1
|
Zhen F, Zou T, Wang T, Zhou Y, Dong S, Zhang H. Rhodopsin-associated retinal dystrophy: Disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1132179. [PMID: 37077319 PMCID: PMC10106759 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1132179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive G protein-coupled receptor that initiates the phototransduction cascade in rod photoreceptors. Mutations in the rhodopsin-encoding gene RHO are the leading cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). To date, more than 200 mutations have been identified in RHO. The high allelic heterogeneity of RHO mutations suggests complicated pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we discuss representative RHO mutations as examples to briefly summarize the mechanisms underlying rhodopsin-related retinal dystrophy, which include but are not limited to endoplasmic reticulum stress and calcium ion dysregulation resulting from protein misfolding, mistrafficking, and malfunction. Based on recent advances in our understanding of disease mechanisms, various treatment methods, including adaptation, whole-eye electrical stimulation, and small molecular compounds, have been developed. Additionally, innovative therapeutic treatment strategies, such as antisense oligonucleotide therapy, gene therapy, optogenetic therapy, and stem cell therapy, have achieved promising outcomes in preclinical disease models of rhodopsin mutations. Successful translation of these treatment strategies may effectively ameliorate, prevent or rescue vision loss related to rhodopsin mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Zhen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial Ophthalmic Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province and Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Tongdan Zou
- The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province and Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province and Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yongwei Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial Ophthalmic Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuqian Dong
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial Ophthalmic Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Shuqian Dong, ; Houbin Zhang,
| | - Houbin Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province and Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Research Unit for Blindness Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Shuqian Dong, ; Houbin Zhang,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pucci C, Martinelli C, Degl'Innocenti A, Desii A, De Pasquale D, Ciofani G. Light-Activated Biomedical Applications of Chlorophyll Derivatives. Macromol Biosci 2021; 21:e2100181. [PMID: 34212510 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202100181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Tetrapyrroles are the basis of essential physiological functions in most living organisms. These compounds represent the basic scaffold of porphyrins, chlorophylls, and bacteriochlorophylls, among others. Chlorophyll derivatives, obtained by the natural or artificial degradation of chlorophylls, present unique properties, holding great potential in the scientific and medical fields. Indeed, they can act as cancer-preventing agents, antimutagens, apoptosis inducers, efficient antioxidants, as well as antimicrobial and immunomodulatory molecules. Moreover, thanks to their peculiar optical properties, they can be exploited as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and as vision enhancers. Most of these molecules, however, are highly hydrophobic and poorly soluble in biological fluids, and may display undesired toxicity due to accumulation in healthy tissues. The advent of nanomedicine has prompted the development of nanoparticles acting as carriers for chlorophyll derivatives, facilitating their targeted administration with demonstrated applicability in diagnosis and therapy. In this review, the chemical and physical properties of chlorophyll derivatives that justify their usage in the biomedical field, with particular regard to light-activated dynamics are described. Their role as antioxidants and photoactive agents are discussed, introducing the most recent nanomedical applications and focusing on inorganic and organic nanocarriers exploited in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Pucci
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa, 56025, Italy
| | - Chiara Martinelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Andrea Degl'Innocenti
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa, 56025, Italy
| | - Andrea Desii
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa, 56025, Italy
| | - Daniele De Pasquale
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa, 56025, Italy
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, Pisa, 56025, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhu Z, Zhang J, Song Y, Chang C, Ren G, Shen J, Zhang Z, Ji T, Chen M, Zhao H. Broadband terahertz signatures and vibrations of dopamine. Analyst 2021; 145:6006-6013. [PMID: 32756617 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00771d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Dopamine (DA) is an essential neurotransmitter and hormone of the nervous system, its structural and conformational properties play critical roles in biological functions and signal transmission processes. Although this neuroactive molecule has been studied extensively, the low-frequency vibration features that are closely related to the conformation and molecular interactions in the terahertz (THz) band still remain unclear. In this study, a broadband THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) system in the frequency band of 0.5-18 THz was used to characterize the unique THz fingerprint of DA. