na+ ion even under Na+-depleted conditions. We demonstrate that ASCT2 cannot undergo the structural transition in TM7 that is essential for the concentrative transport cycle of EAATs. This structural rigidity and the high-affinity Na+ binding site effectively confine ASCT2 to an exchange mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Borowska
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Membrane Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Gabriella Chiariello
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Molecular Dynamics Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alisa A Garaeva
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Membrane Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Rheinberger
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Membrane Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Biochemistry Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Molecular Dynamics Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Cristina Paulino
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Membrane Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
- Biochemistry Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Dirk J Slotboom
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology, Membrane Enzymology Group, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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3
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van Veggel L, Mocking TA, Sijben HJ, Liu R, Gorostiola González M, Dilweg MA, Royakkers J, Li A, Kumar V, Dong YY, Bullock A, Sauer DB, Diliën H, van Westen GJ, Schreiber R, Heitman LH, Vanmierlo T. Still in Search for an EAAT Activator: GT949 Does Not Activate EAAT2, nor EAAT3 in Impedance and Radioligand Uptake Assays. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1424-1431. [PMID: 38478848 PMCID: PMC10995951 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00731] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are important regulators of amino acid transport and in particular glutamate. Recently, more interest has arisen in these transporters in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. This calls for ways to modulate these targets to drive glutamate transport, EAAT2 and EAAT3 in particular. Several inhibitors (competitive and noncompetitive) exist to block glutamate transport; however, activators remain scarce. Recently, GT949 was proposed as a selective activator of EAAT2, as tested in a radioligand uptake assay. In the presented research, we aimed to validate the use of GT949 to activate EAAT2-driven glutamate transport by applying an innovative, impedance-based, whole-cell assay (xCELLigence). A broad range of GT949 concentrations in a variety of cellular environments were tested in this assay. As expected, no activation of EAAT3 could be detected. Yet, surprisingly, no biological activation of GT949 on EAAT2 could be observed in this assay either. To validate whether the impedance-based assay was not suited to pick up increased glutamate uptake or if the compound might not induce activation in this setup, we performed radioligand uptake assays. Two setups were utilized; a novel method compared to previously published research, and in a reproducible fashion copying the methods used in the existing literature. Nonetheless, activation of neither EAAT2 nor EAAT3 could be observed in these assays. Furthermore, no evidence of GT949 binding or stabilization of purified EAAT2 could be observed in a thermal shift assay. To conclude, based on experimental evidence in the present study GT949 requires specific assay conditions, which are difficult to reproduce, and the compound cannot simply be classified as an activator of EAAT2 based on the presented evidence. Hence, further research is required to develop the tools needed to identify new EAAT modulators and use their potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieve van Veggel
- Department
of Neuroscience, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of
Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department
of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division of Translational Neuroscience,
European Graduate School of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health
and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University
MS Center (UMSC), 3900 Hasselt-Pelt, Belgium
| | - Tamara A.M. Mocking
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hubert J. Sijben
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rongfang Liu
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marina Gorostiola González
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Majlen A. Dilweg
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Royakkers
- Sensor
Engineering
Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Li
- Centre
for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, U.K.
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Centre
for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, U.K.
| | - Yin Yao Dong
- Nuffield
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular
Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, U.K.
| | - Alex Bullock
- Centre
for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, U.K.
| | - David B. Sauer
- Centre
for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 7BN Oxford, U.K.
