1
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Eberle SA, Gustavsson M. Bilayer lipids modulate ligand binding to atypical chemokine receptor 3. Structure 2024; 32:1174-1183.e5. [PMID: 38776922 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Chemokine receptors belong to the large class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and are involved in a number of (patho)physiological processes. Previous studies highlighted the importance of membrane lipids for modulating GPCR structure and function. However, the underlying mechanisms of how lipids regulate GPCRs are often poorly understood. Here, we report that anionic lipid bilayers increase the binding affinity of the chemokine CXCL12 for the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3) by modulating the CXCL12 binding kinetics. Notably, the anionic bilayer favors CXCL12 over the more positively charged chemokine CXCL11, which we explained by bilayer interactions orienting CXCL12 but not CXCL11 for productive ACKR3 binding. Furthermore, our data suggest a stabilization of active ACKR3 conformations in anionic bilayers. Taken together, the described regulation of chemokine selectivity of ACKR3 by the lipid bilayer proposes an extended version of the classical model of chemokine binding including the lipid environment of the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Alexandra Eberle
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Gustavsson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2
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Tian J, Zhang L, La X, An Y, Fan X, Li Z. QPH-FR: A Novel Quinoa Peptide Enhances Chemosensitivity by Targeting Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing G Protein-Coupled Receptor 5 in Colorectal Cancer. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:17417-17430. [PMID: 39047262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c03761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Chemoresistance is one of the difficulties in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), and the enhanced stemness of tumor cells is the underlying contributing factor. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a classical marker of CRC stem cells and can be an important potential target for CRC chemotherapy. Quinoa, a protein-rich plant, offers potential as a source of high-quality active peptides. Novelly, the study obtained quinoa protein hydrolysate (QPH) from whole quinoa grains by simulated digestion. In vivo experiments revealed that the tumor volume in the 5-FU+QPH group decreased from 145.90 ± 13.35 to 94.49 ± 13.05 mm3 in the 5-FU group, suggesting that QPH enhances the chemosensitivity of CRC. Further, the most effective peptide QPH-FR from 631 peptides in QPH was screened by activity prediction, molecular docking, and experimental validation. Mechanistically, QPH-FR competitively suppressed the formation of the LGR5/RSPO1 complex by binding to LGR5, causing RNF43/ZNRF3 to ubiquitinate the FZD receptor, thereby suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and exerting stemness inhibition. In summary, the study proposes that a novel peptide QPH-FR from quinoa elucidates the mechanism by which QPH-FR targets LGR5 to enhance chemosensitivity, providing theoretical support for the development of chemotherapeutic adjuvant drugs based on plant peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmiao Tian
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the National Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Lichao Zhang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xiaoqin La
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Yuxuan An
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the National Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xiaxia Fan
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the National Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Zhuoyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the National Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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3
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Meulebrouck S, Merrheim J, Queniat G, Bourouh C, Derhourhi M, Boissel M, Yi X, Badreddine A, Boutry R, Leloire A, Toussaint B, Amanzougarene S, Vaillant E, Durand E, Loiselle H, Huyvaert M, Dechaume A, Scherrer V, Marchetti P, Balkau B, Charpentier G, Franc S, Marre M, Roussel R, Scharfmann R, Cnop M, Canouil M, Baron M, Froguel P, Bonnefond A. Functional genetics reveals the contribution of delta opioid receptor to type 2 diabetes and beta-cell function. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6627. [PMID: 39103322 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51004-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional genetics has identified drug targets for metabolic disorders. Opioid use impacts metabolic homeostasis, although mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we explore the OPRD1 gene (encoding delta opioid receptor, DOP) to understand its impact on type 2 diabetes. Large-scale sequencing of OPRD1 and in vitro analysis reveal that loss-of-function variants are associated with higher adiposity and lower hyperglycemia risk, whereas gain-of-function variants are associated with lower adiposity and higher type 2 diabetes risk. These findings align with studies of opium addicts. OPRD1 is expressed in human islets and beta cells, with decreased expression under type 2 diabetes conditions. DOP inhibition by an antagonist enhances insulin secretion from human beta cells and islets. RNA-sequencing identifies pathways regulated by DOP antagonism, including nerve growth factor, circadian clock, and nuclear receptor pathways. Our study highlights DOP as a key player between opioids and metabolic homeostasis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Meulebrouck
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Judith Merrheim
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Gurvan Queniat
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Cyril Bourouh
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Mehdi Derhourhi
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Mathilde Boissel
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Xiaoyan Yi
- ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alaa Badreddine
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Raphaël Boutry
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Audrey Leloire
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Bénédicte Toussaint
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Souhila Amanzougarene
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Emmanuel Vaillant
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Emmanuelle Durand
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Hélène Loiselle
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Marlène Huyvaert
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Aurélie Dechaume
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Victoria Scherrer
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Islet Cell Laboratory, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Beverley Balkau
- Paris-Saclay University, Paris-Sud University, UVSQ, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Inserm U1018 Clinical Epidemiology, Villejuif, France
| | - Guillaume Charpentier
- CERITD (Centre d'Étude et de Recherche pour l'Intensification du Traitement du Diabète), Evry, France
| | - Sylvia Franc
- CERITD (Centre d'Étude et de Recherche pour l'Intensification du Traitement du Diabète), Evry, France
- Department of Diabetes, Sud-Francilien Hospital, Paris-Sud University, Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Michel Marre
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Clinique Ambroise Paré, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
| | - Ronan Roussel
- Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Inserm, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Diabetology Endocrinology Nutrition, Hôpital Bichat, DHU FIRE, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Raphaël Scharfmann
- Institut Cochin, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Miriam Cnop
- ULB Center for Diabetes Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Division of Endocrinology, ULB Erasmus Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mickaël Canouil
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Morgane Baron
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France
| | - Philippe Froguel
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France.
- Department of Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Amélie Bonnefond
- Université de Lille, Inserm UMR1283, CNRS UMR8199, European Genomic Institute for Diabetes (EGID), Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille University Hospital, Lille, France.
- Department of Metabolism, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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4
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Wess J, Liu L. A novel function of the M 2 muscarinic receptor. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:663-665. [PMID: 38853101 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The M2 muscarinic receptor (M2R) is a prototypic class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Interestingly, Fasciani et al. recently identified an internal translation start site within the M2 receptor mRNA, directing the expression of a C-terminal receptor fragment. Elevated during cellular stress, this polypeptide localizes to mitochondria where it inhibits oxidative phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 8A, 8 Center Drive MSC 0810, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Liu Liu
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bldg. 8A, 8 Center Drive MSC 0810, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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5
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Enten GA, Gao X, McGee MY, Weche M, Majetschak M. Chemokine receptor hetero-oligomers regulate monocyte chemotaxis. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402657. [PMID: 38782603 PMCID: PMC11116815 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
It is known that stress influences immune cell function. The underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. We recently reported that many chemokine receptors (CRs) heteromerize with α1-adrenoceptors (α1-ARs) through which CRs are regulated. Here, we show that arginine vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A) heteromerizes with all human CRs, except chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR)1, in recombinant systems and that such heteromers are detectable in THP-1 cells and human monocytes. We demonstrate that ligand-free AVPR1A differentially regulates the efficacy of CR partners to mediate chemotaxis and that AVPR1A ligands disrupt AVPR1A:CR heteromers, which enhances chemokine (C-C motif) receptor (CCR)1-mediated chemotaxis and inhibits CCR2-, CCR8-, and CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis. Using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer to monitor G protein activation and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited THP-1 cells lacking AVPR1A or α1B-AR, we show that CRs that share the propensity to heteromerize with α1B/D-ARs and AVPR1A exist and function within interdependent hetero-oligomeric complexes through which the efficacy of CRs to mediate chemotaxis is controlled. Our findings suggest that hetero-oligomers composed of CRs, α1B/D-ARs, and AVPR1A may enable stress hormones to regulate immune cell trafficking.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Monocytes/metabolism
- Chemotaxis
- Receptors, Chemokine/metabolism
- Receptors, Chemokine/genetics
- Receptors, Vasopressin/metabolism
- Receptors, Vasopressin/genetics
- THP-1 Cells
- Protein Multimerization
- HEK293 Cells
- Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism
- Receptors, CXCR4/genetics
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Signal Transduction
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1/genetics
- Ligands
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett A Enten
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Xianlong Gao
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Michelle Y McGee
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - McWayne Weche
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Matthias Majetschak
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
- https://ror.org/032db5x82 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
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6
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Kenakin T. Know your molecule: pharmacological characterization of drug candidates to enhance efficacy and reduce late-stage attrition. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:626-644. [PMID: 38890494 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00958-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Despite advances in chemical, computational and biological sciences, the rate of attrition of drug candidates in clinical development is still high. A key point in the small-molecule discovery process that could provide opportunities to help address this challenge is the pharmacological characterization of hit and lead compounds, culminating in the selection of a drug candidate. Deeper characterization is increasingly important, because the 'quality' of drug efficacy, at least for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is now understood to be much more than activation of commonly evaluated pathways such as cAMP signalling, with many more 'efficacies' of ligands that could be harnessed therapeutically. Such characterization is being enabled by novel assays to characterize the complex behaviour of GPCRs, such as biased signalling and allosteric modulation, as well as advances in structural biology, such as cryo-electron microscopy. This article discusses key factors in the assessments of the pharmacology of hit and lead compounds in the context of GPCRs as a target class, highlighting opportunities to identify drug candidates with the potential to address limitations of current therapies and to improve the probability of them succeeding in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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7
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Sajkowska JJ, Tsang CH, Kozielewicz P. Application of FRET- and BRET-based live-cell biosensors in deorphanization and ligand discovery studies on orphan G protein-coupled receptors. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2024; 29:100174. [PMID: 39084335 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2024.100174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Bioluminescence- and fluorescence-based resonance energy transfer assays have gained considerable attention in pharmacological research as high-throughput scalable tools applicable to drug discovery. To this end, G protein-coupled receptors represent the biggest target class for marketed drugs, and among them, orphan G protein-coupled receptors have the biggest untapped therapeutic potential. In this review, the cases where biophysical methods, BRET and FRET, were employed for deorphanization and ligand discovery studies on orphan G protein-coupled receptors are listed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna J Sajkowska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Organic and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Choi Har Tsang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paweł Kozielewicz
