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Imarisio A, Yahyavi I, Gasparri C, Hassan A, Avenali M, Di Maio A, Buongarzone G, Galandra C, Picascia M, Filosa A, Monti MC, Pacchetti C, Errico F, Rondanelli M, Usiello A, Valente EM. Serum dysregulation of serine and glycine metabolism as predictive biomarker for cognitive decline in frail elderly subjects. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:281. [PMID: 38982054 PMCID: PMC11233661 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02991-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Frailty is a common age-related clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in the function of multiple organ systems, increased vulnerability to stressors, and a huge socio-economic burden. Despite recent research efforts, the physiopathological mechanisms underlying frailty remain elusive and biomarkers able to predate its occurrence in the early stages are still lacking. Beyond its physical component, cognitive decline represents a critical domain of frailty associated with higher risk of adverse health outcomes. We measured by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) a pool of serum amino acids including L-glutamate, L-aspartate, glycine, and D-serine, as well as their precursors L-glutamine, L-asparagine, and L-serine in a cohort of elderly subjects encompassing the entire continuum from fitness to frailty. These amino acids are known to orchestrate excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, and in turn, to play a key role as intermediates of energy homeostasis and in liver, kidney, muscle, and immune system metabolism. To comprehensively assess frailty, we employed both the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), as a practical tool to capture the multidimensionality of frailty, and the frailty phenotype, as a measure of physical function. We found that D-serine and D-/Total serine ratio were independent predictors of EFS but not of physical frailty. Furthermore, higher levels of glycine, glycine/L-serine and D-/Total serine were associated with worse cognition and depressive symptoms in the frail group. These findings suggest that changes in peripheral glycine and serine enantiomers homeostasis may represent a novel biochemical correlate of frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Imarisio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Neurogenetics Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Isar Yahyavi
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
| | - Clara Gasparri
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona "Istituto Santa Margherita", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Amber Hassan
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
| | - Micol Avenali
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Di Maio
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriele Buongarzone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Caterina Galandra
- Neurogenetics Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marta Picascia
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Asia Filosa
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Monti
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudio Pacchetti
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Errico
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Portici, Italy
| | - Mariangela Rondanelli
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
- CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, Naples, Italy.
| | - Enza Maria Valente
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Neurogenetics Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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Serra M, Di Maio A, Bassareo V, Nuzzo T, Errico F, Servillo F, Capasso M, Parekh P, Li Q, Thiolat ML, Bezard E, Calabresi P, Sulzer D, Carta M, Morelli M, Usiello A. Perturbation of serine enantiomers homeostasis in the striatum of MPTP-lesioned monkeys and mice reflects the extent of dopaminergic midbrain degeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106226. [PMID: 37451474 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of dopaminergic midbrain neurons perturbs l-serine and d-serine homeostasis in the post-mortem caudate putamen (CPu) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, it is unclear whether the severity of dopaminergic nigrostriatal degeneration plays a role in deregulating serine enantiomers' metabolism. Here, through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we measured the levels of these amino acids in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated monkeys and MPTP-plus-probenecid (MPTPp)-treated mice to determine whether and how dopaminergic midbrain degeneration affects the levels of serine enantiomers in various basal ganglia subregions. In addition, in the same brain regions, we measured the levels of key neuroactive amino acids modulating glutamatergic neurotransmission, including L-glutamate, glycine, l-aspartate, d-aspartate, and their precursors l-glutamine, L-asparagine. In monkeys, MPTP treatment produced severe denervation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic fibers (⁓75%) and increased the levels of serine enantiomers in the rostral putamen (rPut), but not in the subthalamic nucleus, and the lateral and medial portion of the globus pallidus. Moreover, this neurotoxin significantly reduced the protein expression of the astrocytic serine transporter ASCT1 and the glycolytic enzyme GAPDH in the rPut of monkeys. Conversely, concentrations of d-serine and l-serine, as well as ASCT1 and GAPDH expression were unaffected in the striatum of MPTPp-treated mice, which showed only mild dopaminergic degeneration (⁓30%). These findings unveil a link between the severity of dopaminergic nigrostriatal degeneration and striatal serine enantiomers concentration, ASCT1 and GAPDH expression. We hypothesize that the up-regulation of d-serine and l-serine levels occurs as a secondary response within a homeostatic loop to support the metabolic and neurotransmission demands imposed by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Serra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Anna Di Maio