| | - Hanne Diliën
- Sensor
Engineering
Department, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Maastricht University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard J.P. van Westen
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rudy Schreiber
- Section
of Psychopharmacology, Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty
of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht
University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laura H. Heitman
- Leiden
Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), Division of Drug Discovery
and Safety, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode
Institute, Einsteinweg
55, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Vanmierlo
- Department
of Neuroscience, BIOMED Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of
Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590 Hasselt, Belgium
- Department
of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Division of Translational Neuroscience,
European Graduate School of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health
and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands
- University
MS Center (UMSC), 3900 Hasselt-Pelt, Belgium
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4
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Perrin F, Sinha P, Mitchell SPC, Sadek M, Maesako M, Berezovska O. Identification of PS1/gamma-secretase and glutamate transporter GLT-1 interaction sites. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107172. [PMID: 38499151 PMCID: PMC11015137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107172] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered interaction between Presenilin 1 (PS1), a catalytic subunit of γ-secretase responsible for generating amyloid-β peptides, and GLT-1, a major glutamate transporter in the brain (EAAT2), provides a mechanistic link between these two key factors involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Modulating this interaction can be crucial to understand the consequence of such crosstalk in AD context and beyond. However, the interaction sites between these two proteins are unknown. Herein, we utilized an alanine scanning approach coupled with FRET-based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to identify the interaction sites between PS1 and GLT-1 in their native environment within intact cells. We found that GLT-1 residues at position 276 to 279 (TM5) and PS1 residues at position 249 to 252 (TM6) are crucial for GLT-1-PS1 interaction. These results have been cross validated using AlphaFold Multimer prediction. To further investigate whether this interaction of endogenously expressed GLT-1 and PS1 can be prevented in primary neurons, we designed PS1/GLT-1 cell-permeable peptides (CPPs) targeting the PS1 or GLT-1 binding site. We used HIV TAT domain to allow for cell penetration which was assayed in neurons. First, we assessed the toxicity and penetration of CPPs by confocal microscopy. Next, to ensure the efficiency of CPPs, we monitored the modulation of GLT-1-PS1 interaction in intact neurons by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. We saw significantly less interaction between PS1 and GLT-1 with both CPPs. Our study establishes a new tool to study the functional aspect of GLT-1-PS1 interaction and its relevance in normal physiology and AD models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Perrin
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Priyanka Sinha
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shane Patrick Clancy Mitchell
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Sadek
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Masato Maesako
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Oksana Berezovska
- MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
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5
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Takahashi K, Sato K. The Conventional and Breakthrough Tool for the Study of L-Glutamate Transporters. MEMBRANES 2024; 14:77. [PMID: 38668105 PMCID: PMC11052088 DOI: 10.3390/membranes14040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
In our recent report, we clarified the direct interaction between the excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) 1/2 and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) by applying electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques to Xenopus oocytes. Xenopus oocytes have a long history of use in the scientific field, but they are still attractive experimental systems for neuropharmacological studies. We will therefore summarize the pharmacological significance, advantages (especially in the study of EAAT2), and experimental techniques that can be applied to Xenopus oocytes; our new findings concerning L-glutamate (L-Glu) transporters and PUFAs; and the significant outcomes of our data. The data obtained from electrophysiological and molecular biological studies of Xenopus oocytes have provided us with further important questions, such as whether or not some PUFAs can modulate EAATs as allosteric modulators and to what extent docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affects neurotransmission and thereby affects brain functions. Xenopus oocytes have great advantages in the studies about the interactions between molecules and functional proteins, especially in the case when the expression levels of the proteins are small in cell culture systems without transfections. These are also proper to study the mechanisms underlying the interactions. Based on the data collected in Xenopus oocyte experiments, we can proceed to the next step, i.e., the physiological roles of the compounds and their significances. In the case of EAAT2, the effects on the neurotransmission should be examined by electrophysiological approach using acute brain slices. For new drug development, pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics (PKPD) data and blood brain barrier (BBB) penetration data are also necessary. In order not to miss the promising candidate compounds at the primary stages of drug development, we should reconsider using Xenopus oocytes in the early phase of drug development.
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Grants
- a Research Grant on Regulatory Harmonization and Evaluation of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Regenerative and Cellular Therapy Products, Gene Therapy Products, and Cosmetics from AMED, Japan Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
- KAKENHI 18700373, 21700422, 17K08330 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- a Grant for the Program for Promotion of Fundamental Studies in Health Sciences of NIBIO National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition
- a grant for Research on Risks of Chemicals, a Labor Science Research Grant for Research on New Drug Development MHLW
- a Grant-in-Aid from Hoansha Foundation Hoansha Foundation
