1
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Ceccarelli G, Goracci L, Carotti A, Paccoia F, Passeri D, Cipolloni M, Di Bona S, Cruciani G, Pellicciari R, Gioiello A. Discovery and Structure-Activity Relationships of Novel ssDAF-12 Receptor Modulators. J Med Chem 2024; 67:4150-4169. [PMID: 38417155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02421] [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: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear receptor ssDAF-12 has been recognized as the key molecular player regulating the life cycle of the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis. ssDAF-12 ligands permit the receptor to function as an on/off switch modulating infection, making it vulnerable to therapeutic intervention. In this study, we report the design and synthesis of a set of novel dafachronic acid derivatives, which were used to outline the first structure-activity relationship targeting the ssDAF-12 receptor and to unveil hidden properties shared by the molecular shape of steroidal ligands that are relevant to the receptor binding and modulation. Moreover, biological results led to the discovery of sulfonamide 3 as a submicromolar ssDAF-12 agonist endowed with a high receptor selectivity, no toxicity, and improved properties, as well as to the identification of unprecedented ssDAF-12 antagonists that can be exploited in the search for novel chemical tools and alternative therapeutic approaches for treating parasitism such as Strongyloidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Ceccarelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via dell' Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Andrea Carotti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Federico Paccoia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | - Stefano Di Bona
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via dell' Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Gabriele Cruciani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via dell' Elce di Sotto 8, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Antimo Gioiello
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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2
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Hu X, Cui J, Chen J, Du S, Wang X, Zhang Y, Qian J, Chen H, Wei F, Cai Q, Jia J, Wu J. Identification of hACE2-interacting sites in SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain for antiviral drugs screening. Virus Res 2022; 321:198915. [PMID: 36084746 PMCID: PMC9446661 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198915] [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: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The key structure of the interface between the spike protein of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) acts as an essential switch for cell entry by the virus and drugs targets. However, this is largely unknown. Here, we tested three peptides of spike receptor binding domain (RBD) and found that peptide 391-465 aa is the major hACE2-interacting sites in SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD. We then identified essential amino acid residues (403R, 449Y, 454R) of peptide 391-465 aa that were critical for the interaction between the RBD and hACE2. Additionally, a pseudotyped virus containing SARS-CoV-2 spike with individual mutation (R454G, Y449F, R403G, N439I, or N440I) was determined to have very low infectivity compared with the pseudotyped virus containing the wildtype (WT) spike from reference strain Wuhan 1, respectively. Furthermore, we showed the key amino acids had the potential to drug screening. For example, molecular docking (Docking) and infection assay showed that Cephalosporin derivatives can bind with the key amino acids to efficiently block infection of the pseudoviruses with wild type spike or new variants. Moreover, Cefixime inhibited live SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results also provide a novel model for drug screening and support further clinical evaluation and development of Cephalosporin derivatives as novel, safe, and cost-effective drugs for prevention/treatment of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Hu
- Renji Hospital, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiahua Cui
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Shujuan Du
- MOE & MOH Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- MOE & MOH Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yabin Zhang
- Renji Hospital, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jiajun Qian
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Experimental Teaching Center for Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Fang Wei
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200032, China,Corresponding authors
| | - Qiliang Cai
- MOE & MOH Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China,Corresponding authors
| | - Jinping Jia
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China,Corresponding authors
| | - Ji Wu
- Renji Hospital, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Bio-X Institutes, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China,Corresponding authors
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3
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Larigot L, Mansuy D, Borowski I, Coumoul X, Dairou J. Cytochromes P450 of Caenorhabditis elegans: Implication in Biological Functions and Metabolism of Xenobiotics. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12030342. [PMID: 35327534 PMCID: PMC8945457 DOI: 10.3390/biom12030342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model used for many aspects of biological research. Its genome contains 76 genes coding for cytochromes P450 (P450s), and few data about the biochemical properties of those P450s have been published so far. However, an increasing number of articles have appeared on their involvement in the metabolism of xenobiotics and endobiotics such as fatty acid derivatives and steroids. Moreover, the implication of some P450s in various biological functions of C. elegans, such as survival, dauer formation, life span, fat content, or lipid metabolism, without mention of the precise reaction catalyzed by those P450s, has been reported in several articles. This review presents the state of our knowledge about C. elegans P450s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Larigot
- Campus Saint Germain, INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université de Paris, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France;
| | - Daniel Mansuy
- Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (D.M.); (I.B.)
| | - Ilona Borowski
- Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (D.M.); (I.B.)
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- Campus Saint Germain, INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université de Paris, 45 rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France;
- Correspondence: (X.C.) or (J.D.); Tel.: +331-76-53-42-35; Fax: + 331-42-86-43-84
| | - Julien Dairou
- Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie Pharmacologiques et Toxicologiques, CNRS, Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; (D.M.); (I.B.)