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Valentina Bassareo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Tommaso Nuzzo
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Francesco Errico
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Servillo
- Department of Neuroscience, Cattolica Sacro Cuore University, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Capasso
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini, 5, Napoli 80131, Italy
| | - Pathik Parekh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Qin Li
- Motac Neuroscience, UKM15 6WE, Manchester, United Kingdom; Institute of Lab Animal Sciences, China Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Marie-Laure Thiolat
- Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5293, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France
| | - Erwan Bezard
- Motac Neuroscience, UKM15 6WE, Manchester, United Kingdom; Institute of Lab Animal Sciences, China Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Université de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 5293, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Bordeaux, France
| | - Paolo Calabresi
- Department of Neuroscience, Cattolica Sacro Cuore University, Rome, Italy; Neurologia, Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - David Sulzer
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Manolo Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Micaela Morelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy; National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Usiello
- Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience, CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate Francesco Salvatore, Naples, Italy; Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, Università Degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
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3
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Ramírez-Patiño R, Avalos-Navarro G, Figuera LE, Varela-Hernández JJ, Bautista-Herrera LA, Muñoz-Valle JF, Gallegos-Arreola MP. Influence of nitric oxide signaling mechanisms in cancer. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2022; 36:3946320221135454. [PMID: 36260949 PMCID: PMC9585559 DOI: 10.1177/03946320221135454] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule with multiple biological functions that is involved in various pathophysiological processes such as neurotransmission and blood vessel relaxation as well as the endocrine system, immune system, growth factors, and cancer. However, in the carcinogenesis process, it has a dual behavior; at low doses, NO regulates homeostatic functions, while at high concentrations, it promotes tissue damage or acts as an agent for immune defense against microorganisms. Thus, its participation in the carcinogenic process is controversial. Cancer is a multifactorial disease that presents complex behavior. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the initiation, promotion, and progression of neoplastic processes is required. Some hypotheses have been proposed regarding the influence of NO in activating oncogenic pathways that trigger carcinogenic processes, because NO might regulate some signaling pathways thought to promote cancer development and more aggressive tumor growth. Additionally, NO inhibits apoptosis of tumor cells, together with the deregulation of proteins that are involved in tissue homeostasis, promoting spreading to other organs and initiating metastatic processes. This paper describes the signaling pathways that are associated with cancer, and how the concentration of NO can serve a beneficial or pathological function in the initiation and promotion of neoplastic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ramírez-Patiño
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y de la Vida, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega (CUCIÉNEGA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ocotlán Jalisco, México
| | - G Avalos-Navarro
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y de la Vida, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega (CUCIÉNEGA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ocotlán Jalisco, México
| | - LE Figuera
- División de Génetica, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara Jalisco, México,Doctorado en Genética Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara Jalisco, México
| | - JJ Varela-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y de la Vida, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega (CUCIÉNEGA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Ocotlán Jalisco, México
| | - LA Bautista-Herrera
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería (CUCEI), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara Jalisco, México
| | - JF Muñoz-Valle
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (IICB), Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS) Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara Jalisco, México
| | - MP Gallegos-Arreola
- División de Génetica, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Guadalajara Jalisco, México,Martha Patricia Gallegos-Arreola, División de Genética CIBO, IMSS, Sierra Mojada 800, Col, Independencia, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44340, México.