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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8
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Franchini L, Porter JJ, Lueck JD, Orlandi C. Gz Enhanced Signal Transduction assaY (G ZESTY) for GPCR deorphanization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.26.605282. [PMID: 39091869 PMCID: PMC11291178 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.26.605282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key pharmacological targets, yet many remain underutilized due to unknown activation mechanisms and ligands. Orphan GPCRs, lacking identified natural ligands, are a high priority for research, as identifying their ligands will aid in understanding their functions and potential as drug targets. Most GPCRs, including orphans, couple to Gi/o/z family members, however current assays to detect their activation are limited, hindering ligand identification efforts. We introduce GZESTY, a highly sensitive, cell-based assay developed in an easily deliverable format designed to study the pharmacology of Gi/o/z-coupled GPCRs and assist in deorphanization. We optimized assay conditions and developed an all-in-one vector employing novel cloning methods to ensure the correct expression ratio of GZESTY components. GZESTY successfully assessed activation of a library of ligand-activated GPCRs, detecting both full and partial agonism, as well as responses from endogenous GPCRs. Notably, with GZESTY we established the presence of endogenous ligands for GPR176 and GPR37 in brain extracts, validating its use in deorphanization efforts. This assay enhances the ability to find ligands for orphan GPCRs, expanding the toolkit for GPCR pharmacologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Franchini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Joseph J. Porter
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - John D. Lueck
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Cesare Orlandi
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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9
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Kaoullas MG, Thal DM, Christopoulos A, Valant C. Ligand bias at the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family: Opportunities and challenges. Neuropharmacology 2024; 258:110092. [PMID: 39067666 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are activated by the endogenous neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Disruption of mAChR signalling has been associated with a variety of neurological disorders and non-neurological diseases. Consequently, the development of agonists and antagonists of the mAChRs has been a major avenue in drug discovery. Unfortunately, mAChR ligands are often associated with on-target side effects for two reasons. The first reason is due to the high sequence conservation at the orthosteric ACh binding site among all five receptor subtypes (M1-M5), making on-target subtype selectivity a major challenge. The second reason is due to on-target side effects of mAChR drugs that are associated with the pleiotropic nature of mAChR signalling at the level of a single mAChR subtype. Indeed, there is growing evidence that within the myriad of signalling events produced by mAChR ligands, some will have therapeutic benefits, whilst others may promote cholinergic side effects. This paradigm of drug action, known as ligand bias or biased agonism, is an attractive feature for next-generation mAChR drugs, as it holds the promise of developing drugs devoid of on-target adverse effects. Although relatively simple to detect and even quantify in vitro, ligand bias, as observed in recombinant systems, does not always translate to in vivo systems, which remains a major hurdle in GPCR drug discovery, including the mAChR family. Here we report recent studies that have attempted to detect and quantify ligand bias at the mAChR family, and briefly discuss the challenges associated with biased agonist drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela G Kaoullas
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David M Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
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10
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Dalle S, Abderrahmani A. Receptors and Signaling Pathways Controlling Beta-Cell Function and Survival as Targets for Anti-Diabetic Therapeutic Strategies. Cells 2024; 13:1244. [PMID: 39120275 DOI: 10.3390/cells13151244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Preserving the function and survival of pancreatic beta-cells, in order to achieve long-term glycemic control and prevent complications, is an essential feature for an innovative drug to have clinical value in the treatment of diabetes. Innovative research is developing therapeutic strategies to prevent pathogenic mechanisms and protect beta-cells from the deleterious effects of inflammation and/or chronic hyperglycemia over time. A better understanding of receptors and signaling pathways, and of how they interact with each other in beta-cells, remains crucial and is a prerequisite for any strategy to develop therapeutic tools aimed at modulating beta-cell function and/or mass. Here, we present a comprehensive review of our knowledge on membrane and intracellular receptors and signaling pathways as targets of interest to protect beta-cells from dysfunction and apoptotic death, which opens or could open the way to the development of innovative therapies for diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Dalle
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Amar Abderrahmani
- Université Lille, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centrale Lille, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520, IEMN, F59000 Lille, France
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11
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Philibert CE, Garcia-Marcos M. Smooth operator(s): dialing up and down neurotransmitter responses by G-protein regulators. Trends Cell Biol 2024:S0962-8924(24)00140-5. [PMID: 39054106 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.07.002] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are essential mediators of neuromodulation and prominent pharmacological targets. While activation of heterotrimeric G-proteins (Gαβɣ) by GPCRs is essential in this process, much less is known about the postreceptor mechanisms that influence G-protein activity. Neurons express G-protein regulators that shape the amplitude and kinetics of GPCR-mediated synaptic responses. Although many of these operate by directly altering how G-proteins handle guanine-nucleotides enzymatically, recent discoveries have revealed alternative mechanisms by which GPCR-stimulated G-protein responses are modulated at the synapse. In this review, we cover the molecular basis for, and consequences of, the action of two G-protein regulators that do not affect the enzymatic activity of G-proteins directly: Gα inhibitory interacting protein (GINIP), which binds active Gα subunits, and potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing 12 (KCTD12), which binds active Gβγ subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clementine E Philibert
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Mikel Garcia-Marcos
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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12
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Hanif SZ, Au CC, Torregroza I, Jannath SY, Fabiha T, Bhinder B, Washburn M, Devost D, Liu S, Bhardwaj P, Evans T, Anand PK, Tarran R, Palikhe S, Elemento O, Dow L, Blenis J, Hébert TE, Brown KA. The Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR52 is a Novel Regulator of Breast Cancer Multicellular Organization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.22.604482. [PMID: 39091857 PMCID: PMC11291042 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.22.604482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest class of membrane-bound receptors and transmit critical signals from the extracellular to the intracellular spaces. Transcriptomic data of resected breast tumors shows that low mRNA expression of the orphan GPCR GPR52 correlates with reduced overall survival in breast cancer patients, leading to the hypothesis that loss of GPR52 supports breast cancer progression. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to knockout GPR52 in human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231, and in the non-cancerous breast epithelial cell line, MCF10A. Loss of GPR52 was found to be associated with increased cell-cell interaction in 2D cultures, altered 3D spheroid morphology, and increased propensity to organize and invade collectively in Matrigel. Furthermore, GPR52 loss was associated with features of EMT in MDA-MB-468 cells. To determine the in vivo impact of GPR52 loss, MDA-MB-468 cells were injected into zebrafish and loss of GPR52 was associated with a greater total cancer area compared to control cells. RNA-sequencing and proteomic analyses of GPR52-null breast cancer cells reveal an increased cAMP signaling signature. Consistently, we found that treatment of wild-type (WT) cells with forskolin, which stimulates production of cAMP, induces some phenotypic changes associated with GPR52 loss, and inhibition of cAMP production rescued some of the GPR52 KO phenotypes. Overall, our results reveal GPR52 loss as a potential mechanism by which breast cancer progression may occur and support the investigation of GPR52 agonism as a therapeutic option in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Z Hanif
- Weill Cornell Medicine/Rockefeller University/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Syeda Y Jannath
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tabassum Fabiha
- Columbia University Computational & Systems Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bhavneet Bhinder
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael Washburn
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City KS USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Dominic Devost
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Shuchen Liu
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Priya Bhardwaj
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pradeep Kumar Anand
- Division of Genetic, Environmental and Inhalational Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Robert Tarran
- Division of Genetic, Environmental and Inhalational Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Sailesh Palikhe
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lukas Dow
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Blenis
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kristy A Brown
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, KS, USA
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13
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Dorogan M, Namballa HK, Harding WW. Natural Product-Inspired Dopamine Receptor Ligands. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39038276 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Due to their evolutionary bias as ligands for biologically relevant drug targets, natural products offer a unique opportunity as lead compounds in drug discovery. Given the involvement of dopamine receptors in various physiological and behavioral functions, they are linked to numerous diseases and disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. Consequently, ligands targeting dopamine receptors hold considerable therapeutic and investigative promise. As this perspective will highlight, dopamine receptor targeting natural products play a pivotal role as scaffolds with unique and beneficial pharmacological properties, allowing for natural product-inspired drug design and lead optimization. As such, dopamine receptor targeting natural products still have untapped potential to aid in the treatment of disorders and diseases related to central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Dorogan
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Hari K Namballa
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Wayne W Harding
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
- Program in Biochemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Program in Chemistry, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
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14
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Okamoto Y, Kitakaze K, Takenouchi Y, Matsui R, Koga D, Miyashima R, Ishimaru H, Tsuboi K. GPR176 promotes fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition in organ fibrosis progression. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119798. [PMID: 39047914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Fibrosis is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, particularly collagen, caused by myofibroblasts in response to chronic inflammation. Although G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the targets of current antifibrotic drugs, no drug has yet been approved to stop fibrosis progression. Herein, we aimed to identify GPCRs with profibrotic effects. In gene expression analysis of mouse lungs with induced fibrosis, eight GPCRs were identified, showing a >2-fold increase in mRNA expression after fibrosis induction. Among them, we focused on Gpr176 owing to its significant correlation with a myofibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), the profibrotic factor transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), and collagen in a human lung gene expression database. Similar to the lung fibrosis model, increased Gpr176 expression was also observed in other organs affected by fibrosis, including the kidney, liver, and heart, suggesting its role in fibrosis across various organs. Furthermore, fibroblasts abundantly expressed Gpr176 compared to alveolar epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and macrophages in the fibrotic lung. GPR176 expression was unaffected by TGFβ1 stimulation in rat renal fibroblast NRK-49 cells, whereas knockdown of Gpr176 by siRNA reduced TGFβ1-induced expression of αSMA, fibronectin, and collagen as well as Smad2 phosphorylation. This suggested that Gpr176 regulates fibroblast activation. Consequently, Gpr176 acts in a profibrotic manner, and inhibiting its activity could potentially prevent myofibroblast differentiation and improve fibrosis. Developing a GPR176 inverse agonist or allosteric modulator is a promising therapeutic approach for fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Okamoto
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan.