- Correspondence: (X.C.) or (J.D.); Tel.: +331-76-53-42-35; Fax: + 331-42-86-43-84
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4
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Wang Z, Cheong MC, Tsien J, Deng H, Qin T, Stoltzfus JDC, Jaleta TG, Li X, Lok JB, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ. Characterization of the endogenous DAF-12 ligand and its use as an anthelmintic agent in Strongyloides stercoralis. eLife 2021; 10:e73535. [PMID: 34874004 PMCID: PMC8651287 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A prevalent feature of Strongyloides stercoralis is a life-long and potentially lethal infection that is due to the nematode parasite's ability to autoinfect and, thereby, self-replicate within its host. Here, we investigated the role of the parasite's nuclear receptor, Ss-DAF-12, in governing infection. We identified Δ7-DA as the endogenous Ss-DAF-12 ligand and elucidated the hormone's biosynthetic pathway. Genetic loss of function of the ligand's rate-limiting enzyme demonstrated that Δ7-DA synthesis is necessary for parasite reproduction, whereas its absence is required for the development of infectious larvae. Availability of the ligand permits Ss-DAF-12 to function as an on/off switch governing autoinfection, making it vulnerable to therapeutic intervention. In a preclinical model of hyperinfection, pharmacologic activation of DAF-12 suppressed autoinfection and markedly reduced lethality. Moreover, when Δ7-DA was administered with ivermectin, the current but limited drug of choice for treating strongyloidiasis, the combinatorial effects of the two drugs resulted in a near cure of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Mi Cheong Cheong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jet Tsien
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Heping Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Tian Qin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jonathan DC Stoltzfus
- Department of Biology, Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersvilleUnited States
| | - Tegegn G Jaleta
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Xinshe Li
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - James B Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Steven A Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - David J Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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5
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Mancino V, Ceccarelli G, Carotti A, Goracci L, Sardella R, Passeri D, Pellicciari R, Gioiello A. Synthesis and biological activity of cyclopropyl Δ7-dafachronic acids as DAF-12 receptor ligands. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:5403-5412. [PMID: 34056641 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob00912e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The four cyclopropyl stereoisomers of Δ7-dafachronic acids were prepared from the bile acid hyodeoxycholic acid and employed as chemical tools to exploit the importance of the orientation and spatial disposition of the carboxyl tail and the C25-methyl group for the binding at the DAF-12 receptor. The synthesis route was based on (a) Walden inversion and stereoselective PtO2-hydrogenation to convert the L-shaped 5β-cholanoid scaffold into the planar 5α-sterol intermediate; (b) two-carbon homologation of the side chain by Wittig and cyclopropanation reaction; and (c) formation of the 3-keto group and Δ7 double bond. The synthesized isomers were isolated and tested for their activity as DAF-12 ligands by AlphaScreen assays. Results showed a significant loss of potency and efficacy for all the four stereoisomers when compared to the parent endogenous ligand. Computational analysis has evidenced the configurational and conformational arrangement of both the carboxylic and the C25-methyl group of dafachronic acids as key structural determinants for DAF-12 binding and activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Mancino
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy. and TES Pharma S.r.l., Corso Vannucci 47, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giada Ceccarelli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Andrea Carotti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Laura Goracci
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via dell'Elce di Sotto 8, 06123, Perugia, Italy
| | - Roccaldo Sardella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
| | | | | | - Antimo Gioiello
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
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6
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Long T, Alberich M, André F, Menez C, Prichard RK, Lespine A. The development of the dog heartworm is highly sensitive to sterols which activate the orthologue of the nuclear receptor DAF-12. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11207. [PMID: 32641726 PMCID: PMC7343802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67466-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prevention therapy against Dirofilaria immitis in companion animals is currently threatened by the emergence of isolates resistant to macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics. Understanding the control over developmental processes in D. immitis is important for elucidating new approaches to heartworm control. The nuclear receptor DAF-12 plays a role in the entry and exit of dauer stage in Caenorhabditis elegans and in the development of free-living infective third-stage larvae (iL3) of some Clade IV and V parasitic nematodes. We identified a DAF-12 ortholog in the clade III nematode D. immitis and found that it exhibited a much higher affinity for dafachronic acids than described with other nematode DAF-12 investigated so far. We also modelled the DimDAF-12 structure and characterized the residues involved with DA binding. Moreover, we showed that cholesterol derivatives impacted the molting process from the iL3 to the fourth-stage larvae. Since D. immitis is unable to synthesize cholesterol and only completes its development upon host infection, we hypothesize that host environment contributes to its further molting inside the host vertebrate. Our discovery contributes to a better understanding of the developmental checkpoints of D. immitis and offers new perspectives for the development of novel therapies against filarial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thavy Long
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31027, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, H9X3V9, QC, Canada.
| | - Mélanie Alberich
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31027, Toulouse Cedex 3, France
| | - François André
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Cécile Menez
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31027, Toulouse Cedex 3, France
| | - Roger K Prichard
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-De-Bellevue, H9X3V9, QC, Canada
| | - Anne Lespine
- INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, 31027, Toulouse Cedex 3, France.