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Wu S, Zhou J, Zhang H, Barger SW. Serine Racemase Expression Differentiates Aging from Alzheimer's Brain. Curr Alzheimer Res 2022; 19:494-502. [PMID: 35929621 DOI: 10.2174/1567205019666220805105106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable process characterized by progressive loss of physiological integrity and increased susceptibility to cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases; aging is the primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. AD is characterized by brain pathology, including extracellular deposition of amyloid aggregation and intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. In addition, losses of synapses and a wide range of neurons are pivotal pathologies in the AD brain. Accumulating evidence demonstrates hypoactivation of hippocampal neural networks in the aging brain, whereas AD-related mild cognitive impairment (AD-MCI) begins with hyperactivation, followed by a diminution of hippocampal activity as AD develops. The biphasic trends of the activity of the hippocampal neural network are consistent with the alteration of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) activity from aging to prodromal (AD-MCI) to mid-/late stage AD. D-serine, a product of racemization catalyzed by serine racemase (SR), is an important co-agonist of the NMDA-R which is involved in synaptic events including neurotransmission, synaptogenesis, long-term potentiation (LTP), development, and excitotoxicity. SR and D-serine are decreased in the hippocampus of the aging brain, correlating with impairment of cognitive function. By contrast, SR is increased in AD brain, which is associated with a greater degree of cognitive dysfunction. Emerging studies suggest that D-serine levels in the brain or in cerebral spinal fluid from AD patients are higher than in age-matched controls, but the results are inconsistent. Very recently, serum D-serine levels in AD were reported to correlate with sex and clinical dementia rating (CDR) stage. This review will discuss alterations of NMDA-R and SR in aging and AD brain, and the mechanisms underlying the differential regulation of SR will be probed. Collectively, we propose that SR may be a molecular switch that distinguishes the effects of aging from those of AD on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzhou Wu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325003, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhou
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325003, P.R. China
| | - He Zhang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325003, P.R. China.,College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Steven W Barger
- Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock AR, USA.,Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock AR, USA
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Shemshaki G, Najafi M, Niranjana Murthy AS, Malini SS. Novel association of PhosphoSerine PHosphatase (PSPH) gene mutations with male infertility identified through whole exome sequencing of South Indians. Meta Gene 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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6
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Dyakin VV, Wisniewski TM, Lajtha A. Racemization in Post-Translational Modifications Relevance to Protein Aging, Aggregation and Neurodegeneration: Tip of the Iceberg. Symmetry (Basel) 2021; 13:455. [PMID: 34350031 PMCID: PMC8330555 DOI: 10.3390/sym13030455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Homochirality of DNA and prevalent chirality of free and protein-bound amino acids in a living organism represents the challenge for modern biochemistry and neuroscience. The idea of an association between age-related disease, neurodegeneration, and racemization originated from the studies of fossils and cataract disease. Under the pressure of new results, this concept has a broader significance linking protein folding, aggregation, and disfunction to an organism's cognitive and behavioral functions. The integrity of cognitive function is provided by a delicate balance between the evolutionarily imposed molecular homo-chirality and the epigenetic/developmental impact of spontaneous and enzymatic racemization. The chirality of amino acids is the crucial player in the modulation the structure and function of proteins, lipids, and DNA. The collapse of homochirality by racemization is the result of the conformational phase transition. The racemization of protein-bound amino acids (spontaneous and enzymatic) occurs through thermal activation over the energy barrier or by the tunnel transfer effect under the energy barrier. The phase transition is achieved through the intermediate state, where the chirality of alpha carbon vanished. From a thermodynamic consideration, the system in the homo-chiral (single enantiomeric) state is characterized by a decreased level of entropy. The oscillating protein chirality is suggesting its distinct significance in the neurotransmission and flow of perceptual information, adaptive associative learning, and cognitive laterality. The common pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disorders include protein misfolding, aging, and the deposition of protease-resistant protein aggregates. Each of the landmarks is influenced by racemization. The brain region, cell type, and age-dependent racemization critically influence the functions of many intracellular, membrane-bound, and extracellular proteins including amyloid precursor protein (APP), TAU, PrP, Huntingtin, α-synuclein, myelin basic protein (MBP), and collagen. The amyloid cascade hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) coexists with the failure of amyloid beta (Aβ) targeting drug therapy. According to our view, racemization should be considered as a critical factor of protein conformation with the potential for inducing order, disorder, misfolding, aggregation, toxicity, and malfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor V. Dyakin
- Virtual Reality Perception Lab (VRPL), The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI), Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
| | - Thomas M. Wisniewski
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Abel Lajtha
- Center for Neurochemistry, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI), Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA
