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Budusan E, Payne CD, Gonzalez TI, Obergrussberger A, Becker N, Clark RJ, Johan Rosengren K, Rash LD, Cristofori-Armstrong B. The funnel-web spider venom derived single knot peptide Hc3a modulates acid-sensing ion channel 1a desensitisation. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116175. [PMID: 38552850 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116175] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a proton-gated channel involved in synaptic transmission, pain signalling, and several ischemia-associated pathological conditions. The spider venom-derived peptides PcTx1 and Hi1a are two of the most potent ASIC1a inhibitors known and have been instrumental in furthering our understanding of the structure, function, and biological roles of ASICs. To date, homologous spider peptides with different pharmacological profiles at ASIC1a have yet to be discovered. Here we report the characterisation of Hc3a, a single inhibitor cystine knot peptide from the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche cerberea with sequence similarity to PcTx1. We show that Hc3a has complex pharmacology and binds different ASIC1a conformational states (closed, open, and desensitised) with different affinities, with the most prominent effect on desensitisation. Hc3a slows the desensitisation kinetics of proton-activated ASIC1a currents across multiple application pHs, and when bound directly to ASIC1a in the desensitised conformation promotes current inhibition. The solution structure of Hc3a was solved, and the peptide-channel interaction examined via mutagenesis studies to highlight how small differences in sequence between Hc3a and PcTx1 can lead to peptides with distinct pharmacology. The discovery of Hc3a expands the pharmacological diversity of spider venom peptides targeting ASIC1a and adds to the toolbox of compounds to study the intricacies of ASIC1 gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Budusan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Colton D Payne
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Tye I Gonzalez
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | | | | | - Richard J Clark
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - K Johan Rosengren
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | - Ben Cristofori-Armstrong
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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Verkest C, Salinas M, Diochot S, Deval E, Lingueglia E, Baron A. Mechanisms of Action of the Peptide Toxins Targeting Human and Rodent Acid-Sensing Ion Channels and Relevance to Their In Vivo Analgesic Effects. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100709. [PMID: 36287977 PMCID: PMC9612379 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage-independent H+-gated cation channels largely expressed in the nervous system of rodents and humans. At least six isoforms (ASIC1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3 and 4) associate into homotrimers or heterotrimers to form functional channels with highly pH-dependent gating properties. This review provides an update on the pharmacological profiles of animal peptide toxins targeting ASICs, including PcTx1 from tarantula and related spider toxins, APETx2 and APETx-like peptides from sea anemone, and mambalgin from snake, as well as the dimeric protein snake toxin MitTx that have all been instrumental to understanding the structure and the pH-dependent gating of rodent and human cloned ASICs and to study the physiological and pathological roles of native ASICs in vitro and in vivo. ASICs are expressed all along the pain pathways and the pharmacological data clearly support a role for these channels in pain. ASIC-targeting peptide toxins interfere with ASIC gating by complex and pH-dependent mechanisms sometimes leading to opposite effects. However, these dual pH-dependent effects of ASIC-inhibiting toxins (PcTx1, mambalgin and APETx2) are fully compatible with, and even support, their analgesic effects in vivo, both in the central and the peripheral nervous system, as well as potential effects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Verkest
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Miguel Salinas
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
| | - Sylvie Diochot
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
| | - Emmanuel Deval
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
| | - Eric Lingueglia
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
| | - Anne Baron
- CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), IPMC (Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire), LabEx ICST (Laboratory of Excellence in Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics), FHU InovPain (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire “Innovative Solutions in Refractory Chronic Pain”), Université Côte d’Azur, 660 Route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Nice, France
- Correspondence:
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On the quest of small molecules that can mimic Psalmotoxin-1, the most powerful peptidic modulator of the acid sensing channel ASIC1a. Struct Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-021-01826-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Muller JAI, Chan LY, Toffoli-Kadri MC, Mortari MR, Craik DJ, Koehbach J. Antinociceptive peptides from venomous arthropods. TOXIN REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/15569543.2022.2065510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. I. Muller
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lai Y. Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Monica C. Toffoli-Kadri
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Inflammation, FACFAN/Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marcia R. Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, IB/University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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5
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Heusser SA, Borg CB, Colding JM, Pless SA. Conformational decoupling in acid-sensing ion channels uncovers mechanism and stoichiometry of PcTx1-mediated inhibition. eLife 2022; 11:73384. [PMID: 35156612 PMCID: PMC8871370 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are trimeric proton-gated cation channels involved in fast synaptic transmission. Pharmacological inhibition of ASIC1a reduces neurotoxicity and stroke infarct volumes, with the cysteine knot toxin psalmotoxin-1 (PcTx1) being one of the most potent and selective inhibitors. PcTx1 binds at the subunit interface in the extracellular domain (ECD), but the mechanism and conformational consequences of the interaction, as well as the number of toxin molecules required for inhibition, remain unknown. Here, we use voltage-clamp fluorometry and subunit concatenation to decipher the mechanism and stoichiometry of PcTx1 inhibition of ASIC1a. Besides the known inhibitory binding mode, we propose PcTx1 to have at least two additional binding modes that are decoupled from the pore. One of these modes induces a long-lived ECD conformation that reduces the activity of an endogenous neuropeptide. This long-lived conformational state is proton-dependent and can be destabilized by a mutation that decreases PcTx1 sensitivity. Lastly, the use of concatemeric channel constructs reveals that disruption of a single PcTx1 binding site is sufficient to destabilize the toxin-induced conformation, while functional inhibition is not impaired until two or more binding sites are mutated. Together, our work provides insight into the mechanism of PcTx1 inhibition of ASICs and uncovers a prolonged conformational change with possible pharmacological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Heusser
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copehagen, Denmark
| | - Christian B Borg
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janne M Colding
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stephan A Pless
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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High-throughput characterization of photocrosslinker-bearing ion channel variants to map residues critical for function and pharmacology. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001321. [PMID: 34491979 PMCID: PMC8448361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Incorporation of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) can endow proteins with novel functionalities, such as crosslinking or fluorescence. In ion channels, the function of these variants can be studied with great precision using standard electrophysiology, but this approach is typically labor intensive and low throughput. Here, we establish a high-throughput protocol to conduct functional and pharmacological investigations of ncAA-containing human acid-sensing ion channel 1a (hASIC1a) variants in transiently transfected mammalian cells. We introduce 3 different photocrosslinking ncAAs into 103 positions and assess the function of the resulting 309 variants with automated patch clamp (APC). We demonstrate that the approach is efficient and versatile, as it is amenable to assessing even complex pharmacological modulation by peptides. The data show that the acidic pocket is a major determinant for current decay, and live-cell crosslinking provides insight into the hASIC1a–psalmotoxin 1 (PcTx1) interaction. Further, we provide evidence that the protocol can be applied to other ion channels, such as P2X2 and GluA2 receptors. We therefore anticipate the approach to enable future APC-based studies of ncAA-containing ion channels in mammalian cells. This study describes a method to rapidly screen hundreds of ion channel variants containing non-canonical amino acids. A proof-of-principle introducing photocrosslinking non-canonical amino acids into the human ion channel hASIC1a shows how this approach can provide insights into function and pharmacology.