| | - Keisuke Kitakaze
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Takenouchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Rena Matsui
- Department of Medical Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Koga
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Ryo Miyashima
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Hironobu Ishimaru
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
| | - Kazuhito Tsuboi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0192, Japan
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15
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Stoneman MR, Yokoi K, Biener G, Killeen TD, Adhikari DP, Rahman S, Harikumar KG, Miller LJ, Raicu V. Mechanistic insights from the atomic-level quaternary structure of short-lived GPCR oligomers in live cells. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4683780. [PMID: 39070646 PMCID: PMC11275986 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4683780/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The functional significance of the interactions between proteins in living cells to form short-lived quaternary structures cannot be overemphasized. Yet, quaternary structure information is not captured by current methods, neither can those methods determine structure within living cells. The dynamic versatility, abundance, and functional diversity of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) pose myriad challenges to existing technologies but also present these proteins as the ideal testbed for new technologies to investigate the complex inter-regulation of receptor-ligand, receptor-receptor, and receptor-downstream effector interfaces in living cells. Here, we present development and use of a novel method capable of overcoming existing challenges by combining distributions (or spectrograms) of FRET efficiencies from populations of fluorescently tagged proteins associating into oligomeric complexes in live cells with diffusion-like trajectories of FRET donors and acceptors obtained from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our approach provides an atom-level picture of the binding interfaces within oligomers of the human secretin receptor (hSecR) in live cells and allows for extraction of mechanistic insights into the function of GPCRs oligomerization. This FRET-MD spectrometry approach is a robust platform for investigating protein-protein binding mechanisms and opens a new avenue for investigating stable as well as fleeting quaternary structures of any membrane proteins in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Koki Yokoi
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Gabriel Biener
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Thomas D Killeen
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Dhruba P Adhikari
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Sadia Rahman
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Kaleeckal G Harikumar
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Laurence J Miller
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Valerică Raicu
- Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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16
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Kokkaliari S, Grauso L, Mangoni A, Seabra G, Paul VJ, Luesch H. Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Biological Activity of the Selective TACR2 Antagonist Tumonolide and its Aldehyde from a Marine Cyanobacterium. Chemistry 2024:e202401393. [PMID: 39023398 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
The macrocyclic tumonolide (1) with enamide functionality and the linear tumonolide aldehyde (2) are new interconverting natural products from a marine cyanobacterium with a peptide-polyketide skeleton, representing a hybrid of apratoxins and palmyrolides or laingolides. The planar structures were established by NMR and mass spectrometry. The relative configuration of the stereogenically-rich apratoxin-like polyketide portion was determined using J-based configuration analysis. The absolute configuration of tumonolide (1) was determined by chiral analysis of the amino acid units and computational methods, followed by NMR chemical shift and ECD spectrum prediction, indicating all-R configuration for the polyketide portion, as in palmyrolide A and contrary to the all-S configuration in apratoxins. Functional screening against a panel of 168 GPCR targets revealed tumonolide (1) as a selective antagonist of TACR2 with an IC50 of 7.0 μM, closely correlating with binding affinity. Molecular docking studies established the binding mode and rationalized the selectivity for TACR2 over TACR1 and TACR3. RNA sequencing upon treatment of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells demonstrated activation of the pulmonary fibrosis idiopathic signaling pathway and the insulin secretion signaling pathway at 20 μM, indicating its potential to modulate these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Kokkaliari
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, 1345 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Laura Grauso
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80055 Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Alfonso Mangoni
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Gustavo Seabra
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, 1345 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Valerie J Paul
- Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce, 701 Seaway Drive, Ft. Pierce, Florida 34949, United States
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, 1345 Center Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
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17
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Dwulet GE. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of novel amino-phenylmethylene-imidazolone 5-HT 2A receptor antagonists. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:2508-2513. [PMID: 39026648 PMCID: PMC11253854 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00262h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Many drugs target the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor, including psychedelics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. This study investigates the 5-HT2A receptor-binding properties of a series of novel compounds with an amino-phenylmethylene-imidazolone (APMI) core structure. Two compounds (2a and 2c) demonstrated significant 5-HT2A receptor-binding affinity without agonistic activity, instead displaying antagonistic effects. Structurally, these compounds differ from previously reported phenethylamine-based antagonists. This work introduces APMIs as a novel pharmacophore for 5-HT2A receptor interaction and provides a foundation for developing new 5-HT2A receptor-targeting therapeutic agents.