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7
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Ayoade KO, Carranza FR, Cho WH, Wang Z, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ, Stoltzfus JDC. Dafachronic acid and temperature regulate canonical dauer pathways during Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infectious larvae activation. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:162. [PMID: 32238181 PMCID: PMC7110753 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04035-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While immune responses to the murine hookworm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis have been investigated, signaling pathways regulating development of infectious larvae (iL3) are not well understood. We hypothesized that N. brasiliensis would use pathways similar to those controlling dauer development in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is formally known as the "dauer hypothesis." METHODS To investigate whether dafachronic acid activates the N. brasiliensis DAF-12 homolog, we utilized an in vitro reporter assay. We then utilized RNA-Seq and subsequent bioinformatic analyses to identify N. brasiliensis dauer pathway homologs and examine regulation of these genes during iL3 activation. RESULTS In this study, we demonstrated that dafachronic acid activates the N. brasiliensis DAF-12 homolog. We then identified N. brasiliensis homologs for members in each of the four canonical dauer pathways and examined their regulation during iL3 activation by either temperature or dafachronic acid. Similar to C. elegans, we found that transcripts encoding antagonistic insulin-like peptides were significantly downregulated during iL3 activation, and that a transcript encoding a phylogenetic homolog of DAF-9 increased during iL3 activation, suggesting that both increased insulin-like and DAF-12 nuclear hormone receptor signaling accompanies iL3 activation. In contrast to C. elegans, we observed a significant decrease in transcripts encoding the dauer transforming growth factor beta ligand DAF-7 during iL3 activation, suggesting a different role for this pathway in parasitic nematode development. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that canonical dauer pathways indeed regulate iL3 activation in the hookworm N. brasiliensis and that DAF-12 may be a therapeutic target in hookworm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Omueti Ayoade
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Faith R. Carranza
- Department of Biology, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville, PA 17551 USA
| | - Woong Hee Cho
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Zhu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390 USA
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8
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Methylprednisolone acetate induces, and Δ7-dafachronic acid suppresses, Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection in NSG mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 115:204-209. [PMID: 29203662 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712235114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection causes high mortality rates in humans, and, while hyperinfection can be induced by immunosuppressive glucocorticoids, the pathogenesis remains unknown. Since immunocompetent mice are resistant to infection with S. stercoralis, we hypothesized that NSG mice, which have a reduced innate immune response and lack adaptive immunity, would be susceptible to the infection and develop hyperinfection. Interestingly, despite the presence of large numbers of adult and first-stage larvae in S. stercoralis-infected NSG mice, no hyperinfection was observed even when the mice were treated with a monoclonal antibody to eliminate residual granulocyte activity. NSG mice were then infected with third-stage larvae and treated for 6 wk with methylprednisolone acetate (MPA), a synthetic glucocorticoid. MPA treatment of infected mice resulted in 50% mortality and caused a significant >10-fold increase in the number of parasitic female worms compared with infected untreated mice. In addition, autoinfective third-stage larvae, which initiate hyperinfection, were found in high numbers in MPA-treated, but not untreated, mice. Remarkably, treatment with Δ7-dafachronic acid, an agonist of the parasite nuclear receptor Ss-DAF-12, significantly reduced the worm burden in MPA-treated mice undergoing hyperinfection with S. stercoralis Overall, this study provides a useful mouse model for S. stercoralis autoinfection and suggests a therapeutic strategy for treating lethal hyperinfection.
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9
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Dafachronic acid inhibits C. elegans germ cell proliferation in a DAF-12-dependent manner. Dev Biol 2017; 432:215-221. [PMID: 29066181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Dafachronic acid (DA) is a bile acid-like steroid hormone that regulates dauer formation, heterochrony, and lifespan in C. elegans. Here, we describe that DA is an inhibitor of C. elegans germ stem cell proliferation in adult hermaphrodites. Using a C. elegans germ cell primary culture system, we show that DA inhibits the proliferation of germ cells in vitro. Exogenous DA reduces the frequency of large tumors in adult tumorous germline mutants and decreases the proliferation of wild-type germ stem cells in adult hermaphrodites. In contrast, DA has no appreciable effect on the proliferation of larval-stage germ cells in wild type. The inhibition of adult germ cell proliferation by DA requires its canonical receptor DAF-12. Blocking DA production by inactivating the cytochrome P450 DAF-9 increases germ cell proliferation in wild-type adult hermaphrodites and the frequency of large tumors in germline tumorous mutants, suggesting that DA inhibits the rate of germ cell proliferation under normal growth conditions.