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to analyze the vibrational properties of DA. The results suggest that each THz resonant absorption peak of DA corresponds to specific vibrational modes, and the collective vibration also exists in the broadband THz range. Moreover, the interactions between the DA ligand and the D2 and D3 receptors were investigated by docking, and the simulated THz spectra were obtained. The results indicate the dominant role of hydrogen bonding interactions and the specificity of molecular conformation. This work may help to understand the resonance coupling between THz electromagnetic waves and neurotransmitters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Woods KN, Pfeffer J. Conformational perturbation, allosteric modulation of cellular signaling pathways, and disease in P23H rhodopsin. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2657. [PMID: 32060349 PMCID: PMC7021821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59583-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this investigation we use THz spectroscopy and MD simulation to study the functional dynamics and conformational stability of P23H rhodopsin. The P23H mutation of rod opsin is the most common cause of human binding autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP), but the precise mechanism by which this mutation leads to photoreceptor cell degeneration has not yet been elucidated. Our measurements confirm conformational instability in the global modes of the receptor and an active-state that uncouples the torsional dynamics of the retinal with protein functional modes, indicating inefficient signaling in P23H and a drastically altered mechanism of activation when contrasted with the wild-type receptor. Further, our MD simulations indicate that P23H rhodopsin is not functional as a monomer but rather, due to the instability of the mutant receptor, preferentially adopts a specific homodimerization motif. The preferred homodimer configuration induces structural changes in the receptor tertiary structure that reduces the affinity of the receptor for the retinal and significantly modifies the interactions of the Meta-II signaling state. We conjecture that the formation of the specific dimerization motif of P23H rhodopsin represents a cellular-wide signaling perturbation that is directly tied with the mechanism of P23H disease pathogenesis. Our results also support a direct role for rhodopsin P23H dimerization in photoreceptor rod death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina N Woods
- Lehrstuhl für BioMolekulare Optik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80538, München, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Pfeffer
- Technical University of Munich, Bavarian School of Public Policy, 80333, München, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Marazzi M, Gattuso H, Giussani A, Zhang H, Navarrete-Miguel M, Chipot C, Cai W, Roca-Sanjuán D, Dehez F, Monari A. Induced Night Vision by Singlet-Oxygen-Mediated Activation of Rhodopsin. J Phys Chem Lett 2019; 10:7133-7140. [PMID: 31652065 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In humans, vision is limited to a small fraction of the whole electromagnetic spectrum. One possible strategy for enhancing vision in deep-red or poor-light conditions consists of recruiting chlorophyll derivatives in the rod photoreceptor cells of the eye, as suggested in the case of some deep-sea fish. Here, we employ all-atom molecular simulations and high-level quantum chemistry calculations to rationalize how chlorin e6 (Ce6), widely used in photodynamic therapy although accompanied by enhanced visual sensitivity, mediates vision in the dark, shining light on a fascinating but largely unknown molecular mechanism. First, we identify persistent interaction sites between Ce6 and the extracellular loops of rhodopsin, the transmembrane photoreceptor protein responsible for the first steps in vision. Triggered by Ce6 deep-red light absorption, the retinal within rhodopsin can be isomerized thus starting the visual phototransduction cascade. Our data largely exclude previously hypothesized energy-transfer mechanisms while clearly lending credence to a retinal isomerization indirectly triggered by singlet oxygen, proposing an alternative mechanism to rationalize photosensitizer-mediated night vision.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Marazzi
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Universidad de Alcalá, Ctra , Madrid-Barcelona Km. 33,600 , E-28805 Alcalá de Henares ( Madrid ), Spain
- Chemical Research Institute "Andrés M. del Río" (IQAR) , Universidad de Alcalá , E-28871 Alcalá de Henares ( Madrid ), Spain
| | - Hugo Gattuso
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
| | - Angelo Giussani
- Institut de Ciència Molecular , Universitat de València , P.O. Box 22085 València , Spain
| | - Hong Zhang
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition , Nankai University , Tianjin 300071 , China
| | | | - Christophe Chipot
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
- Laboratoire International Associé CNRS and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
- Department of Physics , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , 1110 West Green Street , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Wensheng Cai
- Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition , Nankai University , Tianjin 300071 , China
| | - Daniel Roca-Sanjuán
- Institut de Ciència Molecular , Universitat de València , P.O. Box 22085 València , Spain
| | - François Dehez
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
- Laboratoire International Associé CNRS and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
| | - Antonio Monari
- LPCT , UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine and CNRS, F-54000 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy , France