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7
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Redd MA, Scheuer SE, Saez NJ, Yoshikawa Y, Chiu HS, Gao L, Hicks M, Villanueva JE, Joshi Y, Chow CY, Cuellar-Partida G, Peart JN, See Hoe LE, Chen X, Sun Y, Suen JY, Hatch RJ, Rollo B, Xia D, Alzubaidi MAH, Maljevic S, Quaife-Ryan GA, Hudson JE, Porrello ER, White MY, Cordwell SJ, Fraser JF, Petrou S, Reichelt ME, Thomas WG, King GF, Macdonald PS, Palpant NJ. Therapeutic Inhibition of Acid Sensing Ion Channel 1a Recovers Heart Function After Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Circulation 2021; 144:947-960. [PMID: 34264749 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.121.054360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the major risk factors implicated in morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. During cardiac ischemia, the build-up of acidic metabolites results in decreased intracellular and extracellular pH that can reach as low as 6.0-6.5. The resulting tissue acidosis exacerbates ischemic injury and significantly impacts cardiac function. Methods: We used genetic and pharmacological methods to investigate the role of acid sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) in cardiac IRI at the cellular and whole organ level. Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) as well as ex vivo and in vivo models of IRI were used to test the efficacy of ASIC1a inhibitors as pre- and post-conditioning therapeutic agents. Results: Analysis of human complex trait genetics indicate that variants in the ASIC1 genetic locus are significantly associated with cardiac and cerebrovascular ischemic injuries. Using hiPSC-CMs in vitro and murine ex vivo heart models, we demonstrate that genetic ablation of ASIC1a improves cardiomyocyte viability after acute IRI. Therapeutic blockade of ASIC1a using specific and potent pharmacological inhibitors recapitulates this cardioprotective effect. We used an in vivo model of myocardial infarction (MI) and two models of ex vivo donor heart procurement and storage as clinical models to show that ASIC1a inhibition improves post-IRI cardiac viability. Use of ASIC1a inhibitors as pre- or post-conditioning agents provided equivalent cardioprotection to benchmark drugs, including the sodium-hydrogen exchange inhibitor zoniporide. At the cellular and whole organ level, we show that acute exposure to ASIC1a inhibitors has no impact on cardiac ion channels regulating baseline electromechanical coupling and physiological performance. Conclusions: Collectively, our data provide compelling evidence for a novel pharmacological strategy involving ASIC1a blockade as a cardioprotective therapy to improve the viability of hearts subjected to IRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Redd
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (M.A.R., L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
| | - Sarah E Scheuer
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
- Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit (S.E.S., Y.J., P.S.M.), St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Natalie J Saez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (N.J.S., G.F.K.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Yusuke Yoshikawa
- School of Biomedical Sciences (Y.Y., M.E.R., W.G.T.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Han Sheng Chiu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Ling Gao
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Mark Hicks
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
- Department of Pharmacology (M.H.), St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Jeanette E Villanueva
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Yashutosh Joshi
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
- Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit (S.E.S., Y.J., P.S.M.), St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Chun Yuen Chow
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Gabriel Cuellar-Partida
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Australia (G.C.-P.)
| | - Jason N Peart
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Southport, Australia (J.N.P.)
| | - Louise E See Hoe
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (M.A.R., L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Yuliangzi Sun
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Jacky Y Suen
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (M.A.R., L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
| | - Robert J Hatch
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (R.J.H., B.R., S.M., S.P.)
| | - Ben Rollo
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (R.J.H., B.R., S.M., S.P.)
| | - Di Xia
- Genome Innovation Hub (D.X.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mubarak A H Alzubaidi
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Snezana Maljevic
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (R.J.H., B.R., S.M., S.P.)
| | | | - James E Hudson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia (G.A.Q.-R., J.E.H.)
| | - Enzo R Porrello
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia (E.R.P.)
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (E.R.P.)
| | - Melanie Y White
- School of Medical Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (M.Y.W., S.J.C.)
| | - Stuart J Cordwell
- School of Medical Sciences, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, and Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia (M.Y.W., S.J.C.)
| | - John F Fraser
- Critical Care Research Group, The Prince Charles Hospital and The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (M.A.R., L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (L.E.S.H., J.Y.S., J.F.F.)
| | - Steven Petrou
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia (R.J.H., B.R., S.M., S.P.)
| | - Melissa E Reichelt
- School of Biomedical Sciences (Y.Y., M.E.R., W.G.T.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Walter G Thomas
- School of Biomedical Sciences (Y.Y., M.E.R., W.G.T.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (N.J.S., G.F.K.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Peter S Macdonald
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., L.G., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
- Cardiopulmonary Transplant Unit (S.E.S., Y.J., P.S.M.), St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (S.E.S., M.H., J.E.V., Y.J., P.S.M.)