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10
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Wang Z, Schaffer NE, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ. Nuclear receptors: emerging drug targets for parasitic diseases. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:1165-1171. [PMID: 28165341 PMCID: PMC5373876 DOI: 10.1172/jci88890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic worms infect billions of people worldwide. Current treatments rely on a small group of drugs that have been used for decades. A shortcoming of these drugs is their inability to target the intractable infectious stage of the parasite. As well-known therapeutic targets in mammals, nuclear receptors have begun to be studied in parasitic worms, where they are widely distributed and play key roles in governing metabolic and developmental transcriptional networks. One such nuclear receptor is DAF-12, which is required for normal nematode development, including the all-important infectious stage. Here we review the emerging literature that implicates DAF-12 and potentially other nuclear receptors as novel anthelmintic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Department of Pharmacology
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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11
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Aguilaniu H, Fabrizio P, Witting M. The Role of Dafachronic Acid Signaling in Development and Longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans: Digging Deeper Using Cutting-Edge Analytical Chemistry. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016; 7:12. [PMID: 26903948 PMCID: PMC4749721 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones regulate physiological processes in species ranging from plants to humans. A wide range of steroid hormones exist, and their contributions to processes, such as growth, reproduction, development, and aging, is almost always complex. Understanding the biosynthetic pathways that generate steroid hormones and the signaling pathways that mediate their effects is thus of fundamental importance. In this work, we review recent advances in (i) the biological role of steroid hormones in the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans and (ii) the development of novel methods to facilitate the detection and identification of these molecules. Our current understanding of steroid signaling in this simple organism serves to illustrate the challenges we face moving forward. First, it seems clear that we have not yet identified all of the enzymes responsible for steroid biosynthesis and/or degradation. Second, perturbation of steroid signaling affects a wide range of phenotypes, and subtly different steroid molecules can have distinct effects. Finally, steroid hormone levels are critically important, and minute variations in quantity can profoundly impact a phenotype. Thus, it is imperative that we develop innovative analytical tools and combine them with cutting-edge approaches including comprehensive and highly selective liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry based on new methods such as supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) if we are to obtain a better understanding of the biological functions of steroid signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Aguilaniu
- UMR5262, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
- *Correspondence: Hugo Aguilaniu,
| | - Paola Fabrizio
- UMR5262, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon Claude Bernard, Lyon, France
| | - Michael Witting
- Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Department of Environmental Sciences, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
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12
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Witting M, Schmitt-Kopplin P. The Caenorhabditis elegans lipidome. Arch Biochem Biophys 2016; 589:27-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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13
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Rompay LV, Borghgraef C, Beets I, Caers J, Temmerman L. New genetic regulators question relevance of abundant yolk protein production in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16381. [PMID: 26553710 PMCID: PMC4639837 DOI: 10.1038/srep16381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitellogenesis or maternal yolk formation is considered critical to the reproduction of egg-laying animals. In invertebrates, however, most of its regulatory genes are still unknown. Via a combined mapping and whole-genome sequencing strategy, we performed a forward genetic screen to isolate novel regulators of yolk production in the nematode model system Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition to isolating new alleles of rab-35, rab-10 and M04F3.2, we identified five mutant alleles corresponding to three novel regulatory genes potently suppressing the expression of a GFP-based yolk reporter. We confirmed that mutations in vrp-1, ceh-60 and lrp-2 disrupt endogenous yolk protein synthesis at the transcriptional and translational level. In contrast to current beliefs, our discovered set of mutants with strongly reduced yolk proteins did not show serious reproduction defects. This raises questions as to whether yolk proteins per se are needed for ultimate reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liesbeth Van Rompay
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 bus 2465, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charline Borghgraef
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 bus 2465, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Beets
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 bus 2465, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jelle Caers
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 bus 2465, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Functional Genomics and Proteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59 bus 2465, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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14
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Wang Z, Stoltzfus J, You YJ, Ranjit N, Tang H, Xie Y, Lok JB, Mangelsdorf DJ, Kliewer SA. The nuclear receptor DAF-12 regulates nutrient metabolism and reproductive growth in nematodes. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005027. [PMID: 25774872 PMCID: PMC4361679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Appropriate nutrient response is essential for growth and reproduction. Under favorable nutrient conditions, the C. elegans nuclear receptor DAF-12 is activated by dafachronic acids, hormones that commit larvae to reproductive growth. Here, we report that in addition to its well-studied role in controlling developmental gene expression, the DAF-12 endocrine system governs expression of a gene network that stimulates the aerobic catabolism of fatty acids. Thus, activation of the DAF-12 transcriptome coordinately mobilizes energy stores to permit reproductive growth. DAF-12 regulation of this metabolic gene network is conserved in the human parasite, Strongyloides stercoralis, and inhibition of specific steps in this network blocks reproductive growth in both of the nematodes. Our study provides a molecular understanding for metabolic adaptation of nematodes to their environment, and suggests a new therapeutic strategy for treating parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Wang
- Deparment of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Stoltzfus
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Young-jai You
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Najju Ranjit
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hao Tang
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yang Xie
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - James B. Lok
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- Deparment of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Deparment of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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15
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Liu W, Li X, Chen J, Li T, Dong M, Lei X. Site-Selective and Metal-Free Aliphatic CH Oxidation Enabled Synthesis of [5,24,25-D3]-(25S)-Δ7-Dafachronic acid. Chemistry 2015; 21:5345-9. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201500324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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16
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Ermolovich YV, Zhabinskii VN, Khripach VA. Formation of the steroidal C-25 chiral center via the asymmetric alkylation methodology. Org Biomol Chem 2015; 13:776-82. [PMID: 25388008 DOI: 10.1039/c4ob02123a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel approach for the preparation of steroids containing a chiral center at C-25 is reported. The key stereochemistry inducing step was asymmetric alkylation of pseudoephenamine amides of steroidal C-26 acids. The reaction proceeded with high diastereoselectivity (dr > 99 : 1). The developed methodology was successfully applied to the synthesis of (25R)- and (25S)-cholestenoic acids as well as (25R)- and (25S)-26-hydroxy brassinolides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu V Ermolovich
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Kuprevich st., 5/2, 220141 Minsk, Belarus.