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Marchesani F, Gianquinto E, Autiero I, Michielon A, Campanini B, Faggiano S, Bettati S, Mozzarelli A, Spyrakis F, Bruno S. The allosteric interplay between S-nitrosylation and glycine binding controls the activity of human serine racemase. FEBS J 2020; 288:3034-3054. [PMID: 33249721 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human serine racemase (hSR) catalyzes the biosynthesis of D-serine, an obligatory co-agonist of the NMDA receptors. It was previously found that the reversible S-nitrosylation of Cys113 reduces hSR activity. Here, we show by site-directed mutagenesis, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics that S-nitrosylation stabilizes an open, less-active conformation of the enzyme. The reaction of hSR with either NO or nitroso donors is conformation-dependent and occurs only in the conformation stabilized by the allosteric effector ATP, in which the ε-amino group of Lys114 acts as a base toward the thiol group of Cys113. In the closed conformation stabilized by glycine-an active-site ligand of hSR-the side chain of Lys114 moves away from that of Cys113, while the carboxyl side-chain group of Asp318 moves significantly closer, increasing the thiol pKa and preventing the reaction. We conclude that ATP binding, glycine binding, and S-nitrosylation constitute a three-way regulation mechanism for the tight control of hSR activity. We also show that Cys113 undergoes H2 O2 -mediated oxidation, with loss of enzyme activity, a reaction also dependent on hSR conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Marchesani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gianquinto
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
| | - Ida Autiero
- Molecular Horizon Srl, Bettona, PG, Italy.,Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, Napoli, Italy
| | - Annalisa Michielon
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy
| | - Barbara Campanini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy
| | - Serena Faggiano
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy.,Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biofisica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettati
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biofisica, Pisa, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy.,Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biofisica, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy
| | - Stefano Bruno
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Italy
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Zhang Y, Shi Q, Li X, Xia C. Fasciculation and Elongation Protein Zeta-1 Expression in Reactive Astrocytes in a Rat Model of Frontal Lobe Injury. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2020; 79:194-208. [PMID: 31774489 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlz113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There are reports that depression induced by frontal lobe injury (FLI) has a devastating effect on human mental health. We previously reported that fasciculation and elongation protein zeta-1 (FEZ1) was essential for astrocytic protection of dopamine neurons. Studies of glutamate-glutamine cycle in mental illness have been reported, whereas not from the perspective of astrocytes. This study was designed to investigate the roles of astrocytic FEZ1 and glutamate-glutamine cycle after FLI. A model of FLI was established by inserting a blade into the right frontal lobe of rats. Behavioral tests were used to observe the behavioral changes of FLI rats. Neuropathologic examinations, including immunohistochemistry, were conducted. Behavioral tests showed that FLI decreased exploratory activity. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of astroglial proteins overall decreased in the initial injury stage, as well as FEZ1. Immunohistochemistry showed a shift of FEZ1 localization from neurons in sham-lesioned rats to astrocytes in FLI rats, and showed the expression profile of glutamate transporter 1 and glutamine synthetase (GS) was consistent with Western blot observation. Our results indicate that astrocytic FEZ1 and glutamate-glutamine cycle dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of depression after FLI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Zhang
- From the Cytoneurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qing Shi
- From the Cytoneurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiwen Li
- From the Cytoneurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chunlin Xia
- From the Cytoneurobiology Unit, Department of Anatomy, School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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9
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Liang J, Han Q, Tan Y, Ding H, Li J. Current Advances on Structure-Function Relationships of Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate-Dependent Enzymes. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:4. [PMID: 30891451 PMCID: PMC6411801 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) functions as a coenzyme in many enzymatic processes, including decarboxylation, deamination, transamination, racemization, and others. Enzymes, requiring PLP, are commonly termed PLP-dependent enzymes, and they are widely involved in crucial cellular metabolic pathways in most of (if not all) living organisms. The chemical mechanisms for PLP-mediated reactions have been well elaborated and accepted with an emphasis on the pure chemical steps, but how the chemical steps are processed by enzymes, especially by functions of active site residues, are not fully elucidated. Furthermore, the specific mechanism of an enzyme in relation to the one for a similar class of enzymes seems scarcely described or discussed. This discussion aims to link the specific mechanism described for the individual enzyme to the same types of enzymes from different species with aminotransferases, decarboxylases, racemase, aldolase, cystathionine β-synthase, aromatic phenylacetaldehyde synthase, et al. as models. The structural factors that contribute to the reaction mechanisms, particularly active site residues critical for dictating the reaction specificity, are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liang
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Qian Han
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Tan
- Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haizhen Ding
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Jianyong Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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10