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience (M.A.R., N.J.S., H.S.C., C.Y.C., X.C., Y.S., M.A.H.A., G.F.K., N.J.P.), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
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8
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Herzig V, Cristofori-Armstrong B, Israel MR, Nixon SA, Vetter I, King GF. Animal toxins - Nature's evolutionary-refined toolkit for basic research and drug discovery. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:114096. [PMID: 32535105 PMCID: PMC7290223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Venomous animals have evolved toxins that interfere with specific components of their victim's core physiological systems, thereby causing biological dysfunction that aids in prey capture, defense against predators, or other roles such as intraspecific competition. Many animal lineages evolved venom systems independently, highlighting the success of this strategy. Over the course of evolution, toxins with exceptional specificity and high potency for their intended molecular targets have prevailed, making venoms an invaluable and almost inexhaustible source of bioactive molecules, some of which have found use as pharmacological tools, human therapeutics, and bioinsecticides. Current biomedically-focused research on venoms is directed towards their use in delineating the physiological role of toxin molecular targets such as ion channels and receptors, studying or treating human diseases, targeting vectors of human diseases, and treating microbial and parasitic infections. We provide examples of each of these areas of venom research, highlighting the potential that venom molecules hold for basic research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker Herzig
- School of Science & Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
| | | | - Mathilde R Israel
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Samantha A Nixon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Irina Vetter
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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9
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Osmakov DI, Khasanov TA, Andreev YA, Lyukmanova EN, Kozlov SA. Animal, Herb, and Microbial Toxins for Structural and Pharmacological Study of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:991. [PMID: 32733241 PMCID: PMC7360831 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are of the most sensitive molecular sensors of extracellular pH change in mammals. Six isoforms of these channels are widely represented in membranes of neuronal and non-neuronal cells, where these molecules are involved in different important regulatory functions, such as synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and nociception, as well as in various pathological states. Structural and functional studies of both wild-type and mutant ASICs are essential for human care and medicine for the efficient treatment of socially significant diseases and ensure a comfortable standard of life. Ligands of ASICs serve as indispensable tools for these studies. Such bioactive compounds can be synthesized artificially. However, to date, the search for such molecules has been most effective amongst natural sources, such as animal venoms or plants and microbial extracts. In this review, we provide a detailed and comprehensive structural and functional description of natural compounds acting on ASICs, as well as the latest information on structural aspects of their interaction with the channels. Many of the examples provided in the review demonstrate the undoubted fundamental and practical successes of using natural toxins. Without toxins, it would not be possible to obtain data on the mechanisms of ASICs' functioning, provide detailed study of their pharmacological properties, or assess the contribution of the channels to development of different pathologies. The selectivity to different isoforms and variety in the channel modulation mode allow for the appraisal of prospective candidates for the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry I. Osmakov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timur A. Khasanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yaroslav A. Andreev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N. Lyukmanova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey A. Kozlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
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10
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APETx-Like Peptides from the Sea Anemone Heteractis crispa, Diverse in Their Effect on ASIC1a and ASIC3 Ion Channels. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12040266. [PMID: 32326130 PMCID: PMC7232172 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, five peptide modulators of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) attributed to structural class 1b of sea anemone toxins have been described. The APETx2 toxin is the first and most potent ASIC3 inhibitor, so its homologs from sea anemones are known as the APETx-like peptides. We have discovered that two APETx-like peptides from the sea anemone Heteractis crispa, Hcr 1b-3 and Hcr 1b-4, demonstrate different effects on rASIC1a and rASIC3 currents. While Hcr 1b-3 inhibits both investigated ASIC subtypes with IC50 4.95 ± 0.19 μM for rASIC1a and 17 ± 5.8 μM for rASIC3, Hcr 1b-4 has been found to be the first potentiator of ASIC3, simultaneously inhibiting rASIC1a at similar concentrations: EC50 1.53 ± 0.07 μM and IC50 1.25 ± 0.04 μM. The closest homologs, APETx2, Hcr 1b-1, and Hcr 1b-2, previously demonstrated the ability to inhibit hASIC3 with IC50 63 nM, 5.5, and 15.9 μM, respectively, while Hcr 1b-2 also inhibited rASIC1a with IC50 4.8 ± 0.3 μM. Computer modeling allowed us to describe the peculiarities of Hcr 1b-2 and Hcr 1b-4 interfaces with the rASIC1a channel and the stabilization of the expanded acidic pocket resulting from peptides binding which traps the rASIC1a channel in the closed state.
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11
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Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-gated cation channels that contribute to neurotransmission, as well as initiation of pain and neuronal death following ischemic stroke. As such, there is a great interest in understanding the in vivo regulation of ASICs, especially by endogenous neuropeptides that potently modulate ASICs. The most potent endogenous ASIC modulator known to date is the opioid neuropeptide big dynorphin (BigDyn). BigDyn is up-regulated in chronic pain and increases ASIC-mediated neuronal death during acidosis. Understanding the mechanism and site of action of BigDyn on ASICs could thus enable the rational design of compounds potentially useful in the treatment of pain and ischemic stroke. To this end, we employ a combination of electrophysiology, voltage-clamp fluorometry, synthetic BigDyn analogs, and noncanonical amino acid-mediated photocrosslinking. We demonstrate that BigDyn binding results in an ASIC1a closed resting conformation that is distinct from open and desensitized states induced by protons. Using alanine-substituted BigDyn analogs, we find that the BigDyn modulation of ASIC1a is primarily mediated through electrostatic interactions of basic amino acids in the BigDyn N terminus. Furthermore, neutralizing acidic amino acids in the ASIC1a extracellular domain reduces BigDyn effects, suggesting a binding site at the acidic pocket. This is confirmed by photocrosslinking using the noncanonical amino acid azidophenylalanine. Overall, our data define the mechanism of how BigDyn modulates ASIC1a, identify the acidic pocket as the binding site for BigDyn, and thus highlight this cavity as an important site for the development of ASIC-targeting therapeutics.