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18
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Mancinelli CD, Marx DC, Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Huynh K, Mancinelli L, Arefin A, Khelashvilli G, Levitz J, Eliezer D. Control of G protein-coupled receptor function via membrane-interacting intrinsically disordered C-terminal domains. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2407744121. [PMID: 38985766 PMCID: PMC11260148 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407744121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control intracellular signaling cascades via agonist-dependent coupling to intracellular transducers including heterotrimeric G proteins, GPCR kinases (GRKs), and arrestins. In addition to their critical interactions with the transmembrane core of active GPCRs, all three classes of transducers have also been reported to interact with receptor C-terminal domains (CTDs). An underexplored aspect of GPCR CTDs is their possible role as lipid sensors given their proximity to the membrane. CTD-membrane interactions have the potential to control the accessibility of key regulatory CTD residues to downstream effectors and transducers. Here, we report that the CTDs of two closely related family C GPCRs, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) and mGluR3, bind to membranes and that this interaction can regulate receptor function. We first characterize CTD structure with NMR spectroscopy, revealing lipid composition-dependent modes of membrane binding. Using molecular dynamics simulations and structure-guided mutagenesis, we then identify key conserved residues and cancer-associated mutations that modulate CTD-membrane binding. Finally, we provide evidence that mGluR3 transducer coupling is controlled by CTD-membrane interactions in live cells, which may be subject to regulation by CTD phosphorylation and changes in membrane composition. This work reveals an additional mechanism of GPCR modulation, suggesting that CTD-membrane binding may be a general regulatory mode throughout the broad GPCR superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dagan C. Marx
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | | | - Kevin Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | - Lucia Mancinelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | - Anisul Arefin
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | - George Khelashvilli
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
| | - David Eliezer
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY10065
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19
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Bao Y, Tang Z, Chen R, Yu X, Qi X. Pan-cancer analysis identifies olfactory receptor family 7 subfamily A member 5 as a potential biomarker for glioma. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17631. [PMID: 39006026 PMCID: PMC11246023 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Human olfactory receptors (ORs) account for approximately 60% of all human G protein-coupled receptors. The functions of ORs extend beyond olfactory perception and have garnered significant attention in tumor biology. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of ORs in human cancers is lacking. Methods Using data from public databases, such as HPA, TCGA, GEO, GTEx, TIMER2, TISDB, UALCAN, GEPIA2, and GSCA, this study investigated the role of olfactory receptor family 7 subfamily A member 5 (OR7A5) in various cancers. Functional analysis of OR7A5 in LGG and GBM was performed using the CGGA database. Molecular and cellular experiments were performed to validate the expression and biological function of OR7A5 in gliomas. Results The results revealed heightened OR7A5 expression in certain tumors, correlating with the expression levels of immune checkpoints and immune infiltration. In patients with gliomas, the expression levels of OR7A5 were closely associated with adverse prognosis, 1p/19p co-deletion status, and wild-type IDH status. Finally, in vitro experiments confirmed the inhibitory effect of OR7A5 knockdown on the proliferative capacity of glioma cells and on the expression levels of proteins related to lipid metabolism. Conclusion This study establishes OR7A5 as a novel biomarker, potentially offering a novel therapeutic target for gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Bao
- Department of Medical Research Center, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ziqi Tang
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Renli Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuebin Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuchen Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
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20
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Lopez-Balastegui M, Stepniewski TM, Kogut-Günthel MM, Di Pizio A, Rosenkilde MM, Mao J, Selent J. Relevance of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) dynamics for receptor activation, signalling bias and allosteric modulation. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38978399 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the major drug targets. In recent years, computational drug design for GPCRs has mainly focused on static structures obtained through X-ray crystallography, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or in silico modelling as a starting point for virtual screening campaigns. However, GPCRs are highly flexible entities with the ability to adopt different conformational states that elicit different physiological responses. Including this knowledge in the drug discovery pipeline can help to tailor novel conformation-specific drugs with an improved therapeutic profile. In this review, we outline our current knowledge about GPCR dynamics that is relevant for receptor activation, signalling bias and allosteric modulation. Ultimately, we highlight new technological implementations such as time-resolved X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM as well as computational algorithms that can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of receptor dynamics and its relevance for GPCR functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lopez-Balastegui
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- InterAx Biotech AG, Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chair for Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mette Marie Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen, København N, Denmark
| | - Jiafei Mao
- Huairou Research Center, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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21
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Mohole M, Naglekar A, Sengupta D, Chattopadhyay A. Probing the energy landscape of the lipid interactions of the serotonin 1A receptor. Biophys Chem 2024; 313:107289. [PMID: 39002247 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107289] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are lipid-regulated transmembrane proteins that play a central role in cell signaling and pharmacology. Although the role of membrane lipids in GPCR function is well established, the underlying GPCR-lipid interactions have not been thermodynamically characterized due to the complexity of these interactions. In this work, we estimate the energetics and dynamics of lipid association from coarse-grain simulations of the serotonin1A receptor embedded in a complex membrane. We show that lipids bind to the receptor with varying energetics of 1-4 kT, and timescales of 1-10 μs. The most favorable energetics and longest residence times are observed for cholesterol, glycosphingolipid GM1, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) lipids. Multi-exponential fitting of the contact probability suggests distinct dynamic regimes, corresponding to ps, ns and μs timescales, that we correlate with the annular, intermediate and non-annular lipid sites. The timescales of lipid binding correspond to high barrier heights, despite their relatively weaker energetics. Our results highlight that GPCR-lipid interactions are driven by both thermodynamic interactions and the dynamical features of lipid binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura Mohole
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Amit Naglekar
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India
| | - Durba Sengupta
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
| | - Amitabha Chattopadhyay
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201 002, India.
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22
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Gertsch J, Chicca A. CNS Drug Discovery in Academia: Where Basic Research Meets Innovation. Chembiochem 2024:e202400397. [PMID: 38958639 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The involvement of academic research in drug discovery is consistently growing. However, academic projects seldom advance to clinical trials. Here, we assess the landscape of drug discovery within the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) TransCure launched by the Swiss National Science Foundation to foster basic research and early-stage drug discovery on membrane transporters. This included transporters in central nervous system (CNS) disorders, which represent a huge unmet medical need. While idea championship, sustainable funding, collaborations between disciplines at the interface of academia and industry are important for translational research, Popperian falsifiability, strong intellectual property and a motivated startup team are key elements for innovation. This is exemplified by the NCCR TransCure spin-off company Synendos Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotech company developing the first selective endocannabinoid reuptake inhibitors (SERIs) as novel treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. We provide a perspective on the challenges related to entering an uncharted druggable space and bridging the often mentioned "valley of death". The high attrition rate of drug discovery projects in the CNS field within academia is often due to the lack of meaningful animal models that can provide pharmacological proof-of-concept for potentially disruptive technologies at the earliest stages, and the absence of solid intellectual property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürg Gertsch
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Chicca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
- Synendos Therapeutics, Barfüsserplatz, 3, 4051, Basel, Switzerland
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van der Westhuizen ET. Single nucleotide variations encoding missense mutations in G protein-coupled receptors may contribute to autism. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2158-2181. [PMID: 36787962 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition with a range of symptoms that vary in intensity and severity from person to person. Genetic sequencing has identified thousands of genes containing mutations in autistic individuals, which may contribute to the development of autistic symptoms. Several of these genes encode G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are cell surface expressed proteins that transduce extracellular messages to the intracellular space. Mutations in GPCRs can impact their function, resulting in aberrant signalling within cells and across neurotransmitter systems in the brain. This review summarises the current knowledge on autism-associated single nucleotide variations encoding missense mutations in GPCRs and the impact of these genetic mutations on GPCR function. For some autism-associated mutations, changes in GPCR expression levels, ligand affinity, potency and efficacy have been observed. However, for many the functional consequences remain unknown. Thus, further work to characterise the functional impacts of the genetically identified mutations is required. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Therapeutic Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: hot topics from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.14/issuetoc.
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Bernhard SM, Han J, Che T. GPCR-G protein selectivity revealed by structural pharmacology. FEBS J 2024; 291:2784-2791. [PMID: 38151714 PMCID: PMC11209754 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Receptor-G protein promiscuity is frequently observed in class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). In particular, GPCRs can couple with G proteins from different families (Gαs, Gαq/11, Gαi/o, and Gα12/13) or the same family subtypes. The molecular basis underlying the selectivity/promiscuity is not fully revealed. We recently reported the structures of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) in complex with the Gi/o family subtypes [Gαi1, GαoA, Gαz, and Gustducin (Gαg)] determined by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). The structural analysis, in combination with pharmacological studies, provides insights into Gi/o subtype selectivity. Given the conserved sequence identity and activation mechanism between different G protein families, the findings within Gi/o subtypes could be likely extended to other families. Understanding the KOR-Gi/o or GPCR-G protein selectivity will facilitate the development of more precise therapeutics targeting a specific G protein subtype.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/chemistry
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/genetics
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/metabolism
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/chemistry
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/genetics
- GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- GTP-Binding Proteins/chemistry
- GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Protein Binding
- Animals
- Protein Conformation
- Models, Molecular
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Bernhard
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jianming Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine; St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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25
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McNeill SM, Zhao P. The roles of RGS proteins in cardiometabolic disease. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2319-2337. [PMID: 36964984 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most prominent receptors on the surface of the cell and play a central role in the regulation of cardiac and metabolic functions. GPCRs transmit extracellular stimuli to the interior of the cells by activating one or more heterotrimeric G proteins. The duration and intensity of G protein-mediated signalling are tightly controlled by a large array of intracellular mediators, including the regulator of G protein signalling (RGS) proteins. RGS proteins selectively promote the GTPase activity of a subset of Gα subunits, thus serving as negative regulators in a pathway-dependent manner. In the current review, we summarise the involvement of RGS proteins in cardiometabolic function with a focus on their tissue distribution, mechanisms of action and dysregulation under various disease conditions. We also discuss the potential therapeutic applications for targeting RGS proteins in treating cardiometabolic conditions and current progress in developing RGS modulators. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Therapeutic Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: hot topics from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M McNeill
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peishen Zhao
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins (CCeMMP), Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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26
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Thotamune W, Ubeysinghe S, Shrestha KK, Mostafa ME, Young MC, Karunarathne A. Optical control of cell-surface and endomembrane-exclusive β-adrenergic receptor signaling. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107481. [PMID: 38901558 PMCID: PMC11304070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Beta-adrenergic receptors (βARs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that mediate catecholamine hormone-induced stress responses, such as elevation of heart rate. Besides those that are plasma membrane-bound, endomembrane βARs are also signaling competent. Dysregulation of βAR pathways underlies severe pathological conditions. Emerging evidence indicates pathological molecular signatures in deeper endomembrane βARs signaling, likely contributing to conditions such as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis. However, the lack of approaches to control endomembrane β1ARs has impeded linking signaling with pathology. Informed by the β1AR-catecholamine interactions, we engineered an efficient photolabile proligand (OptoIso) to trigger βAR signaling exclusively in endomembrane regions using blue light stimulation. Not only does OptoIso undergo blue light deprotection in seconds, but also efficiently enters cells and allows examination of G protein heterotrimer activation exclusively at endomembranes. OptoIso also allows optical activation of plasma membrane βAR signaling in selected single cells with native fidelity, which can be reversed by terminating blue light. Thus, OptoIso will be a valuable experimental tool to elicit spatial and temporal control of βAR signaling in user-defined endomembrane or plasma membrane regions in unmodified cells with native fidelity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waruna Thotamune
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Kendra K Shrestha
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Green Chemistry and Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Michael C Young
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Green Chemistry and Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
| | - Ajith Karunarathne
- Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.