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Raboni S, Marchetti M, Faggiano S, Campanini B, Bruno S, Marchesani F, Margiotta M, Mozzarelli A. The Energy Landscape of Human Serine Racemase. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 5:112. [PMID: 30687716 PMCID: PMC6333871 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human serine racemase is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent dimeric enzyme that catalyzes the reversible racemization of L-serine and D-serine and their dehydration to pyruvate and ammonia. As D-serine is the co-agonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors for glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, the structure, dynamics, function, regulation and cellular localization of serine racemase have been investigated in detail. Serine racemase belongs to the fold-type II of the PLP-dependent enzyme family and structural models from several orthologs are available. The comparison of structures of serine racemase co-crystallized with or without ligands indicates the presence of at least one open and one closed conformation, suggesting that conformational flexibility plays a relevant role in enzyme regulation. ATP, Mg2+, Ca2+, anions, NADH and protein interactors, as well as the post-translational modifications nitrosylation and phosphorylation, finely tune the racemase and dehydratase activities and their relative reaction rates. Further information on serine racemase structure and dynamics resulted from the search for inhibitors with potential therapeutic applications. The cumulative knowledge on human serine racemase allowed obtaining insights into its conformational landscape and into the mechanisms of cross-talk between the effector binding sites and the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Raboni
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Serena Faggiano
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Bruno
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Mozzarelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council, Pisa, Italy.,National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Rome, Italy
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11
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Jiang H, Wu M, Liu Y, Song L, Li S, Wang X, Zhang YF, Fang J, Wu S. Serine racemase deficiency attenuates choroidal neovascularization and reduces nitric oxide and VEGF levels by retinal pigment epithelial cells. J Neurochem 2017; 143:375-388. [PMID: 28892569 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a leading cause of blindness in age-related macular degeneration. Production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and macrophage recruitment by retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) significantly contributes to the process of CNV in an experimental CNV model. Serine racemase (SR) is expressed in retinal neurons and glial cells, and its product, d-serine, is an endogenous co-agonist of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. Activation of the receptor results in production of nitric oxide (. NO), a molecule that promotes retinal and choroidal neovascularization. These observations suggest possible roles of SR in CNV. With laser-injured CNV mice, we found that inactivation of SR-coding gene (Srrnull ) significantly reduced CNV volume, neovascular density, and invading macrophages. We exploited the underlying mechanism in vivo and ex vivo. RPE from wild-type (WT) mice expressed SR. To explore the possible downstream target of SR inactivation, we showed that choroid/RPE homogenates extracted from laser-injured Srrnull mice contained less inducible nitric oxide synthase and decreased phospho-VEGFR2 compared to amounts in WT mice. In vitro, inflammation-primed WT RPEs expressed more inducible NOS, produced more. NO and VEGF than did inflammation-primed Srrnull RPEs. When co-cultured with inflammation-primed Srrnull RPE, significantly fewer RF/6A-a cell line of choroidal endothelial cell, migrated to the opposite side of the insert membrane than did cells co-cultured with pre-treated WT RPE. Altogether, SR deficiency reduces RPE response to laser-induced inflammatory stimuli, resulting in decreased production of a cascade of pro-angiogenic cytokines, including. NO and VEGF, and reduced macrophage recruitment, which contribute synergistically to attenuated angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Jiang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengjuan Wu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yimei Liu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liping Song
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shifeng Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianwei Wang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun-Feng Zhang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junxu Fang
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shengzhou Wu
- School of Optometry and Ophthalmolgy and the Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology, and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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12
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Metcalf JS, Dunlop RA, Powell JT, Banack SA, Cox PA. L-Serine: a Naturally-Occurring Amino Acid with Therapeutic Potential. Neurotox Res 2017; 33:213-221. [PMID: 28929385 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-017-9814-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In human neuroblastoma cell cultures, non-human primates and human beings, L-serine is neuroprotective, acting through a variety of biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Although L-serine is generally classified as a non-essential amino acid, it is probably more appropriate to term it as a "conditional non-essential amino acid" since, under certain circumstances, vertebrates cannot synthesize it in sufficient quantities to meet necessary cellular demands. L-serine is biosynthesized in the mammalian central nervous system from 3-phosphoglycerate and serves as a precursor for the synthesis of the amino acids glycine and cysteine. Physiologically, it has a variety of roles, perhaps most importantly as a phosphorylation site in proteins. Mutations in the metabolic enzymes that synthesize L-serine have been implicated in various human diseases. Dosing of animals with L-serine and human clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of L-serine support the FDA's determination that L-serine is generally regarded as safe (GRAS); it also appears to be neuroprotective. We here consider the role of L-serine in neurological disorders and its potential as a therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Metcalf
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - R A Dunlop
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - J T Powell
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - S A Banack
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA
| | - P A Cox
- Brain Chemistry Labs, The Institute for Ethnomedicine, Jackson, 83001, WY, USA.