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12
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Jakubowski J, Orr AA, Le DA, Tamamis P. Interactions between Curcumin Derivatives and Amyloid-β Fibrils: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:289-305. [PMID: 31809572 PMCID: PMC7732148 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides into senile plaques is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is hypothesized to be the primary cause of AD related neurodegeneration. Previous studies have shown the ability of curcumin to both inhibit the aggregation of Aβ peptides into oligomers or fibrils and reduce amyloids in vivo. Despite the promise of curcumin and its derivatives to serve as diagnostic, preventative, and potentially therapeutic AD molecules, the mechanism by which curcumin and its derivatives bind to and inhibit Aβ fibrils' formation remains elusive. Here, we investigated curcumin and a set of curcumin derivatives in complex with a hexamer peptide model of the Aβ1-42 fibril using nearly exhaustive docking, followed by multi-ns molecular dynamics simulations, to provide atomistic-detail insights into the molecules' binding and inhibitory properties. In the vast majority of the simulations, curcumin and its derivatives remain firmly bound in complex with the fibril through primarily three different principle binding modes, in which the molecules interact with residue domain 17LVFFA21, in line with previous experiments. In a small subset of these simulations, the molecules partly dissociate the outermost peptide of the Aβ1-42 fibril by disrupting β-sheets within the residue domain 12VHHQKLVFF20. A comparison between binding modes leading or not leading to partial dissociation of the outermost peptide suggests that the latter is attributed to a few subtle key structural and energetic interaction-based differences. Interestingly, partial dissociation appears to be either an outcome of high affinity interactions or a cause leading to high affinity interactions between the molecules and the fibril, which could partly serve as a compensation for the energy loss in the fibril due to partial dissociation. In conjunction with this, we suggest a potential inhibition mechanism of Αβ1-42 aggregation by the molecules, where the partially dissociated 16KLVFF20 domain of the outermost peptide could either remain unstructured or wrap around to form intramolecular interactions with the same peptide's 29GAIIG33 domain, while the molecules could additionally act as a patch against the external edge of the second outermost peptide's 16KLVFF20 domain. Thereby, individually or concurrently, these could prohibit fibril elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Doan A. Le
- Artie McFerrin Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
| | - Phanourios Tamamis
- Artie McFerrin Department
of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-3122, United States
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13
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Wu KJ, Lei PM, Liu H, Wu C, Leung CH, Ma DL. Mimicking Strategy for Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitor Discovery by Virtual Screening. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24244428. [PMID: 31817099 PMCID: PMC6943618 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As protein–protein interactions (PPIs) are highly involved in most cellular processes, the discovery of PPI inhibitors that mimic the structure of the natural protein partners is a promising strategy toward the discovery of PPI inhibitors. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the application of virtual screening for identifying mimics of protein partners. The classification and function of the mimicking protein partner inhibitor discovery by virtual screening are described. We anticipate that this review would be of interest to medicinal chemists and chemical biologists working in the field of protein–protein interaction inhibitors or probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Jia Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China; (K.-J.W.); (P.-M.L.)
| | - Pui-Man Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China; (K.-J.W.); (P.-M.L.)
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (H.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Chun Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (H.L.); (C.W.)
| | - Chung-Hang Leung
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China; (K.-J.W.); (P.-M.L.)
- Correspondence: (C.-H.L.); (D.-L.M.); Tel.: +(853)-8822-4688 (C.-H.L.); +(852)-3411-7075 (D.-L.M.)
| | - Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China; (H.L.); (C.W.)
- Correspondence: (C.-H.L.); (D.-L.M.); Tel.: +(853)-8822-4688 (C.-H.L.); +(852)-3411-7075 (D.-L.M.)
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14
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Cristofori-Armstrong B, Saez NJ, Chassagnon IR, King GF, Rash LD. The modulation of acid-sensing ion channel 1 by PcTx1 is pH-, subtype- and species-dependent: Importance of interactions at the channel subunit interface and potential for engineering selective analogues. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 163:381-390. [PMID: 30849303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are primary acid sensors in the mammalian nervous system that are activated by protons under conditions of local acidosis. They have been implicated in a range of pathologies including ischemic stroke (ASIC1a subtype) and peripheral pain (ASIC1b and ASIC3). Although the spider venom peptide PcTx1 is the best-studied ASIC modulator and is neuroprotective in rodent models of ischemic stroke, little experimental work has been done to examine its molecular interaction with human ASIC1a or the off-target ASIC1b. The complementary face of the acidic pocket binding site of PcTx1 is where these channels differ in sequence. We show here that although PcTx1 is 10-fold less potent at human ASIC1a than the rat channel, the apparent affinity for the two channels is comparable. We examined the pharmacophore of PcTx1 for human ASIC1a and rat ASIC1b, and show that inhibitory and stimulatory effects at each ASIC1 variant is driven mostly by a shared set of core peptide pharmacophore residues that bind to the thumb domain, while peptide residues that interact with the complementary face of the biding site underlie species and subtype-dependent differences in activity that may allow manipulation of ASIC1 variant selectivity. Finally, the stimulatory effect of PcTx1 on rat ASIC1a when applied under mildly alkaline pH correlates with low receptor occupancy. These new insights into the interactions between PcTx1 with ASIC1 subtypes demonstrates the complexity of its mechanism of action, and highlights important implications to consider when using PcTx1 as a pharmacological tool to study ASIC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Cristofori-Armstrong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Natalie J Saez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Irène R Chassagnon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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15
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Bargeton B, Iwaszkiewicz J, Bonifacio G, Roy S, Zoete V, Kellenberger S. Mutations in the palm domain disrupt modulation of acid-sensing ion channel 1a currents by neuropeptides. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2599. [PMID: 30796301 PMCID: PMC6385203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37426-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation by neuropeptides enhances several functions of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), such as pain sensation and acid-induced neuronal injury. The acid-induced opening of ASICs is transient, because of a rapid desensitization. Neuropeptides containing an Arg-Phe-amide motif affect ASIC desensitization and allow continuous activity of ASICs. In spite of the importance of the sustained ASIC activity during prolonged acidification, the molecular mechanisms of ASIC modulation by neuropeptides is only poorly understood. To identify the FRRFa (Phe-Arg-Arg-Phe-amide) binding site on ASIC1a, we carried out an in silico docking analysis and verified functionally the docking predictions. The docking experiments indicated three possible binding pockets, located (1) in the acidic pocket between the thumb, finger, β-ball and palm domains, (2) in a pocket at the bottom of the thumb domain, and (3) in the central vestibule along with the connected side cavities. Functional measurements of mutant ASIC1a confirmed the importance of residues of the lower palm, which encloses the central vestibule and its side cavities, for the FRRFa effects. The combined docking and functional experiments strongly suggest that FRRFa binds to the central vestibule and its side cavities to change ASIC desensitization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoîte Bargeton