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17
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Kinzurik MI, Hristov LV, Matsuda SPT, Ball ZT. Mixed Bioengineering–Chemical Synthesis Approach for the Efficient Preparation of Δ7-Dafachronic Acid. Org Lett 2014; 16:2188-91. [DOI: 10.1021/ol5006642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matias I. Kinzurik
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Lachezar V. Hristov
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Seiichi P. T. Matsuda
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Zachary T. Ball
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry
and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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18
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Sardella R, Carotti A, Gioiello A, Lisanti A, Ianni F, Lindner W, Natalini B. Chromatographic separation of free dafachronic acid epimers with a novel triazole click quinidine-based chiral stationary phase. J Chromatogr A 2014; 1339:96-102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.02.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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19
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Lopez AL, Chen J, Joo HJ, Drake M, Shidate M, Kseib C, Arur S. DAF-2 and ERK couple nutrient availability to meiotic progression during Caenorhabditis elegans oogenesis. Dev Cell 2013; 27:227-240. [PMID: 24120884 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2012] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coupling the production of mature gametes and fertilized zygotes to favorable nutritional conditions improves reproductive success. In invertebrates, the proliferation of female germline stem cells is regulated by nutritional status. However, in mammals, the number of female germline stem cells is set early in development, with oocytes progressing through meiosis later in life. Mechanisms that couple later steps of oogenesis to environmental conditions remain largely undefined. We show that, in the presence of food, the DAF-2 insulin-like receptor signals through the RAS-ERK pathway to drive meiotic prophase I progression and oogenesis; in the absence of food, the resultant inactivation of insulin-like signaling leads to downregulation of the RAS-ERK pathway, and oogenesis is stalled. Thus, the insulin-like signaling pathway couples nutrient sensing to meiotic I progression and oocyte production in C. elegans, ensuring that oocytes are only produced under conditions favorable for the survival of the resulting zygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L Lopez
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jessica Chen
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hyoe-Jin Joo
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Melanie Drake
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Miri Shidate
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cedric Kseib
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Swathi Arur
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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20
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Li TM, Chen J, Li X, Ding XJ, Wu Y, Zhao LF, Chen S, Lei X, Dong MQ. Absolute Quantification of a Steroid Hormone that Regulates Development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Anal Chem 2013; 85:9281-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ac402025c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tie-Mei Li
- College of Life
Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jie Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical
Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiangke Li
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Ding
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yao Wu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Li-Feng Zhao
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - She Chen
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaoguang Lei
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
- College of Pharmaceutical
Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Meng-Qiu Dong
- College of Life
Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, Beijing 102206, China
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21
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Unexpected role for dosage compensation in the control of dauer arrest, insulin-like signaling, and FoxO transcription factor activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2013; 194:619-29. [PMID: 23733789 PMCID: PMC3697968 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.113.149948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryogenesis, an essential process known as dosage compensation is initiated to equalize gene expression from sex chromosomes. Although much is known about how dosage compensation is established, the consequences of modulating the stability of dosage compensation postembryonically are not known. Here we define a role for the Caenorhabditis elegans dosage compensation complex (DCC) in the regulation of DAF-2 insulin-like signaling. In a screen for dauer regulatory genes that control the activity of the FoxO transcription factor DAF-16, we isolated three mutant alleles of dpy-21, which encodes a conserved DCC component. Knockdown of multiple DCC components in hermaphrodite and male animals indicates that the dauer suppression phenotype of dpy-21 mutants is due to a defect in dosage compensation per se. In dpy-21 mutants, expression of several X-linked genes that promote dauer bypass is elevated, including four genes encoding components of the DAF-2 insulin-like pathway that antagonize DAF-16/FoxO activity. Accordingly, dpy-21 mutation reduced the expression of DAF-16/FoxO target genes by promoting the exclusion of DAF-16/FoxO from nuclei. Thus, dosage compensation enhances dauer arrest by repressing X-linked genes that promote reproductive development through the inhibition of DAF-16/FoxO nuclear translocation. This work is the first to establish a specific postembryonic function for dosage compensation in any organism. The influence of dosage compensation on dauer arrest, a larval developmental fate governed by the integration of multiple environmental inputs and signaling outputs, suggests that the dosage compensation machinery may respond to external cues by modulating signaling pathways through chromosome-wide regulation of gene expression.