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27
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Widman CJ, Ventresca S, Dietrich J, Elmslie G, Smith H, Kaup G, Wesley A, Doenecke M, Williams FE, Schiefer IT, Ellis J, Messer WS. Allosteric modulators of M 1 muscarinic receptors enhance acetylcholine efficacy and decrease locomotor activity and turning behaviors in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14901. [PMID: 38942828 PMCID: PMC11213934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65445-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been identified as a potential strategy for regulating cholinergic signaling in the treatment of various neurological disorders. Most positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of mAChR enhance agonist affinity and potency, while very few PAMs (e.g., amiodarone) selectively enhance G protein coupling efficacy. The key structural features of amiodarone responsible for enhancement of mAChR efficacy were examined in CHO cells expressing M1 receptors. Subsequent incorporation of these structural features into previously identified allosteric modulators of potency (i.e., n-benzyl isatins) generated ligands that demonstrated similar or better enhancement of mAChR efficacy, lower in vivo toxicity, and higher allosteric binding affinity relative to amiodarone. Notable ligands include 8a, c which respectively demonstrated the strongest binding affinity and the most robust enhancement of mAChR efficacy as calculated from an allosteric operational model. Amiodarone derivatives and hybrid ligands were additionally screened in wildtype zebrafish (Danio rerio) to provide preliminary in vivo toxicity data as well as to observe effects on locomotor and turning behaviors relative to other mAChR PAMs. Several compounds, including 8a, c, reduced locomotor activity and increased measures of turning behaviors in zebrafish, suggesting that allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptor efficacy might be useful in the treatment of repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey J Widman
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Sestina Ventresca
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Jillian Dietrich
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Gwendolynne Elmslie
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Hazel Smith
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Gina Kaup
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Aaron Wesley
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Madeline Doenecke
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Frederick E Williams
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Isaac T Schiefer
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
- Center for Drug Design and Development, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - John Ellis
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - William S Messer
- Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #1015, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
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28
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Parag RR, Yamamoto T, Saito K, Zhu D, Yang L, Van Meir EG. Novel Isoforms of Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor B1 (ADGRB1/BAI1) Generated from an Alternative Promoter in Intron 17. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04293-3. [PMID: 38941066 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04293-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) belongs to the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors, which exhibit large multi-domain extracellular N termini that mediate cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. To explore the existence of BAI1 isoforms, we queried genomic datasets for markers of active chromatin and new transcript variants in the ADGRB1 (adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor B1) gene. Two major types of mRNAs were identified in human/mouse brain, those with a start codon in exon 2 encoding a full-length protein of a predicted size of 173.5/173.3 kDa and shorter transcripts starting from alternative exons at the intron 17/exon 18 boundary with new or exon 19 start codons, predicting two shorter isoforms of 76.9/76.4 and 70.8/70.5 kDa, respectively. Immunoblots on wild-type and Adgrb1 exon 2-deleted mice, reverse transcription PCR, and promoter-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that the shorter isoforms originate from an alternative promoter in intron 17. The shorter BAI1 isoforms lack most of the N terminus and are very close in structure to the truncated BAI1 isoform generated through GPS processing from the full-length receptor. The cleaved BAI1 isoform has a 19 amino acid extracellular stalk that may serve as a receptor agonist, while the alternative transcripts generate BAI1 isoforms with extracellular N termini of 5 or 60 amino acids. Further studies are warranted to compare the functions of these isoforms and examine the distinct roles they play in different tissues and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashed Rezwan Parag
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), WTI 520E, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Graduate Biomedical Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Takahiro Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), WTI 520E, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Saito
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), WTI 520E, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Dan Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Liquan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Erwin G Van Meir
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), WTI 520E, 1824 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL, USA.
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29
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Yokoi S, Suno R, Mitsutake A. Structural and Computational Insights into Dynamics and Intermediate States of Orexin 2 Receptor Signaling. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6082-6096. [PMID: 38722794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) whose activation is crucial to regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Recently, inactive and active state structures were determined from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy single particle analysis, and the activation mechanisms have been discussed based on these static data. GPCRs have multiscale intermediate states during activation, and insights into these dynamics and intermediate states may aid the precise control of intracellular signaling by ligands in drug discovery. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate dynamics induced in response to thermal perturbations, such as structural fluctuations of main and side chains. In this study, we proposed collective motions of the TM domain during activation by performing 30 independent microsecond-scale MD simulations for various OX2R systems and applying relaxation mode analysis. The analysis results suggested that TM3 had a vertical structural movement relative to the membrane surface during activation. In addition, we extracted three characteristic amino acid residues on TM3, i.e., Q1343.32, V1423.40, and R1523.50, which exhibited large conformational fluctuations. We quantitatively evaluated the changes in their equilibrium during activation in relation to the movement of TM3. We also discuss the regulation of ligand binding recognition and intracellular signal selectivity by changes in the equilibrium of Q1343.32 and R1523.50, respectively, according to MD simulations and GPCR database. Additionally, the OX2R-Gi signaling complex is stabilized in the conformation resembling a non-canonical (NC) state, which was previously proposed as an intermediate state during activation of neurotensin 1 receptor. Insights into the dynamics and intermediate states during activation gained from this study may be useful for developing biased agonists for OX2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yokoi
- Department of Physics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan
| | - Ryoji Suno
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-Machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Ayori Mitsutake
- Department of Physics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan
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30
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Healey JRJ. Novel natural nanosyringes: solving biologics delivery at the cellular level. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00150-1. [PMID: 38918154 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
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31
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Szwabowski GL, Griffing M, Mugabe EJ, O’Malley D, Baker LN, Baker DL, Parrill AL. G Protein-Coupled Receptor-Ligand Pose and Functional Class Prediction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6876. [PMID: 38999982 PMCID: PMC11241240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) transmembrane protein family members play essential roles in physiology. Numerous pharmaceuticals target GPCRs, and many drug discovery programs utilize virtual screening (VS) against GPCR targets. Improvements in the accuracy of predicting new molecules that bind to and either activate or inhibit GPCR function would accelerate such drug discovery programs. This work addresses two significant research questions. First, do ligand interaction fingerprints provide a substantial advantage over automated methods of binding site selection for classical docking? Second, can the functional status of prospective screening candidates be predicted from ligand interaction fingerprints using a random forest classifier? Ligand interaction fingerprints were found to offer modest advantages in sampling accurate poses, but no substantial advantage in the final set of top-ranked poses after scoring, and, thus, were not used in the generation of the ligand-receptor complexes used to train and test the random forest classifier. A binary classifier which treated agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists as active and all other ligands as inactive proved highly effective in ligand function prediction in an external test set of GPR31 and TAAR2 candidate ligands with a hit rate of 82.6% actual actives within the set of predicted actives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel L. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; (G.L.S.); (M.G.); (E.J.M.); (D.O.); (L.N.B.)
| | - Abby L. Parrill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; (G.L.S.); (M.G.); (E.J.M.); (D.O.); (L.N.B.)