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Justyna Iwaszkiewicz
- Molecular Modeling Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gaetano Bonifacio
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Roy
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Molecular Modeling Group, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, Lausanne University, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Route de la Corniche 9A, 1066, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Kellenberger
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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16
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Pérez de Vega MJ, Ferrer-Montiel A, González-Muñiz R. Recent progress in non-opioid analgesic peptides. Arch Biochem Biophys 2018; 660:36-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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17
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Chauhan AS, Sahoo GC, Dikhit MR, Das P. Acid-Sensing Ion Channels Structural Aspects, Pathophysiological Importance and Experimental Mutational Data Available Across Various Species to Target Human ASIC1. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 20:111-121. [DOI: 10.2174/1389450119666180820103316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The H+-gated (proton) currents are widely present in brain sensory neuronal system and
various studies identified the structural units and deciphered the physiological and pathological function
of ion channels. The normal neuron requires an optimal pH to carry out its functions. In acidosis,
the ASICs (Acid-sensing Ion Channels) are activated in both the CNS (central nervous system) and
PNS (peripheral nervous system). ASICs are related to degenerin channels (DEGs), epithelial sodium
cation channels (ENaCs), and FMRF-amide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2)-gated channels (FaNaC). Its activation
leads physiologically to pain perception, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, fear,
ischemic neuronal injury, seizure termination, neuronal degeneration, and mechanosensation. It detects
the level of acid fluctuation in the extracellular environment and responds to acidic pH by increasing
the rate of membrane depolarization. It conducts cations like Na+ (Sodium) and Ca2+ (Calcium)
ions across the membrane upon protonation. The ASICs subtypes are characterized by differing
biophysical properties and pH sensitivities. The subtype ASIC1 is involved in various CNS diseases
and therefore focusing on its specific functional properties will guide in drug design methods. The review
highlights the cASIC1 (Chicken ASIC1) crystal structures, involvement in physiological environment
and limitations of currently available inhibitors. In addition, it details the mutational data
available to design an inhibitor against hASIC1 (Human ASIC1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Singh Chauhan
- Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna- 800 007, Bihar, India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna- 800 007, Bihar, India
| | - Manas Ranjan Dikhit
- Biomedical Informatics, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna- 800 007, Bihar, India
| | - Pradeep Das
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna- 800 007, Bihar, India
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18
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Perricone U, Gulotta MR, Lombino J, Parrino B, Cascioferro S, Diana P, Cirrincione G, Padova A. An overview of recent molecular dynamics applications as medicinal chemistry tools for the undruggable site challenge. MEDCHEMCOMM 2018; 9:920-936. [PMID: 30108981 PMCID: PMC6072422 DOI: 10.1039/c8md00166a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) has become increasingly popular due to the development of hardware and software solutions and the improvement in algorithms, which allowed researchers to scale up calculations in order to speed them up. MD simulations are usually used to address protein folding issues or protein-ligand complex stability through energy profile analysis over time. In recent years, the development of new tools able to deeply explore a potential energy surface (PES) has allowed researchers to focus on the dynamic nature of the binding recognition process and binding-induced protein conformational changes. Moreover, modern approaches have been demonstrated to be effective and reliable in calculating some kinetic and thermodynamic parameters behind the host-guest recognition process. Starting from all of these considerations, several efforts have been made in order to integrate MD within the virtual screening process in drug discovery. Knowledge retrieved from MD can, in fact, be exploited as a starting point to build pharmacophores or docking constraints in the early stage of the screening campaign as well as to define key features, in order to unravel hidden binding modes and help the optimisation of the molecular structure of a lead compound. Based on these outcomes, researchers are nowadays using MD as an invaluable tool to discover and target previously considered undruggable binding sites, including protein-protein interactions and allosteric sites on a protein surface. As a matter of fact, the use of MD has been recognised as vital to the discovery of selective protein-protein interaction modulators. The use of a dynamic overview on how the host-guest recognition occurs and of the relative conformational modifications induced allows researchers to optimise small molecules and small peptides capable of tightly interacting within the cleft between two proteins. In this review, we aim to present the most recent applications of MD as an integrated tool to be used in the rational design of small molecules or small peptides able to modulate undruggable targets, such as allosteric sites and protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Perricone
- Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Group , Fondazione Ri.MED , Via Bandiera 11 , 90133 Palermo , Italy .
| | - Maria Rita Gulotta
- Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Group , Fondazione Ri.MED , Via Bandiera 11 , 90133 Palermo , Italy .
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Jessica Lombino
- Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Group , Fondazione Ri.MED , Via Bandiera 11 , 90133 Palermo , Italy .
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Barbara Parrino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Stella Cascioferro
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Patrizia Diana
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Girolamo Cirrincione
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF) , Università degli Studi di Palermo , Via Archirafi 32 , 90123 Palermo , Italy
| | - Alessandro Padova
- Computational and Medicinal Chemistry Group , Fondazione Ri.MED , Via Bandiera 11 , 90133 Palermo , Italy .
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19
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Akef HM. Anticancer, antimicrobial, and analgesic activities of spider venoms. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2018; 7:381-395. [PMID: 30090588 PMCID: PMC6060684 DOI: 10.1039/c8tx00022k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spider venoms are complex mixtures composed of a variety of compounds, including salts, small organic molecules, peptides, and proteins. But, the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans. High levels of chemical diversity make spider venoms attractive subjects for chemical prospecting. Many spider venom components show potential activity against a wide range of human diseases. However, the development of novel venom-derived therapeutics requires an understanding of their mechanisms of action. This review will highlight the structures, activities and the possible mechanisms of action of spider venoms and their components against cancer, microbial infections, and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan M Akef
- National Organization for Research and Control of Biologicals (NORCB) , Giza , Egypt . ; ; Tel: +20-2-37480478
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20