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22
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Influence of steroid hormone signaling on life span control by Caenorhabditis elegans insulin-like signaling. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2013; 3:841-50. [PMID: 23550118 PMCID: PMC3656731 DOI: 10.1534/g3.112.005116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Sterol-sensing nuclear receptors and insulin-like growth factor signaling play evolutionarily conserved roles in the control of aging. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, bile acid-like steroid hormones known as dafachronic acids (DAs) influence longevity by binding to and regulating the activity of the conserved nuclear receptor DAF-12, and the insulin receptor (InsR) ortholog DAF-2 controls life span by inhibiting the FoxO transcription factor DAF-16. How the DA/DAF-12 pathway interacts with DAF-2/InsR signaling to control life span is poorly understood. Here we specifically investigated the roles of liganded and unliganded DAF-12 in life span control in the context of reduced DAF-2/InsR signaling. In animals with reduced daf-2/InsR activity, mutations that either reduce DA biosynthesis or fully abrogate DAF-12 activity shorten life span, suggesting that liganded DAF-12 promotes longevity. In animals with reduced DAF-2/InsR activity induced by daf-2/InsR RNAi, both liganded and unliganded DAF-12 promote longevity. However, in daf-2/InsR mutants, liganded and unliganded DAF-12 act in opposition to control life span. Thus, multiple DAF-12 activities influence life span in distinct ways in contexts of reduced DAF-2/InsR signaling. Our findings establish new roles for a conserved steroid signaling pathway in life span control and elucidate interactions among DA biosynthetic pathways, DAF-12, and DAF-2/InsR signaling in aging.
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23
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Alvarez LD, Mañez PA, Estrin DA, Burton G. The Caenorhabditis elegans DAF-12 nuclear receptor: structure, dynamics, and interaction with ligands. Proteins 2012; 80:1798-809. [PMID: 22489014 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2012] [Revised: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A structure for the ligand binding domain (LBD) of the DAF-12 receptor from Caenorhabditis elegans was obtained from the X-ray crystal structure of the receptor LBD from Strongyloides stercoralis bound to (25R)-Δ(7)-dafachronic acid (DA) (pdb:3GYU). The model was constructed in the presence of the ligand using a combination of Modeller, Autodock, and molecular dynamics (MD) programs, and then its dynamical behavior was studied by MD. A strong ligand binding mode (LBM) was found, with the three arginines in the ligand binding pocket (LBP) contacting the C-26 carboxylate group of the DA. The quality of the ceDAF-12 model was then evaluated by constructing several ligand systems for which the experimental activity is known. Thus, the dynamical behavior of the ceDAF-12 complex with the more active (25S)-Δ(7)-DA showed two distinct binding modes, one of them being energetically more favorable compared with the 25R isomer. Then the effect of the Arg564Cys and Arg598Met mutations on the (25R)-Δ(7)-DA binding was analyzed. The MD simulations showed that in the first case the complex was unstable, consistent with the lack of transactivation activity of (25R)-Δ(7)-DA in this mutant. Instead, in the case of the Arg598Met mutant, known to produce a partial loss of activity, our model predicted smaller effects on the LBM with a more stable MD trajectory. The model also showed that removal of the C-25 methyl does not impede the simultaneous strong interaction of the carboxylate with the three arginines, predicting that 27-nor-DAs are putative ceDAF-12 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lautaro D Alvarez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica and UMYMFOR, CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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24
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Wollam J, Magner DB, Magomedova L, Rass E, Shen Y, Rottiers V, Habermann B, Cummins CL, Antebi A. A novel 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase that regulates reproductive development and longevity. PLoS Biol 2012; 10:e1001305. [PMID: 22505847 PMCID: PMC3323522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 03/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous small molecule metabolites that regulate animal longevity are emerging as a novel means to influence health and life span. In C. elegans, bile acid-like steroids called the dafachronic acids (DAs) regulate developmental timing and longevity through the conserved nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12, a homolog of mammalian sterol-regulated receptors LXR and FXR. Using metabolic genetics, mass spectrometry, and biochemical approaches, we identify new activities in DA biosynthesis and characterize an evolutionarily conserved short chain dehydrogenase, DHS-16, as a novel 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Through regulation of DA production, DHS-16 controls DAF-12 activity governing longevity in response to signals from the gonad. Our elucidation of C. elegans bile acid biosynthetic pathways reveals the possibility of novel ligands as well as striking biochemical conservation to other animals, which could illuminate new targets for manipulating longevity in metazoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Wollam
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Lilia Magomedova