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13
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Naranjo-Ortíz MA, Brock M, Brunke S, Hube B, Marcet-Houben M, Gabaldón T. Widespread Inter- and Intra-Domain Horizontal Gene Transfer of d-Amino Acid Metabolism Enzymes in Eukaryotes. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:2001. [PMID: 28066338 PMCID: PMC5169069 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Analysis of the growing number of available fully-sequenced genomes has shown that Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) in eukaryotes is more common than previously thought. It has been proposed that genes with certain functions may be more prone to HGT than others, but we still have a very poor understanding of the selective forces driving eukaryotic HGT. Recent work uncovered that d-amino acid racemases have been commonly transferred from bacteria to fungi, but their role in the receiving organisms is currently unknown. Here, we set out to assess whether d-amino acid racemases are commonly transferred to and between eukaryotic groups. For this we performed a global survey that used a novel automated phylogeny-based HGT-detection algorithm (Abaccus). Our results revealed that at least 7.0% of the total eukaryotic racemase repertoire is the result of inter- or intra-domain HGT. These transfers are significantly enriched in plant-associated fungi. For these, we hypothesize a possible role for the acquired racemases allowing to exploit minoritary nitrogen sources in plant biomass, a nitrogen-poor environment. Finally, we performed experiments on a transferred aspartate-glutamate racemase in the fungal human pathogen Candida glabrata, which however revealed no obvious biological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Naranjo-Ortíz
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu FabraBarcelona, Spain
| | - Matthias Brock
- Fungal Genetics and Biology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Nottingham, UK
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute Jena Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knoell Institute JenaJena, Germany; Friedrich Schiller UniversityJena, Germany; Center for Sepsis Control and Care, University HospitalJena, Germany
| | - Marina Marcet-Houben
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu FabraBarcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyBarcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu FabraBarcelona, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA)Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Talukdar G, Inoue R, Yoshida T, Ishimoto T, Yaku K, Nakagawa T, Mori H. Novel role of serine racemase in anti-apoptosis and metabolism. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2016; 1861:3378-3387. [PMID: 27585868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serine racemase (SR) catalyzes the production of d-serine, a co-agonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). A previous report shows the contribution of SR in the NMDAR-mediated neuronal cell death process. METHODS AND RESULTS To analyze the intrinsic role of SR in the cell death process, we established the epithelial human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cell lines expressing wild-type SR (SR-WT), catalytically inactive mutant SR (SR-K56G), and catalytically hyperactive mutant SR (SR-Q155D). To these cell lines, staurosporine (STS), which induces apoptosis, was introduced. The cells expressing SR-WT and SR-Q155D showed resistance to STS-induced apoptosis, compared with nontransfected HEK293T cells and cells expressing SR-K56G. The SR-WT cells also showed a significant higher viability than the SR-QD cells. Furthermore, we detected elevated phosphorylation levels of Bcl-2 at serine-70 and Akt at serine-473 and threonine-308, which are related to cell survival, in the cells expressing SR-WT and SR-Q155D. From the results of metabolite analysis, we found elevated levels of acetyl CoA and ATP in cells expressing SR-WT. CONCLUSION Because SR has two enzymatic activities, namely, racemization and α, β-elimination, and SR-Q155D shows enhanced racemization and reduced α, β-elimination activities, we concluded that the racemization reaction catalyzed by SR may have a more protective role against apoptosis than the α, β-elimination reaction. Moreover, both of these activities are important for maximal survival and elevated levels of acetyl CoA and ATP. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our findings reveal the NMDAR-independent roles of SR in metabolism and cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gourango Talukdar
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science and Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan; Department of Biochemistry, TMSS Medical College & Hospital, Bangladesh
| | - Ran Inoue
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science and Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science and Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ishimoto
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science and Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yaku
- Frontier Research Core for Life Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakagawa
- Frontier Research Core for Life Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan
| | - Hisashi Mori
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science and Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Japan.