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Wang T, Wang QQ, Pan GX, Jia GR, Li X, Wang C, Zhang LM, Zuo CJ. Retracted Article: ASIC1a involves acidic microenvironment-induced activation and autophagy of pancreatic stellate cells. RSC Adv 2018; 8:30950-30956. [PMID: 35548742 PMCID: PMC9085602 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra03679a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), as a member of the proton-gated cation channel family, can be activated by low extracellular pH, and takes part in many acidity-associated physiopathological processes. However, whether ASIC1a is expressed in human pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) and involved in acid-induced physiopathological events has not been reported yet. In this study, we investigated the expression of ASIC1a in PSCs and its possible role in the activation and autophagy of PSCs evoked by extracellular acid. Our results show that ASIC1a is present in PSCs, and an enhanced expression of ASIC1a occurs under acid stimuli. More importantly, the activation and autophagy of PSCs can be induced in acidic medium, and inhibition of ASIC1a by ASIC1a-specific blocker psalmotoxin-1 (PcTx1) or siRNA knockdown could suppress these two acid-associated processes. Collectively, our present study reports for the first time that ASIC1a is expressed in PSCs, and provides evidence for the involvement of ASIC1a in the acidic microenvironment-induced activation and autophagy of PSCs. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is expressed in pancreatic stellate cells and is involved in acidosis-induced activation and autophagy.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- Changhai Hospital
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai
- China
| | - Qian-qian Wang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology
- Faculty of Naval Medicine
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai 200433
- China
| | - Gui-xia Pan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- Changhai Hospital
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai
- China
| | - Guo-rong Jia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- Changhai Hospital
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai
- China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- Changhai Hospital
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai
- China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology
- Faculty of Naval Medicine
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai 200433
- China
| | - Li-ming Zhang
- Department of Marine Biotechnology
- Faculty of Naval Medicine
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai 200433
- China
| | - Chang-jing Zuo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine
- Changhai Hospital
- Second Military Medical University
- Shanghai
- China
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21
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Chauhan AS, Ansari MY, Mansuri R, Dikhit MR, Ali V, Sahoo GC, Das P. Computational elucidation, mutational and hot spot-based designing of potential inhibitors against human acid-sensing ion channels (hASIC-1a) to treat various physiological conditions. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:3513-3530. [PMID: 29039242 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1392364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels are ligand/proton-gated ion channels belonging to the family of the degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel (DEG/ENaC). They function as a sodium-selective pore for Ca2+ entry into neuronal cells during pathological conditions. The blocking of this channel has therapeutic importance, because at basal physiological pH (7.2), it is in a closed state and under a more acidic condition, and the ASIC1a ion channel is activated. To investigate the different states of the hASIC1a channel based on mutational analysis, structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The system showed stability after 30 ns (after 1500 frame), and it was stabilized to an average value around 2.2Å. During the simulation, the ion channel residues in persistent contact with toxin PcTx1 were D237, E238, D347, D351, E219 and E355. These residues are important physiologically for the activation of the channel. From in silico alanine scanning, the significant hotspots obtained in hASIC1 are E344, P347, F352, D351, E355 and E219. From the sitemap analysis, it was evident that the sitemap found one of the active sites at the PcTx1 binding site with a site score of 1.086 and a D-score of 1.035 for hASIC1. We obtained a few promising hits and final potential hits from the virtual screening in hASIC1 that made interactions with the residues in the acidic pocket (E344, P347, F352, D351, E355 and E219). Based on these studies, the hits and scaffolds of potential therapeutic interest against various pathological conditions are associated with hASIC1a for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Singh Chauhan
- a Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India.,d Department of Pharmacoinformatics , National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research , Hajipur 844 102 , Bihar , India
| | - Md Yousuf Ansari
- b Deparment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , M.M. College of Pharmacy, Maharishi Markandeshwar University , Mullana 133207 , Haryana , India.,d Department of Pharmacoinformatics , National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research , Hajipur 844 102 , Bihar , India
| | - Rani Mansuri
- a Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India.,d Department of Pharmacoinformatics , National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research , Hajipur 844 102 , Bihar , India
| | - Manas Ranjan Dikhit
- a Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India
| | - Vahab Ali
- a Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India
| | - Ganesh Chandra Sahoo
- a Biomedical Informatics, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India
| | - Pradeep Das
- c Department of Molecular Parasitology, Indian Council of Medical Research , Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences , Agamkuan, Patna 800 007 , Bihar , India
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22
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Yu H, Yang L, Liu L, Zhao X, Huang X. Molecular dynamics simulations investigate the mechanism of Psalmotoxin 1 regulating gating process of an acid-sensing ion channel 1a at pH 5.5. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:2558-2566. [PMID: 28768463 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1363087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is a cation channel activated by protons and causes neuronal death through central nervous system. Psalmotoxin1 (PcTx1) is a gating modifier for ASIC1a. The process of PcTx1 regulating the channel gating from the extracellular domain to the transmembrane domain is unclear. Here we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations method to investigate how PcTx1 regulates the gating of the ASIC1a. Our results indicated that PcTx1can mainly regulate ASIC1a gating process through hydrogen bonds, which can affect their relative positions of several key domains in ASIC1a, further, a long-range conformational changes path was determined, which is composed of β1, β2, β10, α6, α7, β11, and β12 in ASIC1a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yu
- a Chemistry Teaching Center, College of Chemistry and Biology , Beihua University , Jilin , People's Republic of China
| | - Lianjuan Yang
- b The Fungal Reference Laboratory of Shanghai Dermatology Hospital , Shanghai , China
| | - Lu Liu
- c Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry , Jilin University , People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Zhao
- c Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry , Jilin University , People's Republic of China
| | - Xuri Huang
- c Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry , Jilin University , People's Republic of China
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23
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Hung A, Kuyucak S, Schroeder CI, Kaas Q. Modelling the interactions between animal venom peptides and membrane proteins. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:20-31. [PMID: 28778835 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The active components of animal venoms are mostly peptide toxins, which typically target ion channels and receptors of both the central and peripheral nervous system, interfering with action potential conduction and/or synaptic transmission. The high degree of sequence conservation of their molecular targets makes a range of these toxins active at human receptors. The high selectivity and potency displayed by some of these toxins have prompted their use as pharmacological tools as well as drugs or drug leads. Molecular modelling has played an essential role in increasing our molecular-level understanding of the activity and specificity of animal toxins, as well as engineering them for biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. This review focuses on the biological insights gained from computational and experimental studies of animal venom toxins interacting with membranes and ion channels. A host of recent X-ray crystallography and electron-microscopy structures of the toxin targets has contributed to a dramatic increase in the accuracy of the molecular models of toxin binding modes greatly advancing this exciting field of study. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Hung
- School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
| | - Serdar Kuyucak
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
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24