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaoru Sato
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan;
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6
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Cao W, Xiong S, Ji W, Wei H, Ma F, Mao L. Neuroprotection Role of Vitamin C by Upregulating Glutamate Transporter-1 in Auditory Cortex of Noise-Induced Tinnitus Animal Model. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1197-1205. [PMID: 38451201 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin C (Vc) plays a pivotal role in a series of pathological processes, such as tumors, immune diseases, and neurological disorders. However, its therapeutic potential for tinnitus management remains unclear. In this study, we find that Vc relieves tinnitus in noise-exposed rats. In the 7-day therapy groups, spontaneous firing rate (SFR) increases from 1.17 ± 0.10 Hz to 1.77 ± 0.15 Hz after noise exposure. Vc effectively reduces the elevated SFR to 0.99 ± 0.07 and 0.55 ± 0.05 Hz at different doses. The glutamate level in auditory cortex of noise-exposed rats (3.78 ± 0.42 μM) increases relative to that in the control group (1.34 ± 0.22 μM). High doses of Vc (500 mg/kg/day) effectively reduce the elevated glutamate levels (1.49 ± 0.28 μM). Mechanistic studies show that the expression of glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) is impaired following noise exposure and that Vc treatment effectively restores GLT-1 expression in the auditory cortex. Meanwhile, the GLT-1 inhibitor, dl-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartic acid (dl-TBOA), invalidates the protection role of Vc. Our finding shows that Vc substantially enhances glutamate clearance by upregulating GLT-1 and consequently alleviates noise-induced tinnitus. This study provides valuable insight into a novel biological target for the development of therapeutic interventions that may prevent the onset of tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanxin Cao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shan Xiong
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wenliang Ji
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Huan Wei
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Furong Ma
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lanqun Mao
- College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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7
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Tu G, Fu T, Zheng G, Xu B, Gou R, Luo D, Wang P, Xue W. Computational Chemistry in Structure-Based Solute Carrier Transporter Drug Design: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:1433-1455. [PMID: 38294194 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Solute carrier transporters (SLCs) are a class of important transmembrane proteins that are involved in the transportation of diverse solute ions and small molecules into cells. There are approximately 450 SLCs within the human body, and more than a quarter of them are emerging as attractive therapeutic targets for multiple complex diseases, e.g., depression, cancer, and diabetes. However, only 44 unique transporters (∼9.8% of the SLC superfamily) with 3D structures and specific binding sites have been reported. To design innovative and effective drugs targeting diverse SLCs, there are a number of obstacles that need to be overcome. However, computational chemistry, including physics-based molecular modeling and machine learning- and deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI), provides an alternative and complementary way to the classical drug discovery approach. Here, we present a comprehensive overview on recent advances and existing challenges of the computational techniques in structure-based drug design of SLCs from three main aspects: (i) characterizing multiple conformations of the proteins during the functional process of transportation, (ii) identifying druggability sites especially the cryptic allosteric ones on the transporters for substrates and drugs binding, and (iii) discovering diverse small molecules or synthetic protein binders targeting the binding sites. This work is expected to provide guidelines for a deep understanding of the structure and function of the SLC superfamily to facilitate rational design of novel modulators of the transporters with the aid of state-of-the-art computational chemistry technologies including artificial intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao Tu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Tingting Fu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | | | - Binbin Xu
- Chengdu Sintanovo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610200, China
| | - Rongpei Gou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Ding Luo
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Panpan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Huanghuai University, Zhumadian 463000, China
| | - Weiwei Xue
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
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8
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Xia R, Peng HF, Zhang X, Zhang HS. Comprehensive review of amino acid transporters as therapeutic targets. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129646. [PMID: 38272411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The solute carrier (SLC) family, with more than 400 membrane-bound proteins, facilitates the transport of a wide array of substrates such as nutrients, ions, metabolites, and drugs across biological membranes. Amino acid transporters (AATs) are membrane transport proteins that mediate transfer of amino acids into and out of cells or cellular organelles. AATs participate in many important physiological functions including nutrient supply, metabolic transformation, energy homeostasis, redox regulation, and neurological regulation. Several AATs have been found to significantly impact the progression of human malignancies, and dysregulation of AATs results in metabolic reprogramming affecting tumor growth and progression. However, current clinical therapies that directly target AATs have not been developed. The purpose of this review is to highlight the structural and functional diversity of AATs, the molecular mechanisms in human diseases such as tumors, kidney diseases, and emerging therapeutic strategies for targeting AATs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xia
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100(#), District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hai-Feng Peng
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100(#), District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100(#), District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hong-Sheng Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Beijing University of Technology, Pingleyuan 100(#), District of Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, China.