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elisabeth Rass
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yidong Shen
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Veerle Rottiers
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Carolyn L. Cummins
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adam Antebi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Interdepartmental Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
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25
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Saini R, Boland S, Kataeva O, Schmidt AW, Kurzchalia TV, Knölker HJ. Stereoselective synthesis and hormonal activity of novel dafachronic acids and naturally occurring steroids isolated from corals. Org Biomol Chem 2012; 10:4159-63. [PMID: 22434373 DOI: 10.1039/c2ob25394a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A stereoselective synthesis of (25S)-Δ(1)-, (25S)-Δ(1,4)-, (25S)-Δ(1,7)-, (25S)-Δ(8(14))-, (25S)-Δ(4,6,8(14))-dafachronic acid, methyl (25S)-Δ(1,4)-dafachronate and (25S)-5α-hydroxy-3,6-dioxocholest-7-en-26-oic acid is described. (25S)-Δ(1,4)-Dafachronic acid and its methyl ester are natural products isolated from corals and have been obtained by synthesis for the first time. (25S)-5α-Hydroxy-3,6-dioxocholest-7-en-26-oic acid represents a promising synthetic precursor for cytotoxic marine steroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratni Saini
- Department Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Bergstrasse 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany
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26
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Zhi X, Zhou XE, Melcher K, Motola DL, Gelmedin V, Hawdon J, Kliewer SA, Mangelsdorf DJ, Xu HE. Structural conservation of ligand binding reveals a bile acid-like signaling pathway in nematodes. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:4894-903. [PMID: 22170062 PMCID: PMC3281614 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.315242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Revised: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile acid-like molecules named dafachronic acids (DAs) control the dauer formation program in Caenorhabditis elegans through the nuclear receptor DAF-12. This mechanism is conserved in parasitic nematodes to regulate their dauer-like infective larval stage, and as such, the DAF-12 ligand binding domain has been identified as an important therapeutic target in human parasitic hookworm species that infect more than 600 million people worldwide. Here, we report two x-ray crystal structures of the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum DAF-12 ligand binding domain in complex with DA and cholestenoic acid (a bile acid-like metabolite), respectively. Structure analysis and functional studies reveal key residues responsible for species-specific ligand responses of DAF-12. Furthermore, DA binds to DAF-12 mechanistically and is structurally similar to bile acids binding to the mammalian bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor. Activation of DAF-12 by cholestenoic acid and the cholestenoic acid complex structure suggest that bile acid-like signaling pathways have been conserved in nematodes and mammals. Together, these results reveal the molecular mechanism for the interplay between parasite and host, provide a structural framework for DAF-12 as a promising target in treating nematode parasitism, and provide insight into the evolution of gut parasite hormone-signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karsten Melcher
- From the Laboratory of Structural Sciences and
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
| | | | - Verena Gelmedin
- the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20037, and
| | - John Hawdon
- the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D. C. 20037, and
| | | | - David J. Mangelsdorf
- the Departments of Pharmacology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - H. Eric Xu
- From the Laboratory of Structural Sciences and
- the VARI-SIMM Center, Center for Structure and Function of Drug Targets, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
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27
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Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity refers to the ability of an organism to adopt different phenotypes depending on environmental conditions. In animals and plants, the progression of juvenile development and the formation of dormant stages are often associated with phenotypic plasticity, indicating the importance of phenotypic plasticity for life-history theory. Phenotypic plasticity has long been emphasized as a crucial principle in ecology and as facilitator of phenotypic evolution. In nematodes, several examples of phenotypic plasticity have been studied at the genetic and developmental level. In addition, the influence of different environmental factors has been investigated under laboratory conditions. These studies have provided detailed insight into the molecular basis of phenotypic plasticity and its ecological and evolutionary implications. Here, we review recent studies on the formation of dauer larvae in Caenorhabditis elegans, the evolution of nematode parasitism and the generation of a novel feeding trait in Pristionchus pacificus. These examples reveal a conserved and co-opted role of an endocrine signaling module involving the steroid hormone dafachronic acid. We will discuss how hormone signaling might facilitate life-history and morphological evolution.
