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Wu H, Handley TNG, Hoare BL, Hartono HA, Scott DJ, Chalmers DK, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA. Developing insulin-like peptide 5-based antagonists for the G protein-coupled receptor, RXFP4. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116239. [PMID: 38679208 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116239] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Human insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a gut hormone produced by colonic L-cells, and its biological functions are mediated by Relaxin Family Peptide Receptor 4 (RXFP4). Our preliminary data indicated that RXFP4 agonists are potential drug leads for the treatment of constipation. More recently, we designed and developed a novel RXFP4 antagonist, A13-nR that was shown to block agonist-induced activity in cells and animal models. We showed that A13-nR was able to block agonist-induced increases in colon motility in mice of both genders that express the receptor, RXFP4. Our data also showed that colorectal propulsion induced by intracolonic administration of short-chain fatty acids was antagonized by A13-nR. Therefore, A13-nR is an important research tool and potential drug lead for the treatment of colon motility disorders, such as bacterial diarrhea. However, A13-nR acted as a partial agonist at high concentrations in vitro and demonstrated modest antagonist potency (∼35 nM). Consequently, the primary objective of this study is to pinpoint novel modifications to A13-nR that eliminate partial agonist effects while preserving or augmenting antagonist potency. In this work, we detail the creation of a series of A13-nR-modified analogues, among which analogues 3, 4, and 6 demonstrated significantly improved RXFP4 affinity (∼3 nM) with reduced partial agonist activity, enhanced antagonist potency (∼10 nM) and maximum agonist inhibition (∼80 %) when compared with A13-nR. These compounds have potential as candidates for further preclinical evaluations, marking a significant stride toward innovative therapeutics for colon motility disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkang Wu
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Thomas N G Handley
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Bradley L Hoare
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Herodion A Hartono
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Daniel J Scott
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - David K Chalmers
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- The Florey, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
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Jung J, Han H. The diverse influences of relaxin-like peptide family on tumor progression: Potential opportunities and emerging challenges. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24463. [PMID: 38298643 PMCID: PMC10828710 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Relaxin-like peptide family exhibit differential expression patterns in various types of cancers and play a role in cancer development. This family participates in tumorigenic processes encompassing proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor microenvironment, immune microenvironment, and anti-cancer resistance, ultimately influencing patient prognosis. In this review, we explore the mechanisms underlying the interaction between the RLN-like peptide family and tumors and provide an overview of therapeutic approaches utilizing this interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyunho Han
- Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
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Feng W, Zhou Q, Chen X, Dai A, Cai X, Liu X, Zhao F, Chen Y, Ye C, Xu Y, Cong Z, Li H, Lin S, Yang D, Wang MW. Structural insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity of the human melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-5 receptors. Cell Discov 2023; 9:81. [PMID: 37524700 PMCID: PMC10390531 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) family that recognize different melanocortin peptides mediate a broad spectrum of cellular processes including energy homeostasis, inflammation and skin pigmentation through five MCR subtypes (MC1R-MC5R). The structural basis of subtype selectivity of the endogenous agonist γ-MSH and non-selectivity of agonist α-MSH remains elusive, as the two agonists are highly similar with a conserved HFRW motif. Here, we report three cryo-electron microscopy structures of MC3R-Gs in complex with γ-MSH and MC5R-Gs in the presence of α-MSH or a potent synthetic agonist PG-901. The structures reveal that α-MSH and γ-MSH adopt a "U-shape" conformation, penetrate into the wide-open orthosteric pocket and form massive common contacts with MCRs via the HFRW motif. The C-terminus of γ-MSH occupies an MC3R-specific complementary binding groove likely conferring subtype selectivity, whereas that of α-MSH distances itself from the receptor with neglectable contacts. PG-901 achieves the same potency as α-MSH with a shorter length by rebalancing the recognition site and mimicking the intra-peptide salt bridge in α-MSH by cyclization. Solid density confirmed the calcium ion binding in MC3R and MC5R, and the distinct modulation effects of divalent ions were demonstrated. Our results provide insights into ligand recognition and subtype selectivity among MCRs, and expand the knowledge of signal transduction among MCR family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Feng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianyue Chen
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Antao Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fenghui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenyu Ye
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingna Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaotong Cong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Li
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Shi Lin
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Research Center for Deepsea Bioresources, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- School of Pharmacy, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
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