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Acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) structure and function: Insights from spider, snake and sea anemone venoms. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:173-184. [PMID: 28457973 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are proton-activated cation channels that are expressed in a variety of neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. As proton-gated channels, they have been implicated in many pathophysiological conditions where pH is perturbed. Venom derived compounds represent the most potent and selective modulators of ASICs described to date, and thus have been invaluable as pharmacological tools to study ASIC structure, function, and biological roles. There are now ten ASIC modulators described from animal venoms, with those from snakes and spiders favouring ASIC1, while the sea anemones preferentially target ASIC3. Some modulators, such as the prototypical ASIC1 modulator PcTx1 have been studied in great detail, while some of the newer members of the club remain largely unstudied. Here we review the current state of knowledge on venom derived ASIC modulators, with a particular focus on their molecular interaction with ASICs, what they have taught us about channel structure, and what they might still reveal about ASIC function and pathophysiological roles. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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25
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Rash LD. Acid-Sensing Ion Channel Pharmacology, Past, Present, and Future …. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2017; 79:35-66. [PMID: 28528673 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
pH is one of the most strictly controlled parameters in mammalian physiology. An extracellular pH of ~7.4 is crucial for normal physiological processes, and perturbations to this have profound effects on cell function. Acidic microenvironments occur in many physiological and pathological conditions, including inflammation, bone remodeling, ischemia, trauma, and intense synaptic activity. Cells exposed to these conditions respond in different ways, from tumor cells that thrive to neurons that are either suppressed or hyperactivated, often fatally. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are primary pH sensors in mammals and are expressed widely in neuronal and nonneuronal cells. There are six main subtypes of ASICs in rodents that can form homo- or heteromeric channels resulting in many potential combinations. ASICs are present and activated under all of the conditions mentioned earlier, suggesting that they play an important role in how cells respond to acidosis. Compared to many other ion channel families, ASICs were relatively recently discovered-1997-and there is a substantial lack of potent, subtype-selective ligands that can be used to elucidate their structural and functional properties. In this chapter I cover the history of ASIC channel pharmacology, which began before the proteins were even identified, and describe the current arsenal of tools available, their limitations, and take a glance into the future to predict from where new tools are likely to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan D Rash
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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26
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Potent neuroprotection after stroke afforded by a double-knot spider-venom peptide that inhibits acid-sensing ion channel 1a. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:3750-3755. [PMID: 28320941 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614728114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, yet there are no drugs available to protect the brain from stroke-induced neuronal injury. Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is the primary acid sensor in mammalian brain and a key mediator of acidosis-induced neuronal damage following cerebral ischemia. Genetic ablation and selective pharmacologic inhibition of ASIC1a reduces neuronal death following ischemic stroke in rodents. Here, we demonstrate that Hi1a, a disulfide-rich spider venom peptide, is highly neuroprotective in a focal model of ischemic stroke. Nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies reveal that Hi1a comprises two homologous inhibitor cystine knot domains separated by a short, structurally well-defined linker. In contrast with known ASIC1a inhibitors, Hi1a incompletely inhibits ASIC1a activation in a pH-independent and slowly reversible manner. Whole-cell, macropatch, and single-channel electrophysiological recordings indicate that Hi1a binds to and stabilizes the closed state of the channel, thereby impeding the transition into a conducting state. Intracerebroventricular administration to rats of a single small dose of Hi1a (2 ng/kg) up to 8 h after stroke induction by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery markedly reduced infarct size, and this correlated with improved neurological and motor function, as well as with preservation of neuronal architecture. Thus, Hi1a is a powerful pharmacological tool for probing the role of ASIC1a in acid-mediated neuronal injury and various neurological disorders, and a promising lead for the development of therapeutics to protect the brain from ischemic injury.
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27
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Er SY, Cristofori-Armstrong B, Escoubas P, Rash LD. Discovery and molecular interaction studies of a highly stable, tarantula peptide modulator of acid-sensing ion channel 1. Neuropharmacology 2017; 127:185-195. [PMID: 28327374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acute pharmacological inhibition of acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is efficacious in rodent models in alleviating symptoms of neurological diseases such as stroke and multiple sclerosis. Thus, ASIC1a is a promising therapeutic target and selective ligands that modulate it are invaluable research tools and potential therapeutic leads. Spider venoms have provided an abundance of voltage-gated ion channel modulators, however, only one ASIC modulator (PcTx1) has so far been isolated from this source. Here we report the discovery, characterization, and chemical stability of a second spider venom peptide that potently modulates ASIC1a and ASIC1b, and investigate the molecular basis for its subtype selectivity. π-TRTX-Hm3a (Hm3a) is a 37-amino acid peptide isolated from Togo starburst tarantula (Heteroscodra maculata) venom with five amino acid substitutions compared to PcTx1, and is also three residues shorter at the C-terminus. Hm3a pH-dependently inhibited ASIC1a with an IC50 of 1-2 nM and potentiated ASIC1b with an EC50 of 46.5 nM, similar to PcTx1. Using ASIC1a to ASIC1b point mutants in rat ASIC1a revealed that Glu177 and Arg175 in the palm region opposite α-helix 5 play an important role in the Hm3a-ASIC1 interaction and contribute to the subtype-dependent effects of the peptide. Despite its high sequence similarity with PcTx1, Hm3a showed higher levels of stability over 48 h. Overall, Hm3a represents a potent, highly stable tool for the study of ASICs and will be particularly useful when stability in biological fluids is required, for example in long term in vitro cell-based assays and in vivo experiments. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Venom-derived Peptides as Pharmacological Tools.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Sing Yan Er
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Pierre Escoubas
- VenomeTech, 473 Route des Dolines, Villa 3, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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28
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Molecular Simulations of Disulfide-Rich Venom Peptides with Ion Channels and Membranes. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22030362. [PMID: 28264446 PMCID: PMC6155311 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22030362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disulfide-rich peptides isolated from the venom of arthropods and marine animals are a rich source of potent and selective modulators of ion channels. This makes these peptides valuable lead molecules for the development of new drugs to treat neurological disorders. Consequently, much effort goes into understanding their mechanism of action. This paper presents an overview of how molecular simulations have been used to study the interactions of disulfide-rich venom peptides with ion channels and membranes. The review is focused on the use of docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and free energy calculations to (i) predict the structure of peptide-channel complexes; (ii) calculate binding free energies including the effect of peptide modifications; and (iii) study the membrane-binding properties of disulfide-rich venom peptides. The review concludes with a summary and outlook.