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32
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Panarello S, González-Díez A, Berizzi AE, Malhaire F, Borràs-Tudurí R, Rovira X, Serra C, Prézeau L, Pin JP, Goudet C, Llebaria A, Gómez-Santacana X. Photoswitchable positive allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 to improve selectivity. iScience 2024; 27:110123. [PMID: 38966572 PMCID: PMC11223089 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu) regulate multiple functions in the nervous systems and are involved in several neurological disorders. However, selectively targeting individual mGlu subtypes with spatiotemporal precision is still an unmet need. Photopharmacology can address this concern through the utilization of photoswitchable compounds such as optogluram, which is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of mGlu4 that enables the precise control of physiological responses using light but does not have an optimal selectivity profile. Optogluram analogs were developed to obtain photoswitchable PAMs of mGlu4 receptor with an improved selectivity. Among them, optogluram-2 emerged as a photoswitchable ligand for mGlu4 receptor with activity as both PAM and allosteric agonists. It presents a higher selectivity and offers improved photoswitching of mGlu4 activity. These improved properties make optogluram-2 an excellent candidate to study the role of mGlu4 with a high spatiotemporal precision in systems where mGlu4 can be co-expressed with other mGlu receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Panarello
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
- PhD Program in Organic Chemistry of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix González-Díez
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
- PhD Program in Organic Chemistry of the University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alice E. Berizzi
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Fanny Malhaire
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Xavier Rovira
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Serra
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cyril Goudet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Amadeu Llebaria
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Gómez-Santacana
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia – CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5203 CNRS and U 1191 INSERM, Montpellier, France
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Boomer SH, Liu X, Zheng H. Effects of regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) overexpression in the paraventricular nucleus on blood pressure in rats with angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1401768. [PMID: 38974519 PMCID: PMC11224644 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1401768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) regulates sympathetic activity and blood pressure. The regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) is a negative G protein regulator, which selectively regulates G⍺q signaling, a potential cause of hypertension. This study aimed to examine angiotensin II (ANG II)-G protein-RGS2 signaling on the central mechanisms of blood pressure control, sympathetic activation, and kidney function. The Sprague Dawley rats were infused with ANG II (200 ng/kg/min) via osmotic mini pump to induce hypertension. Adenovirus (AV) vectors encoding RGS2 was transfected into the PVN in vivo. By radio telemetry measurements, we found AV-RGS2 transfection to the PVN significantly attenuated the increase of mean arterial pressure in ANG II infusion rats from days 2-7 of the 2-week experiment (Day 7: ANG II + AV-RGS2 141.3 ± 10.0 mmHg vs. ANG II 166.9 ± 9.3 mmHg, p < 0.05). AV-RGS2 transfection significantly reduced the serum norepinephrine level and acute volume reflex and increased daily urine volume and sodium excretion in ANG II-infused hypertensive rats. AV-RGS2 transfection significantly reduced G⍺q and PKC protein expressions within the PVN in ANG II infusion rats. In cultured mouse hypothalamic cells, real-time PCR study showed ANG II treatment increased mRNA expression of G⍺q, G⍺s, and RGS2, and AV-RGS2 treatment decreased ANG II-induced mRNA expression of G⍺q and G⍺s. Using confocal imagery, we found that AV-RGS2 attenuated the increase of calcium influx in ANG II-treated cells. Our results suggest that central overexpression of RGS2 in the PVN attenuated the increase of blood pressure and sympathetic outflow, and improves kidney excretory function in hypertensive rats. This may be via the alteration of ANG II-G-protein-RGS2 signaling in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hong Zheng
- Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, United States
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34
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Klauer MJ, Jagla CAD, Tsvetanova NG. Extensive location bias of the GPCR-dependent translatome via site-selective activation of mTOR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.17.599400. [PMID: 38948806 PMCID: PMC11212886 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.17.599400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) modulate various physiological functions by re-wiring cellular gene expression in response to extracellular signals. Control of gene expression by GPCRs has been studied almost exclusively at the transcriptional level, neglecting an extensive amount of regulation that takes place translationally. Hence, little is known about the nature and mechanisms of gene-specific post-transcriptional regulation downstream of receptor activation. Here, we apply an unbiased multiomics approach to delineate an extensive translational regulatory program initiated by the prototypical beta2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) and provide mechanistic insights into how these processes are orchestrated. Using ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq), we identify nearly 120 novel gene targets of adrenergic receptor activity which expression is exclusively regulated at the level of translation. We next show that all translational changes are induced selectively by endosomal β2-ARs. We further report that this proceeds through activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Specifically, within the set of translational GPCR targets we discover significant enrichment of genes with 5' terminal oligopyrimidine (TOP) motifs, a gene class classically known to be translationally regulated by mTOR. We then demonstrate that endosomal β2-ARs are required for mTOR activation and subsequent mTOR-dependent TOP mRNA translation. Together, this comprehensive analysis of drug-induced translational regulation establishes a critical role for location-biased GPCR signaling in fine-tuning the cellular protein landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Klauer
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Caitlin AD Jagla
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Nikoleta G Tsvetanova
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Blum NK, Schaffner A, Drube J, Nagel F, Reinscheid RK, Hoffmann C, Schulz S. Rapid elucidation of agonist-driven regulation of the neurokinin 1 receptor using a GPCR phosphorylation immunoassay. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 973:176587. [PMID: 38642667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Agonist-induced phosphorylation is a crucial step in the activation/deactivation cycle of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), but direct determination of individual phosphorylation events has remained a major challenge. We have recently developed a bead-based immunoassay for the quantitative assessment of agonist-induced GPCR phosphorylation that can be performed entirely in 96-well plates, thus eliminating the need for western blot analysis. In the present study, we adapted this assay to three novel phosphosite-specific antibodies directed against the neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, namely pS338/pT339-NK1, pT344/pS347-NK1, and pT356/pT357-NK1. We found that substance P (SP) stimulated concentration-dependent phosphorylation of all three sites, which could be completely blocked in the presence of the NK1 receptor antagonist aprepitant. The other two endogenous ligands of the tachykinin family, neurokinin A (NKA) and neurokinin B (NKB), were also able to induce NK1 receptor phosphorylation, but to a much lesser extent than substance P. Interestingly, substance P promoted phosphorylation of the two distal sites more efficiently than that of the proximal site. The proximal site was identified as a substrate for phosphorylation by protein kinase C. Analysis of GPCR kinase (GRK)-knockout cells revealed that phosphorylation was mediated by all four GRK isoforms to similar extents at the T344/S347 and the T356/T357 cluster. Knockout of all GRKs resulted in abolition of all phosphorylation signals highlighting the importance of these kinases in agonist-mediated receptor phosphorylation. Thus, the 7TM phosphorylation assay technology allows for rapid and detailed analyses of GPCR phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina K Blum
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, D-07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Anne Schaffner
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, D-07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Drube
- Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Falko Nagel
- 7TM Antibodies GmbH, Hans-Knöll-Str. 6, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Rainer K Reinscheid
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, D-07747, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hoffmann
- Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Drackendorfer Str. 1, D-07747, Jena, Germany; 7TM Antibodies GmbH, Hans-Knöll-Str. 6, D-07745, Jena, Germany.
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Sztanek F, Tóth LI, Pető A, Hernyák M, Diószegi Á, Harangi M. New Developments in Pharmacological Treatment of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes-Beyond and within GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1320. [PMID: 38927527 PMCID: PMC11201978 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Guidelines for the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) emphasize the importance of lifestyle changes, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. However, for many people, these changes can be difficult to maintain over the long term. Medication options are already available to treat obesity, which can help reduce appetite and/or reduce caloric intake. Incretin-based peptides exert their effect through G-protein-coupled receptors, the receptors for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon peptide hormones are important regulators of insulin secretion and energy metabolism. Understanding the role of intercellular signaling pathways and inflammatory processes is essential for the development of effective pharmacological agents in obesity. GLP-1 receptor agonists have been successfully used, but it is assumed that their effectiveness may be limited by desensitization and downregulation of the target receptor. A growing number of new agents acting on incretin hormones are becoming available for everyday clinical practice, including oral GLP-1 receptor agonists, the dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide, and other dual and triple GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptor agonists, which may show further significant therapeutic potential. This narrative review summarizes the therapeutic effects of different incretin hormones and presents future prospects in the treatment of T2DM and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferenc Sztanek
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Imre Tóth
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Attila Pető
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis Hospital of Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen County Central Hospital and University Teaching Hospital, H-3529 Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Marcell Hernyák
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Diószegi
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mariann Harangi
- Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Institute of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- ELKH-UD Vascular Pathophysiology Research Group 11003, University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Kim WK, Lee Y, Jang SJ, Hyeon C. Kinetic Model for the Desensitization of G Protein-Coupled Receptor. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:6137-6145. [PMID: 38832827 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) is a general regulatory mechanism adopted by biological organisms against overstimulation of G protein signaling. Although the details of the mechanism are extensively studied, it is not easy to gain an overarching understanding of the process constituted by a multitude of molecular events with vastly differing time scales. To offer a semiquantitative yet predictive understanding of the mechanism, we formulate a kinetic model for the G protein signaling and desensitization by considering essential biochemical steps from ligand binding to receptor internalization. The internalization, followed by receptor depletion from the plasma membrane, attenuates the downstream signal. Together with the kinetic model and its full numerics of the expression derived for the dose-response relation, an approximated form of the expression clarifies the role played by the individual biochemical processes and allows us to identify four distinct regimes for the downregulation that emerge from the balance between phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, and the cellular level of β-arrestin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Kyu Kim
- Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, Korea
| | - Yoonji Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea
| | - Seogjoo J Jang
- Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, Korea
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, New York 11367, United States
- PhD programs in Chemistry and Physics Graduate Center, City University of New York, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016, United States
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Yuan W, Shi X, Lee LTO. RNA therapeutics in targeting G protein-coupled receptors: Recent advances and challenges. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102195. [PMID: 38741614 PMCID: PMC11089380 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the major targets of existing drugs for a plethora of human diseases and dominate the pharmaceutical market. However, over 50% of the GPCRs remain undruggable. To pursue a breakthrough and overcome this situation, there is significant clinical research for developing RNA-based drugs specifically targeting GPCRs, but none has been approved so far. RNA therapeutics represent a unique and promising approach to selectively targeting previously undruggable targets, including undruggable GPCRs. However, the development of RNA therapeutics faces significant challenges in areas of RNA stability and efficient in vivo delivery. This review presents an overview of the advances in RNA therapeutics and the diverse types of nanoparticle RNA delivery systems. It also describes the potential applications of GPCR-targeted RNA drugs for various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanjun Yuan
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
| | - Xiangyang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People’s Republic of China
| | - Leo Tsz On Lee
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
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Radomsky T, Anderson RC, Millar RP, Newton CL. Restoring function to inactivating G protein-coupled receptor variants in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis 1. J Neuroendocrinol 2024:e13418. [PMID: 38852954 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are central to the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG axis) and include the rhodopsin-like GPCR family members, neurokinin 3 receptor, kappa-opioid receptor, kisspeptin 1 receptor, gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor, and the gonadotropin receptors, luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. Unsurprisingly, inactivating variants of these receptors have been implicated in a spectrum of reproductive phenotypes, including failure to undergo puberty, and infertility. Clinical induction of puberty in patients harbouring such variants is possible, but restoration of fertility is not always a realisable outcome, particularly for those patients suffering from primary hypogonadism. Thus, novel pharmaceuticals and/or a fundamental change in approach to treating these patients are required. The increasing wealth of data describing the effects of coding-region genetic variants on GPCR function has highlighted that the majority appear to be dysfunctional as a result of misfolding of the encoded receptor protein, which, in turn, results in impaired receptor trafficking through the secretory pathway to the cell surface. As such, these intracellularly retained receptors may be amenable to 'rescue' using a pharmacological chaperone (PC)-based approach. PCs are small, cell permeant molecules hypothesised to interact with misfolded intracellularly retained proteins, stabilising their folding and promoting their trafficking through the secretory pathway. In support of the use of this approach as a viable therapeutic option, it has been observed that many rescued variant GPCRs retain at least a degree of functionality when 'rescued' to the cell surface. In this review, we examine the GPCR PC research landscape, focussing on the rescue of inactivating variant GPCRs with important roles in the HPG axis, and describe what is known regarding the mechanisms by which PCs restore trafficking and function. We also discuss some of the merits and obstacles associated with taking this approach forward into a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarryn Radomsky
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ross C Anderson
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Robert P Millar
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Claire L Newton
- Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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40
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Milewska S, Sadowska A, Stefaniuk N, Misztalewska-Turkowicz I, Wilczewska AZ, Car H, Niemirowicz-Laskowska K. Tumor-Homing Peptides as Crucial Component of Magnetic-Based Delivery Systems: Recent Developments and Pharmacoeconomical Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6219. [PMID: 38892406 PMCID: PMC11172452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is considered to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and new therapeutic approaches, especially improved novel cancer treatment regimens, are in high demand. Considering that many chemotherapeutic drugs tend to have poor pharmacokinetic profiles, including rapid clearance and limited on-site accumulation, a combined approach with tumor-homing peptide (THP)-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles could lead to remarkable improvements. This is confirmed by an increasing number of papers in this field, showing that the on-target peptide functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles improves their penetration properties and ensures tumor-specific binding, which results in an increased clinical response. This review aims to highlight the potential applications of THPs in combination with magnetic carriers across various fields, including a pharmacoeconomic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Milewska
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (N.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Anna Sadowska
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (N.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Natalia Stefaniuk
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (N.S.); (H.C.)