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28
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Rauthan M, Pilon M. The mevalonate pathway in C. elegans. Lipids Health Dis 2011; 10:243. [PMID: 22204706 PMCID: PMC3274489 DOI: 10.1186/1476-511x-10-243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The mevalonate pathway in human is responsible for the synthesis of cholesterol and other important biomolecules such as coenzyme Q, dolichols and isoprenoids. These molecules are required in the cell for functions ranging from signaling to membrane integrity, protein prenylation and glycosylation, and energy homeostasis. The pathway consists of a main trunk followed by sub-branches that synthesize the different biomolecules. The majority of our knowledge about the mevalonate pathway is currently focused on the cholesterol synthesis branch, which is the target of the cholesterol-lowering statins; less is known about the function and regulation of the non-cholesterol-related branches. To study them, we need a biological system where it is possible to specifically modulate these metabolic branches individually or in groups. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a promising model to study these non-cholesterol branches since its mevalonate pathway seems very well conserved with that in human except that it has no cholesterol synthesis branch. The simple genetic makeup and tractability of C. elegans makes it relatively easy to identify and manipulate key genetic components of the mevalonate pathway, and to evaluate the consequences of tampering with their activity. This general experimental approach should lead to new insights into the physiological roles of the non-cholesterol part of the mevalonate pathway. This review will focus on the current knowledge related to the mevalonate pathway in C. elegans and its possible applications as a model organism to study the non-cholesterol functions of this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Rauthan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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29
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30
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Gáliková M, Klepsatel P, Senti G, Flatt T. Steroid hormone regulation of C. elegans and Drosophila aging and life history. Exp Gerontol 2010; 46:141-7. [PMID: 20854888 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2010.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 08/19/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In the last two decades it has become clear that hormones and gene mutations in endocrine signaling pathways can exert major effects on lifespan and related life history traits in worms, flies, mice, and other organisms. While most of this research has focused on insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling, a peptide hormone pathway, recent work has shown that also lipophilic hormones play an important role in modulating lifespan and other life history traits. Here we review how steroid hormones, a particular group of lipophilic hormones, affect life history traits in the nematode worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), with a particular focus on longevity. Interestingly, a comparison suggests that parallel endocrine principles might be at work in worms and flies in these species and that steroid hormones interact with the gonad to affect lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Gáliková
- Institute of Population Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Dumas KJ, Guo C, Wang X, Burkhart KB, Adams EJ, Alam H, Hu PJ. Functional divergence of dafachronic acid pathways in the control of C. elegans development and lifespan. Dev Biol 2010; 340:605-12. [PMID: 20178781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2010] [Revised: 01/26/2010] [Accepted: 02/12/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormone and insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathways control development and lifespan in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by regulating the activity of the nuclear receptor DAF-12 and the FoxO transcription factor DAF-16, respectively. The DAF-12 ligands Delta(4)- and Delta(7)-dafachronic acid (DA) promote bypass of the dauer diapause and proper gonadal migration during larval development; in adults, DAs influence lifespan. Whether Delta(4)- and Delta(7)-DA have unique biological functions is not known. We identified the 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD) family member HSD-1, which participates in Delta(4)-DA biosynthesis, as an inhibitor of DAF-16/FoxO activity. Whereas IIS promotes the cytoplasmic sequestration of DAF-16/FoxO, HSD-1 inhibits nuclear DAF-16/FoxO activity without affecting DAF-16/FoxO subcellular localization. Thus, HSD-1 and IIS inhibit DAF-16/FoxO activity via distinct and complementary mechanisms. In adults, HSD-1 was required for full lifespan extension in IIS mutants, indicating that HSD-1 interactions with IIS are context-dependent. In contrast to the Delta(7)-DA biosynthetic enzyme DAF-36, HSD-1 is dispensable for proper gonadal migration and lifespan extension induced by germline ablation. These findings provide insights into the molecular interface between DA and IIS pathways and suggest that Delta(4)- and Delta(7)-DA pathways have unique as well as overlapping biological functions in the control of development and lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen J Dumas
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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32
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Martin R, Entchev EV, Kurzchalia TV, Knölker HJ. Steroid hormones controlling the life cycle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: stereoselective synthesis and biology. Org Biomol Chem 2010; 8:739-50. [DOI: 10.1039/b918488k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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33
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Wang Z, Zhou XE, Motola DL, Gao X, Suino-Powell K, Conneely A, Ogata C, Sharma KK, Auchus RJ, Lok JB, Hawdon JM, Kliewer SA, Xu HE, Mangelsdorf DJ. Identification of the nuclear receptor DAF-12 as a therapeutic target in parasitic nematodes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:9138-43. [PMID: 19497877 PMCID: PMC2695123 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0904064106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Nematode parasitism is a worldwide health problem resulting in malnutrition and morbidity in over 1 billion people. The molecular mechanisms governing infection are poorly understood. Here, we report that an evolutionarily conserved nuclear hormone receptor signaling pathway governs development of the stage 3 infective larvae (iL3) in several nematode parasites, including Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma spp., and Necator americanus. As in the free-living Caenorhabditis elegans, steroid hormone-like dafachronic acids induced recovery of the dauer-like iL3 in parasitic nematodes by activating orthologs of the nuclear receptor DAF-12. Moreover, administration of dafachronic acid markedly reduced the pathogenic iL3 population in S. stercoralis, indicating the potential use of DAF-12 ligands to treat disseminated strongyloidiasis. To understand the pharmacology of targeting DAF-12, we solved the 3-dimensional structure of the S. stercoralis DAF-12 ligand-binding domain cocrystallized with dafachronic acids. These results reveal the molecular basis for DAF-12 ligand binding and identify nuclear receptors as unique therapeutic targets in parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and
| | - X. Edward Zhou
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Daniel L. Motola
- Department of Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and
| | - Xin Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Ross Hall 705, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Kelly Suino-Powell
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Aoife Conneely
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
| | - Craig Ogata
- General Medicine and Cancer Institutes Collaborative Access Team, Building 436, D003, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439
| | - Kamalesh K. Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - Richard J. Auchus
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390; and
| | - James B. Lok
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - John M. Hawdon
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University Medical Center, Ross Hall 705, 2300 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
| | - Steven A. Kliewer
- Department of Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75390
| | - H. Eric Xu
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue Northeast, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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