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29
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Koehn LM, Noor NM, Dong Q, Er SY, Rash LD, King GF, Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR, Habgood MD. Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury. F1000Res 2016; 5:1822. [PMID: 28105306 PMCID: PMC5200949 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.9094.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue loss after spinal trauma is biphasic, with initial mechanical/haemorrhagic damage at the time of impact being followed by gradual secondary expansion into adjacent, previously unaffected tissue. Limiting the extent of this secondary expansion of tissue damage has the potential to preserve greater residual spinal cord function in patients. The acute tissue hypoxia resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI) activates acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a). We surmised that antagonism of this channel should provide neuroprotection and functional preservation after SCI. We show that systemic administration of the spider-venom peptide PcTx1, a selective inhibitor of ASIC1a, improves locomotor function in adult Sprague Dawley rats after thoracic SCI. The degree of functional improvement correlated with the degree of tissue preservation in descending white matter tracts involved in hind limb locomotor function. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that PcTx1-induced preservation of spinal cord tissue does not result from a reduction in apoptosis, with no evidence of down-regulation of key genes involved in either the intrinsic or extrinsic apoptotic pathways. We also demonstrate that trauma-induced disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier function persists for at least 4 days post-injury for compounds up to 10 kDa in size, whereas barrier function is restored for larger molecules within a few hours. This temporary loss of barrier function provides a “
treatment window” through which systemically administered drugs have unrestricted access to spinal tissue in and around the sites of trauma. Taken together, our data provide evidence to support the use of ASIC1a inhibitors as a therapeutic treatment for SCI. This study also emphasizes the importance of objectively grading the functional severity of initial injuries (even when using standardized impacts) and we describe a simple scoring system based on hind limb function that could be adopted in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam M Koehn
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natassya M Noor
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Qing Dong
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Sing-Yan Er
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | | | - Norman R Saunders
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mark D Habgood
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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30
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Koehn LM, Noor NM, Dong Q, Er SY, Rash LD, King GF, Dziegielewska KM, Saunders NR, Habgood MD. Selective inhibition of ASIC1a confers functional and morphological neuroprotection following traumatic spinal cord injury. F1000Res 2016; 5:1822. [PMID: 28105306 PMCID: PMC5200949 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.9094.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue loss after spinal trauma is biphasic, with initial mechanical/haemorrhagic damage at the time of impact being followed by gradual secondary expansion into adjacent, previously unaffected tissue. Limiting the extent of this secondary expansion of tissue damage has the potential to preserve greater residual spinal cord function in patients. The acute tissue hypoxia resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI) activates acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a). We surmised that antagonism of this channel should provide neuroprotection and functional preservation after SCI. We show that systemic administration of the spider-venom peptide PcTx1, a selective inhibitor of ASIC1a, improves locomotor function in adult Sprague Dawley rats after thoracic SCI. The degree of functional improvement correlated with the degree of tissue preservation in descending white matter tracts involved in hind limb locomotor function. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that PcTx1-induced preservation of spinal cord tissue does not result from a reduction in apoptosis, with no evidence of down-regulation of key genes involved in either the intrinsic or extrinsic apoptotic pathways. We also demonstrate that trauma-induced disruption of blood-spinal cord barrier function persists for at least 4 days post-injury for compounds up to 10 kDa in size, whereas barrier function is restored for larger molecules within a few hours. This temporary loss of barrier function provides a " treatment window" through which systemically administered drugs have unrestricted access to spinal tissue in and around the sites of trauma. Taken together, our data provide evidence to support the use of ASIC1a inhibitors as a therapeutic treatment for SCI. This study also emphasizes the importance of objectively grading the functional severity of initial injuries (even when using standardized impacts) and we describe a simple scoring system based on hind limb function that could be adopted in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam M Koehn
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Natassya M Noor
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Qing Dong
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Sing-Yan Er
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Division of Chemistry and Structural Biology, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | | | - Norman R Saunders
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Mark D Habgood
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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31
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Mourier G, Salinas M, Kessler P, Stura EA, Leblanc M, Tepshi L, Besson T, Diochot S, Baron A, Douguet D, Lingueglia E, Servent D. Mambalgin-1 Pain-relieving Peptide, Stepwise Solid-phase Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Functional Domain for Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a Inhibition. J Biol Chem 2015; 291:2616-29. [PMID: 26680001 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.702373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Mambalgins are peptides isolated from mamba venom that specifically inhibit a set of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) to relieve pain. We show here the first full stepwise solid phase peptide synthesis of mambalgin-1 and confirm the biological activity of the synthetic toxin both in vitro and in vivo. We also report the determination of its three-dimensional crystal structure showing differences with previously described NMR structures. Finally, the functional domain by which the toxin inhibits ASIC1a channels was identified in its loop II and more precisely in the face containing Phe-27, Leu-32, and Leu-34 residues. Moreover, proximity between Leu-32 in mambalgin-1 and Phe-350 in rASIC1a was proposed from double mutant cycle analysis. These data provide information on the structure and on the pharmacophore for ASIC channel inhibition by mambalgins that could have therapeutic value against pain and probably other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Mourier
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Miguel Salinas
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Pascal Kessler
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Enrico A Stura
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Mathieu Leblanc
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Livia Tepshi
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette
| | - Thomas Besson
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Sylvie Diochot
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Anne Baron
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Dominique Douguet
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and
| | - Eric Lingueglia
- the CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, the Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, and the LabEx Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, UMR 7275, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Denis Servent
- From the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, iBiTecS, Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire des Protéines, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette,
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32
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Saez NJ, Deplazes E, Cristofori-Armstrong B, Chassagnon IR, Lin X, Mobli M, Mark AE, Rash LD, King GF. Molecular dynamics and functional studies define a hot spot of crystal contacts essential for PcTx1 inhibition of acid-sensing ion channel 1a. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:4985-95. [PMID: 26248594 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The spider-venom peptide PcTx1 is the most potent and selective inhibitor of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a. It has centrally acting analgesic activity and is neuroprotective in rodent models of ischaemic stroke. Understanding the molecular details of the PcTx1 : ASIC1a interaction should facilitate development of therapeutically useful ASIC1a modulators. Previously, we showed that several key pharmacophore residues of PcTx1 reside in a dynamic β-hairpin loop; conclusions confirmed by recent crystal structures of the complex formed between PcTx1 and chicken ASIC1 (cASIC1). Numerous peptide : channel contacts were observed in these crystal structures, but it remains unclear which of these are functionally important. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We combined molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the PcTx1 : cASIC1 complex with mutagenesis of PcTx1 and rat ASIC1a. KEY RESULTS Crystal structures of the PcTx1 : cASIC1 complex indicated that 15 PcTx1 residues form a total of 57 pairwise intermolecular contacts (<5 Å) with 32 channel residues. MD simulations, however, suggested that about half of these interactions do not persist in solution. Mutation to alanine of only eight of 15 PcTx1 contact residues substantially altered ASIC1a inhibition by PcTx1. Our data reveal that many of the peptide-channel interactions observed in the PcTx1 : cASIC1 crystal structures are not important for PcTx1 inhibition of rat ASIC1a. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS We identified the atomic interactions that are critical for PcTx1 inhibition of ASIC1a. Our data highlight the value of combining structural information, MD and functional experiments to obtain detailed insight into the molecular basis of protein : protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie J Saez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ben Cristofori-Armstrong
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Irène R Chassagnon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Mehdi Mobli
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alan E Mark
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Lachlan D Rash
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
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