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mitchell J, Balem F, Tirupula K, Man D, Dhiman HK, Yanamala N, Ollesch J, Planas-Iglesias J, Jennings BJ, Gerwert K, Iannaccone A, Klein-Seetharaman J. Comparison of the molecular properties of retinitis pigmentosa P23H and N15S amino acid replacements in rhodopsin. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214639. [PMID: 31100078 PMCID: PMC6524802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the RHO gene encoding for the visual pigment protein, rhodopsin, are among the most common cause of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP). Previous studies of ADRP mutations in different domains of rhodopsin have indicated that changes that lead to more instability in rhodopsin structure are responsible for more severe disease in patients. Here, we further test this hypothesis by comparing side-by-side and therefore quantitatively two RHO mutations, N15S and P23H, both located in the N-terminal intradiscal domain. The in vitro biochemical properties of these two rhodopsin proteins, expressed in stably transfected tetracycline-inducible HEK293S cells, their UV-visible absorption, their Fourier transform infrared, circular dichroism and Metarhodopsin II fluorescence spectroscopy properties were characterized. As compared to the severely impaired P23H molecular function, N15S is only slightly defective in structure and stability. We propose that the molecular basis for these structural differences lies in the greater distance of the N15 residue as compared to P23 with respect to the predicted rhodopsin folding core. As described previously for WT rhodopsin, addition of the cytoplasmic allosteric modulator chlorin e6 stabilizes especially the P23H protein, suggesting that chlorin e6 may be generally beneficial in the rescue of those ADRP rhodopsin proteins whose stability is affected by amino acid replacement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Mitchell
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Fernanda Balem
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kalyan Tirupula
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David Man
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Harpreet Kaur Dhiman
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Naveena Yanamala
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Julian Ollesch
- Department of Biophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Joan Planas-Iglesias
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara J Jennings
- Retinal Degeneration & Ophthalmic Genetics Service & Lions Visual Function Diagnostic Lab, Hamilton Eye Institute, Dept. Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Klaus Gerwert
- Department of Biophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Alessandro Iannaccone
- Retinal Degeneration & Ophthalmic Genetics Service & Lions Visual Function Diagnostic Lab, Hamilton Eye Institute, Dept. Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Judith Klein-Seetharaman
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Department of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mitchell J, Yanamala N, Tan YL, Gardner EE, Tirupula KC, Balem F, Sheves M, Nietlispach D, Klein‐Seetharaman J. Structural and Functional Consequences of the Weak Binding of Chlorin e6 to Bovine Rhodopsin. Photochem Photobiol 2019; 95:787-802. [DOI: 10.1111/php.13074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Mitchell
- Biomedical Sciences Division Warwick Medical School University of Warwick Coventry UK
| | - Naveena Yanamala
- Department of Structural Biology School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Yi Lei Tan
- Department of Biochemistry University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Eric E. Gardner
- Department of Structural Biology School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Kalyan C. Tirupula
- Department of Structural Biology School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Fernanda Balem
- Department of Structural Biology School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| | - Mordechai Sheves
- Organic Chemistry Department Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | | | - Judith Klein‐Seetharaman
- Biomedical Sciences Division Warwick Medical School University of Warwick Coventry UK
- Department of Structural Biology School of Medicine University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhu Z, Cheng C, Chang C, Ren G, Zhang J, Peng Y, Han J, Zhao H. Characteristic fingerprint spectrum of neurotransmitter norepinephrine with broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Analyst 2019; 144:2504-2510. [DOI: 10.1039/c8an02079e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A broadband THz absorption spectrum of NE corresponds to specific vibrational modes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Zhu
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Shanghai 201800
- China
| | - Chao Cheng
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Shanghai 201800
- China
| | - Chao Chang
- Advanced Interdisciplinary Technology Research Center
- National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology
- Beijing 100071
- China
| | - Guanhua Ren
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Shanghai 201800
- China
| | - Jianbing Zhang
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Shanghai 201800
- China
| | - Yan Peng
- Shanghai Key Lab of Modern Optical System
- University of Shanghai for Science and Technology No.516
- Shanghai 200093
- China
| | - Jiaguang Han
- Center for Terahertz Waves and College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering
- and Key Laboratory of Optoelectronics Information and Technology
- Ministry of Education
- Tianjin University
- Tianjin 300072
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- Division of Interfacial Water and Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Shanghai 201800
- China
| |
Collapse
|