| | | | - Agnieszka Z. Wilczewska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1K, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland; (I.M.-T.); (A.Z.W.)
| | - Halina Car
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (N.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Katarzyna Niemirowicz-Laskowska
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-295 Bialystok, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (N.S.); (H.C.)
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Öz-Arslan D, Yavuz M, Kan B. Exploring orphan GPCRs in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1394516. [PMID: 38895631 PMCID: PMC11183337 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1394516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders represent a significant and growing health burden worldwide. Unfortunately, limited therapeutic options are currently available despite ongoing efforts. Over the past decades, research efforts have increasingly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these devastating conditions. Orphan receptors, a class of receptors with no known endogenous ligands, emerge as promising druggable targets for diverse diseases. This review aims to direct attention to a subgroup of orphan GPCRs, in particular class A orphans that have roles in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Multiple sclerosis. We highlight the diverse roles orphan receptors play in regulating critical cellular processes such as synaptic transmission, neuronal survival and neuro-inflammation. Moreover, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting orphan receptors for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, emphasizing recent advances in drug discovery and preclinical studies. Finally, we outline future directions and challenges in orphan receptor research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devrim Öz-Arslan
- Department of Biophysics, Acibadem MAA University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Neurosciences, Acibadem MAA University, Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Melis Yavuz
- Department of Neurosciences, Acibadem MAA University, Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Pharmacology, Acibadem MAA University, School of Pharmacy, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Beki Kan
- Department of Biophysics, Acibadem MAA University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Neurosciences, Acibadem MAA University, Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye
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Weidinger D, Jacobsen J, Alisch D, Uebner H, Heinen N, Greune L, Westhoven S, Jamal Jameel K, Kronsbein J, Pfaender S, Taube C, Reuter S, Peters M, Hatt H, Knobloch J. Olfactory receptors impact pathophysiological processes of lung diseases in bronchial epithelial cells. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151408. [PMID: 38583306 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic options for steroid-resistant non-type 2 inflammation in obstructive lung diseases are limited. Bronchial epithelial cells are key in the pathogenesis by releasing the central proinflammatory cytokine interleukine-8 (IL-8). Olfactory receptors (ORs) are expressed in various cell types. This study examined the drug target potential of ORs by investigating their impact on associated pathophysiological processes in lung epithelial cells. METHODS Experiments were performed in the A549 cell line and in primary human bronchial epithelial cells. OR expression was investigated using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemical staining. OR-mediated effects were analyzed by measuring 1) intracellular calcium concentration via calcium imaging, 2) cAMP concentration by luminescence-based assays, 3) wound healing by scratch assays, 4) proliferation by MTS-based assays, 5) cellular vitality by Annexin V/PI-based FACS staining, and 6) the secretion of IL-8 in culture supernatants by ELISA. RESULTS By screening 100 potential OR agonists, we identified two, Brahmanol and Cinnamaldehyde, that increased intracellular calcium concentrations. The mRNA and proteins of the corresponding receptors OR2AT4 and OR2J3 were detected. Stimulation of OR2J3 with Cinnamaldehyde reduced 1) IL-8 in the absence and presence of bacterial and viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), 2) proliferation, and 3) wound healing but increased cAMP. In contrast, stimulation of OR2AT4 by Brahmanol increased wound healing but did not affect cAMP and proliferation. Both ORs did not influence cell vitality. CONCLUSION ORs might be promising drug target candidates for lung diseases with non-type 2 inflammation. Their stimulation might reduce inflammation or prevent tissue remodeling by promoting wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Weidinger
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Julian Jacobsen
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Desiree Alisch
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Hendrik Uebner
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Tüschener Weg 40, Essen 45239, Germany
| | - Natalie Heinen
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Lea Greune
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Saskia Westhoven
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany; Research Unit Emerging Viruses, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kaschin Jamal Jameel
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Juliane Kronsbein
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Stephanie Pfaender
- Department of Molecular and Medical Virology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44801, Germany; Research Unit Emerging Viruses, Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg, Germany; University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian Taube
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Tüschener Weg 40, Essen 45239, Germany
| | - Sebastian Reuter
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen - Ruhrlandklinik, Tüschener Weg 40, Essen 45239, Germany
| | - Marcus Peters
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Hanns Hatt
- Cell Physiology ND4/35, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Jürgen Knobloch
- Medical Clinic III for Pneumology, Allergology and Sleep Medicine, Bergmannsheil University Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum 44789, Germany.
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Flores-Espinoza E, Thomsen ARB. Beneath the surface: endosomal GPCR signaling. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:520-531. [PMID: 38643023 PMCID: PMC11162320 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) located at the cell surface bind extracellular ligands and convey intracellular signals via activation of heterotrimeric G proteins. Traditionally, G protein signaling was viewed to occur exclusively at this subcellular region followed by rapid desensitization facilitated by β-arrestin (βarr)-mediated G protein uncoupling and receptor internalization. However, emerging evidence over the past 15 years suggests that these βarr-mediated events do not necessarily terminate receptor signaling and that some GPCRs continue to activate G proteins after having been internalized into endosomes. Here, we review the recently elucidated mechanistic basis underlying endosomal GPCR signaling and discuss physiological implications and pharmacological targeting of this newly appreciated signaling mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Flores-Espinoza
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA; NYU Pain Research Center, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Alex R B Thomsen
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA; NYU Pain Research Center, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY 10010, USA.