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9
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Zhang W, Miura A, Abu Saleh MM, Shimizu K, Mita Y, Tanida R, Hirako S, Shioda S, Gmyr V, Kerr-Conte J, Pattou F, Jin C, Kanai Y, Sasaki K, Minamino N, Sakoda H, Nakazato M. The NERP-4-SNAT2 axis regulates pancreatic β-cell maintenance and function. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8158. [PMID: 38071217 PMCID: PMC10710447 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43976-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells is regulated by multiple stimuli, including nutrients, hormones, neuronal inputs, and local signalling. Amino acids modulate insulin secretion via amino acid transporters expressed on β cells. The granin protein VGF has dual roles in β cells: regulating secretory granule formation and functioning as a multiple peptide precursor. A VGF-derived peptide, neuroendocrine regulatory peptide-4 (NERP-4), increases Ca2+ influx in the pancreata of transgenic mice expressing apoaequorin, a Ca2+-induced bioluminescent protein complex. NERP-4 enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated human and mouse islets and β-cell-derived MIN6-K8 cells. NERP-4 administration reverses the impairment of β-cell maintenance and function in db/db mice by enhancing mitochondrial function and reducing metabolic stress. NERP-4 acts on sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2), thereby increasing glutamine, alanine, and proline uptake into β cells and stimulating insulin secretion. SNAT2 deletion and inhibition abolish the protective effects of NERP-4 on β-cell maintenance. These findings demonstrate a novel autocrine mechanism of β-cell maintenance and function that is mediated by the peptide-amino acid transporter axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Zhang
- Department of Bioregulatory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Ayako Miura
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Md Moin Abu Saleh
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Department of Postgraduate Studies and Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain, Busaiteen, Bahrain
| | - Koichiro Shimizu
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Division of Hematology, Diabetes, and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Mita
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Systems Life Sciences Laboratory, Department of Medical Life Systems, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryota Tanida
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirako
- Department of Health and Nutrition, University of Human Arts and Sciences, Saitama, Japan
| | - Seiji Shioda
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shonan University of Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Valery Gmyr
- Université de Lille, Inserm, Campus Hospitalo-Universitaire de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1190-EGID, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Julie Kerr-Conte
- Université de Lille, Inserm, Campus Hospitalo-Universitaire de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1190-EGID, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Francois Pattou
- Université de Lille, Inserm, Campus Hospitalo-Universitaire de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1190-EGID, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Chunhuan Jin
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshikatsu Kanai
- Department of Bio-system Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sasaki
- Department of Peptidomics, Sasaki Foundation, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoto Minamino
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research, Suita, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Sakoda
- Department of Bioregulatory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Nakazato
- Department of Bioregulatory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
- Division of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
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10
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Perrin F, Anderson LC, Mitchell SPC, Sinha P, Turchyna Y, Maesako M, Houser MCQ, Zhang C, Wagner SL, Tanzi RE, Berezovska O. PS1/gamma-secretase acts as rogue chaperone of glutamate transporter EAAT2/GLT-1 in Alzheimer's disease. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3495211. [PMID: 37986905 PMCID: PMC10659539 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3495211/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
The recently discovered interaction between presenilin 1 (PS1), a catalytic subunit of γ-secretase responsible for the generation of amyloid-β(Aβ) peptides, and GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter in the brain (EAAT2 in the human) may provide a mechanistic link between two important pathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease (AD): abnormal Aβoccurrence and neuronal network hyperactivity. In the current study, we employed a FRET-based approach, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), to characterize the PS1/GLT-1 interaction in its native environment in the brain tissue of sporadic AD (sAD) patients. There was significantly less interaction between PS1 and GLT-1 in sAD brains, compared to tissue from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), or non-demented age-matched controls. Since PS1 has been shown to adopt pathogenic "closed" conformation in sAD but not in FTLD, we assessed the impact of changes in PS1 conformation on the interaction. Familial AD (fAD) PS1 mutations which induce a "closed" PS1 conformation similar to that in sAD brain and gamma-secretase modulators (GSMs) which induce a "relaxed" conformation, reduced and increased the interaction, respectively. This indicates that PS1 conformation seems to have a direct effect on the interaction with GLT-1. Furthermore, using biotinylation/streptavidin pull-down, western blotting, and cycloheximide chase assays, we determined that the presence of PS1 increased GLT-1 cell surface expression and GLT-1 homomultimer formation, but did not impact GLT-1 protein stability. Together, the current findings suggest that the newly described PS1/GLT-1 interaction endows PS1 with chaperone activity, modulating GLT-1 transport to the cell surface and stabilizing the dimeric-trimeric states of the protein. The diminished PS1/GLT-1 interaction suggests that these functions of the interaction may not work properly in AD.
