Clickable, photoreactive inhibitors to probe the active site microenvironment of fatty acid amide hydrolase()

Somatic and terminal CB1 receptors are differentially coupled to voltage-gated sodium channels in neocortical neurons

Endogenous cannabinoid signaling is vital for important brain functions, and the same pathways can be modified pharmacologically to treat pain, epilepsy, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Endocannabinoid-mediated changes to excitability are predominantly attributed to 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) acting presynaptically via the canonical cannabinoid receptor, CB1. Here, we identify a mechanism in the neocortex by which anandamide (AEA), another major endocannabinoid, but not 2-AG, powerfully inhibits somatically recorded voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) currents in the majority of neurons. This pathway involves intracellular CB1 that, when activated by anandamide, decreases the likelihood of recurrent action potential generation. WIN 55,212-2 similarly activates CB1 and inhibits VGSC currents, indicating that this pathway is also positioned to mediate the actions of exogenous cannabinoids on neuronal excitability. The coupling between CB1 and VGSCs is absent at nerve terminals, and 2-AG does not block somatic VGSC currents, indicating functional compartmentalization of the actions of two endocannabinoids.

Activity-Based Protein Profiling of Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthetases

Non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) natural products are one of the most promising resources for drug discovery and development because of their wide-ranging of therapeutic potential, and their behavior as virulence factors and signaling molecules. The NRPs are biosynthesized independently of the ribosome by enzyme assembly lines known as the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) machinery. Genetic, biochemical, and bioinformatics analyses have provided a detailed understanding of the mechanism of NRPS catalysis. However, proteomic techniques for natural product biosynthesis remain a developing field. New strategies are needed to investigate the proteomes of diverse producer organisms and directly analyze the endogenous NRPS machinery. Advanced platforms should verify protein expression, protein folding, and activities and also enable the profiling of the NRPS machinery in biological samples from wild-type, heterologous, and engineered bacterial systems. Here, we focus on activity-based protein profiling strategies that have been recently developed for studies aimed at visualizing and monitoring the NRPS machinery and also for rapid labeling, identification, and biochemical analysis of NRPS enzyme family members as required for proteomic chemistry in natural product sciences.

The Life of Pi Star: Exploring the Exciting and Forbidden Worlds of the Benzophenone Photophore

The widespread applications of benzophenone (BP) photochemistry in biological chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, and material science have been prominent in both academic and industrial research. BP photophores have unique photochemical properties: upon n-π* excitation at 365 nm, a biradicaloid triplet state is formed reversibly, which can abstract a hydrogen atom from accessible C-H bonds; the radicals subsequently recombine, creating a stable covalent C-C bond. This light-directed covalent attachment process is exploited in many different ways: (i) binding/contact site mapping of ligand (or protein)-protein interactions; (ii) identification of molecular targets and interactome mapping; (iii) proteome profiling; (iv) bioconjugation and site-directed modification of biopolymers; (v) surface grafting and immobilization. BP photochemistry also has many practical advantages, including low reactivity toward water, stability in ambient light, and the convenient excitation at 365 nm. In addition, several BP-containing building blocks and reagents are commercially available. In this review, we explore the "forbidden" (transitions) and excitation-activated world of photoinduced covalent attachment of BP photophores by touring a colorful palette of recent examples. In this exploration, we will see the pros and cons of using BP photophores, and we hope that both novice and expert photolabelers will enjoy and be inspired by the breadth and depth of possibilities.

Dividing cells regulate their lipid composition and localization

Although massive membrane rearrangements occur during cell division, little is known about specific roles that lipids might play in this process. We report that the lipidome changes with the cell cycle. LC-MS-based lipid profiling shows that 11 lipids with specific chemical structures accumulate in dividing cells. Using AFM, we demonstrate differences in the mechanical properties of live dividing cells and their isolated lipids relative to nondividing cells. In parallel, systematic RNAi knockdown of lipid biosynthetic enzymes identified enzymes required for division, which highly correlated with lipids accumulated in dividing cells. We show that cells specifically regulate the localization of lipids to midbodies, membrane-based structures where cleavage occurs. We conclude that cells actively regulate and modulate their lipid composition and localization during division, with both signaling and structural roles likely. This work has broader implications for the active and sustained participation of lipids in basic biology.

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Systematic, comprehensive lipid analyses in dividing cells and midbodies

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AFM shows dividing cells and their lipids have specific physical properties

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Screen of lipid biosynthetic enzymes reveals 23 genes required for division

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Perturbing lipid levels alters actin cytoskeleton and cell stiffness

Investigating γ-secretase protein interactions in live cells using active site-directed clickable dual-photoaffinity probes

Clickable γ-secretase active site-directed dual-photoaffinity probes specifically label components of the γ-secretase complex and form crosslinks between PS1-NTF and PS1-CTF.

Target deconvolution techniques in modern phenotypic profiling

The past decade has seen rapid growth in the use of diverse compound libraries in classical phenotypic screens to identify modulators of a given process. The subsequent process of identifying the molecular targets of active hits, also called 'target deconvolution', is an essential step for understanding compound mechanism of action and for using the identified hits as tools for further dissection of a given biological process. Recent advances in 'omics' technologies, coupled with in silico approaches and the reduced cost of whole genome sequencing, have greatly improved the workflow of target deconvolution and have contributed to a renaissance of 'modern' phenotypic profiling. In this review, we will outline how both new and old techniques are being used in the difficult process of target identification and validation as well as discuss some of the ongoing challenges remaining for phenotypic screening.

Tandem photoaffinity labeling-bioorthogonal conjugation in medicinal chemistry

Photoaffinity labeling has a longstanding history as a powerful biochemical technique. However, photoaffinity labeling has significantly evolved over the past decade principally due to its coupling with bioorthogonal/click chemistry reactions. This review aims to highlight tandem photoaffinity labeling-bioorthogonal conjugation as a chemical approach in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. In particular, recent examples of using this strategy for affinity-based protein profiling (AfBPP), drug target identification, binding ensemble profiling, studying endogenous biological molecules, and imaging applications will be presented. Additionally, recent advances in the development of 'all-in-one' compact moieties possessing a photoreactive group and clickable handle will be discussed.