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Ednacot EMQ, Nabhani A, Dinh DM, Morehouse BR. Pharmacological potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling in immunity. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 258:108653. [PMID: 38679204 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic nucleotides are important signaling molecules that play many critical physiological roles including controlling cell fate and development, regulation of metabolic processes, and responding to changes in the environment. Cyclic nucleotides are also pivotal regulators in immune signaling, orchestrating intricate processes that maintain homeostasis and defend against pathogenic threats. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the pharmacological potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling pathways within the realm of immunity. Beginning with an overview of the fundamental roles of cAMP and cGMP as ubiquitous second messengers, this review delves into the complexities of their involvement in immune responses. Special attention is given to the challenges associated with modulating these signaling pathways for therapeutic purposes, emphasizing the necessity for achieving cell-type specificity to avert unintended consequences. A major focus of the review is on the recent paradigm-shifting discoveries regarding specialized cyclic nucleotide signals in the innate immune system, notably the cGAS-STING pathway. The significance of cyclic dinucleotides, exemplified by 2'3'-cGAMP, in controlling immune responses against pathogens and cancer, is explored. The evolutionarily conserved nature of cyclic dinucleotides as antiviral agents, spanning across diverse organisms, underscores their potential as targets for innovative immunotherapies. Findings from the last several years have revealed a striking diversity of novel bacterial cyclic nucleotide second messengers which are involved in antiviral responses. Knowledge of the existence and precise identity of these molecules coupled with accurate descriptions of their associated immune defense pathways will be essential to the future development of novel antibacterial therapeutic strategies. The insights presented herein may help researchers navigate the evolving landscape of immunopharmacology as it pertains to cyclic nucleotides and point toward new avenues or lines of thinking about development of therapeutics against the pathways they regulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirene Marie Q Ednacot
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ali Nabhani
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - David M Dinh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Benjamin R Morehouse
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for Virus Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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45
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Downey ML, Peralta-Yahya P. Technologies for the discovery of G protein-coupled receptor-targeting biologics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103138. [PMID: 38728825 PMCID: PMC11250939 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important pharmaceutical targets, working as entry points for signaling pathways involved in metabolic, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases. Although small molecules remain the major GPCR drug type, biologic therapeutics, such as peptides and antibodies, are increasingly found among clinical trials and Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Here, we review state-of-the-art technologies for the engineering of biologics that target GPCRs, as well as proof-of-principle technologies that are ripe for this application. Looking ahead, inexpensive DNA synthesis will enable the routine generation of computationally predesigned libraries for use in display assays for the rapid discovery of GPCR binders. Advances in synthetic biology are enabling the increased throughput of functional GPCR assays to the point that they can be used to directly identify biologics that modulate GPCR activity. Finally, we give an overview of adjacent technologies that are ripe for application to discover biologics that target human GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna L Downey
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Pamela Peralta-Yahya
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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Schlimgen RR, Peterson FC, Heukers R, Smit MJ, McCorvy JD, Volkman BF. Structural basis for selectivity and antagonism in extracellular GPCR-nanobodies. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4611. [PMID: 38816420 PMCID: PMC11139983 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49000-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are pivotal therapeutic targets, but their complex structure poses challenges for effective drug design. Nanobodies, or single-domain antibodies, have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to target GPCRs, offering advantages over traditional small molecules and antibodies. However, an incomplete understanding of the structural features enabling GPCR-nanobody interactions has limited their development. In this study, we investigate VUN701, a nanobody antagonist targeting the atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3). We determine that an extended CDR3 loop is required for ACKR3 binding. Uncommon in most nanobodies, an extended CDR3 is prevalent in GPCR-targeting nanobodies. Combining experimental and computational approaches, we map an inhibitory ACKR3-VUN701 interface and define a distinct conformational mechanism for GPCR inactivation. Our results provide insights into class A GPCR-nanobody selectivity and suggest a strategy for the development of these new therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman R Schlimgen
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Francis C Peterson
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Raimond Heukers
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martine J Smit
- Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Brian F Volkman
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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Brunetti L, Francavilla F, Leopoldo M, Lacivita E. Allosteric Modulators of Serotonin Receptors: A Medicinal Chemistry Survey. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:695. [PMID: 38931362 PMCID: PMC11206742 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter regulating numerous physiological functions, and its dysregulation is a crucial component of the pathological processes of schizophrenia, depression, migraines, and obesity. 5-HT interacts with 14 different receptors, of which 5-HT1A-1FRs, 5-HT2A-CRs, and 5-HT4-7Rs are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), while 5-HT3R is a ligand-gated ion channel. Over the years, selective orthosteric ligands have been identified for almost all serotonin receptors, yielding several clinically relevant drugs. However, the high degree of homology between 5-HTRs and other GPCRs means that orthosteric ligands can have severe side effects. Thus, there has recently been increased interest in developing safer ligands of GPCRs, which bind to less conserved, more specific sites, distinct from that of the receptor's natural ligand. The present review describes the identification of allosteric ligands of serotonin receptors, which are largely natural compounds (oleamide, cannabidiol, THC, and aporphine alkaloids), complemented by synthetic modulators developed in large part for the 5-HT2C receptor. The latter are positive allosteric modulators sought after for their potential as drugs preferable over the orthosteric agonists as antiobesity agents for their potentially safer profile. When available, details on the interactions between the ligand and allosteric binding site will be provided. An outlook on future research in the field will also be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Department of Pharmacy–Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy; (L.B.); (F.F.); (E.L.)
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Wu Y, Jensen N, Rossner MJ, Wehr MC. Exploiting Cell-Based Assays to Accelerate Drug Development for G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5474. [PMID: 38791511 PMCID: PMC11121687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are relevant targets for health and disease as they regulate various aspects of metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and immune pathways. They are implicated in several disease areas, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mental disorders. It is worth noting that about a third of all marketed drugs target GPCRs, making them prime pharmacological targets for drug discovery. Numerous functional assays have been developed to assess GPCR activity and GPCR signaling in living cells. Here, we review the current literature of genetically encoded cell-based assays to measure GPCR activation and downstream signaling at different hierarchical levels of signaling, from the receptor to transcription, via transducers, effectors, and second messengers. Singleplex assay formats provide one data point per experimental condition. Typical examples are bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays and protease cleavage assays (e.g., Tango or split TEV). By contrast, multiplex assay formats allow for the parallel measurement of multiple receptors and pathways and typically use molecular barcodes as transcriptional reporters in barcoded assays. This enables the efficient identification of desired on-target and on-pathway effects as well as detrimental off-target and off-pathway effects. Multiplex assays are anticipated to accelerate drug discovery for GPCRs as they provide a comprehensive and broad identification of compound effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wu
- Research Group Cell Signalling, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Systasy Bioscience GmbH, Balanstr. 6, 81669 Munich, Germany
| | - Niels Jensen
- Systasy Bioscience GmbH, Balanstr. 6, 81669 Munich, Germany
- Section of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz J. Rossner
- Systasy Bioscience GmbH, Balanstr. 6, 81669 Munich, Germany
- Section of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael C. Wehr
- Research Group Cell Signalling, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
- Systasy Bioscience GmbH, Balanstr. 6, 81669 Munich, Germany
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Cardoso JCR, Mc Shane JC, Li Z, Peng M, Power DM. Revisiting the evolution of Family B1 GPCRs and ligands: Insights from mollusca. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 586:112192. [PMID: 38408601 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Family B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most well studied neuropeptide receptor families since they play a central role in many biological processes including endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and reproduction in animals. The genes for these receptors emerged from a common ancestral gene in bilaterian genomes and evolved via gene/genome duplications and deletions in vertebrate and invertebrate genomes. Their existence and function have mostly been characterized in vertebrates and few studies exist in invertebrate species. Recently, an increased interest in molluscs, means a series of genomes have become available, and since they are less modified than insect and nematode genomes, they are ideal to explore the origin and evolution of neuropeptide gene families. This review provides an overview of Family B1 GPCRs and their peptide ligands and incorporates new data obtained from Mollusca genomes and taking a comparative approach challenges existing models on their origin and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C R Cardoso
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
| | - Jennifer C Mc Shane
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Zhi Li
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Maoxiao Peng
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Deborah M Power
- Comparative Endocrinology and Integrative Biology, Centre of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
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Wang Y, Jin B, Wu X, Xing J, Zhang B, Chen X, Liu X, Wan X, Du S. Exploration of prognostic and treatment markers in hepatocellular carcinoma via GPCR-related genes analysis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29659. [PMID: 38694033 PMCID: PMC11058304 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the biggest family of signaling receptors, account for 34 % of all the drug targets approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has been gradually recognized that GPCRs are of significance for tumorigenesis, but in-depth studies are still required to explore specific mechanisms. In this study, the role of GPCRs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was elucidated, and GPCR-related genes were employed for building a risk-score model for the prognosis and treatment efficacy prediction of HCC patients. Methods Patients' data on HCC were sourced from the Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma-Japan (LIRI-JP) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, while GPCR-related genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). Univariant and multivariant Cox regression analyses, as well as least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were performed with the aim of identifying differentially expressed GPCR-related genes and grouping patients. Differential expression and functional enrichment analyses were performed; protein-protein interaction (PPI) mechanisms were explored; hub genes and micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA)-target gene regulatory networks were constructed. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm was utilized to evaluate immune infiltration levels and genetic variations. Sensitivity to immunotherapy and common antitumor drugs was predicted via the database Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC). Results A GPCR-related risk score containing eight GPCR-related genes (atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3), CCR7, frizzled homolog 5 (FZD5), metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 (GRM8), hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 5A (HTR5A) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6)) was set up. In addition, patients were classified into groups with high and low risks. Patients in the high-risk group exhibited a worse prognosis but demonstrated a more favorable immunotherapy response rate compared with those in the low-risk group. Distinct sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs was observed. A clinical prediction model on the basis of GPCR-related risk scores was constructed. Areas under the curves (AUC) corresponding to one-, three- and five-year survival were 0.731, 0.765 and 0.731, respectively. Conclusions In this study, an efficient HCC prognostic prediction model was constructed by only GPCR-related genes, which are all potential targets for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Bao Jin
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xiangan Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Jiali Xing
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Baoluhe Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xiaokun Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Xueshuai Wan
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Shunda Du
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
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