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11
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Dvorak V, Superti-Furga G. Structural and functional annotation of solute carrier transporters: implication for drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1099-1115. [PMID: 37563933 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2244760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Solute carriers (SLCs) represent the largest group of membrane transporters in the human genome. They play a central role in controlling the compartmentalization of metabolism and most of this superfamily is linked to human disease. Despite being in general considered druggable and attractive therapeutic targets, many SLCs remain poorly annotated, both functionally and structurally. AREAS COVERED The aim of this review is to provide an overview of functional and structural parameters of SLCs that play important roles in their druggability. To do this, the authors provide an overview of experimentally solved structures of human SLCs, with emphasis on structures solved in complex with chemical modulators. From the functional annotations, the authors focus on SLC localization and SLC substrate annotations. EXPERT OPINION Recent progress in the structural and functional annotations allows to refine the SLC druggability index. Particularly the increasing number of experimentally solved structures of SLCs provides insights into mode-of-action of a significant number of chemical modulators of SLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtech Dvorak
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giulio Superti-Furga
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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12
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Perrin F, Sinha P, Mitchell S, Maesako M, Berezovska O. Identification of PS1/gamma-secretase and glutamate transporter GLT-1 interaction sites. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542955. [PMID: 37398024 PMCID: PMC10312500 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The recently discovered interaction between Presenilin 1 (PS1), a catalytic subunit of γ-secretase responsible for generating amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, and GLT-1, a major glutamate transporter in the brain (EAAT2) provides a mechanistic link between these two key factors involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Modulating this interaction can be crucial to understand the consequence of such crosstalk in AD context and beyond. However, the interaction sites between these two proteins are unknown. Herein, we utilized an alanine scanning approach coupled with FRET-based fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to identify the interaction sites between PS1 and GLT-1 in their native environment within intact cells. We found that GLT-1 residues at position 276 to 279 (TM5) and PS1 residues at position 249 to 252 (TM6) are crucial for GLT-1/PS1 interaction. These results have been cross validated using AlphaFold Multimer prediction. To further investigate whether this interaction of endogenously expressed GLT-1 and PS1 can be prevented in primary neurons, we designed PS1/GLT-1 cell-permeable peptides (CPPs) targeting the PS1 or GLT-1 binding site. We used HIV TAT domain to allow for cell penetration which was assayed in neurons. First, we assessed the toxicity and penetration of CPPs by confocal microscopy. Next, to ensure the efficiency of CPPs, we monitored the modulation of GLT-1/PS1 interaction in intact neurons by FLIM. We saw significantly less interaction between PS1 and GLT-1 with both CPPs. Our study establishes a new tool to study the functional aspect of GLT-1/PS1 interaction and its relevance in normal physiology and AD models.
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13
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Qiu B, Boudker O. Symport and antiport mechanisms of human glutamate transporters. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2579. [PMID: 37142617 PMCID: PMC10160106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38120-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) uptake glutamate into glial cells and neurons. EAATs achieve million-fold transmitter gradients by symporting it with three sodium ions and a proton, and countertransporting a potassium ion via an elevator mechanism. Despite the availability of structures, the symport and antiport mechanisms still need to be clarified. We report high-resolution cryo-EM structures of human EAAT3 bound to the neurotransmitter glutamate with symported ions, potassium ions, sodium ions alone, or without ligands. We show that an evolutionarily conserved occluded translocation intermediate has a dramatically higher affinity for the neurotransmitter and the countertransported potassium ion than outward- or inward-facing transporters and plays a crucial role in ion coupling. We propose a comprehensive ion coupling mechanism involving a choreographed interplay between bound solutes, conformations of conserved amino acid motifs, and movements of the gating hairpin and the substrate-binding domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Qiu
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
| | - Olga Boudker
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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14
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Fontana IC, Souza DG, Souza DO, Gee A, Zimmer ER, Bongarzone S. A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective on Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2330-2346. [PMID: 36787643 PMCID: PMC9969404 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) plays a key role in the clearance and recycling of glutamate - the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain. EAAT2 loss/dysfunction triggers a cascade of neurodegenerative events, comprising glutamatergic excitotoxicity and neuronal death. Nevertheless, our current knowledge regarding EAAT2 in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), is restricted to post-mortem analysis of brain tissue and experimental models. Thus, detecting EAAT2 in the living human brain might be crucial to improve diagnosis/therapy for ALS and AD. This perspective article describes the role of EAAT2 in physio/pathological processes and provides a structure-activity relationship of EAAT2-binders, bringing two perspectives: therapy (activators) and diagnosis (molecular imaging tools).
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor C Fontana
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.,Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16 - Neo floor seventh, 141 83 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Débora G Souza
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Diogo O Souza
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Antony Gee
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Eduardo R Zimmer
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite 500, sala, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Biochemistry (PPGBioq), and Pharmacology and Therapeutics (PPGFT), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite 500, sala, 305 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 Porto Alegre, Brazil.,McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Salvatore Bongarzone
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
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