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15
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Human serine racemase is allosterically modulated by NADH and reduced nicotinamide derivatives. Biochem J 2016; 473:3505-3516. [PMID: 27493223 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Serine racemase catalyzes both the synthesis and the degradation of d-serine, an obligatory co-agonist of the glutamatergic NMDA receptors. It is allosterically controlled by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which increases its activity around 7-fold through a co-operative binding mechanism. Serine racemase has been proposed as a drug target for the treatment of several neuropathologies but, so far, the search has been directed only toward the active site, with the identification of a few, low-affinity inhibitors. Following the recent observation that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form) (NADH) inhibits serine racemase, here we show that the inhibition is partial, with an IC50 of 246 ± 63 μM, several-fold higher than NADH intracellular concentrations. At saturating concentrations of NADH, ATP binds with a 2-fold lower affinity and without co-operativity, suggesting ligand competition. NADH also reduces the weak activity of human serine racemase in the absence of ATP, indicating an additional ATP-independent inhibition mechanism. By dissecting the NADH molecule, we discovered that the inhibitory determinant is the N-substituted 1,4-dihydronicotinamide ring. Particularly, the NADH precursor 1,4-dihydronicotinamide mononucleotide exhibited a partial mixed-type inhibition, with a KI of 18 ± 7 μM. Docking simulations suggested that all 1,4-dihydronicotinamide derivatives bind at the interdimeric interface, with the ring positioned in an unoccupied site next to the ATP-binding site. This newly recognized allosteric site might be exploited for the design of high-affinity serine racemase effectors to finely modulate d-serine homeostasis.
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16
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Melchionna M, Styan KE, Marchesan S. The Unexpected Advantages of Using D-Amino Acids for Peptide Self- Assembly into Nanostructured Hydrogels for Medicine. Curr Top Med Chem 2016; 16:2009-18. [PMID: 26876522 PMCID: PMC5374841 DOI: 10.2174/1568026616999160212120302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled peptide hydrogels have brought innovation to the medicinal field, not only as responsive biomaterials but also as nanostructured therapeutic agents or as smart drug delivery systems. D-amino acids are typically introduced to increase the peptide enzymatic stability. However, there are several reports of unexpected effects on peptide conformation, self-assembly behavior, cytotoxicity and even therapeutic activity. This mini-review discusses all the surprising twists of heterochiral self-assembled peptide hydrogels, and delineates emerging key findings to exploit all the benefits of D-amino acids in this novel medicinal area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Silvia Marchesan
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
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17
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Vishnoi S, Raisuddin S, Parvez S. Modulatory effects of an NMDAR partial agonist in MK-801-induced memory impairment. Neuroscience 2015; 311:22-33. [PMID: 26454025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 08/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Acute administration of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) non-competitive antagonist, MK-801, impairs novel object recognition (NOR), locomotor activity in open field (OF) and conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in rodents. NMDAR partial agonist d-cycloserine (DCS) reverses these effects in NOR and CTA via modulation of glutamatergic, cholinergic and dopaminergic systems. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of DCS, a partial NMDAR agonist, on NOR memory, locomotor activity, and CTA memory in Wistar rats on NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonism by MK-801. The potential involvement of dopaminergic and cholinergic systems in improving cognitive functions was explored. MK-801-induced cognitive deficits were assessed using NOR, OF and CTA paradigms. MK-801-induced dopamine release increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE), mono amine oxidase (MAO) activity and increase in c-fos expression were also investigated. RESULTS The effects caused by MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg) were inhibited by administration of the NMDA receptor agonist DCS (15 mg/kg). NOR and CTA paradigms inhibited by MK-801 were attenuated by DCS administration. Moreover, DCS also blocked the MK-801-induced abnormal increase in dopamine content, AChE activity and MAO activity. However, c-fos overexpression was controlled to some extent only. CONCLUSIONS Based on the NMDAR hypo function hypothesis in some neuropsychiatric disorders, our finding suggests that improving NMDAR hypo function by agonist DCS may play a significant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Vishnoi
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India
| | - S Raisuddin
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India
| | - S Parvez
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110062, India.
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18
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Neuronal Regulation of Neuroprotective Microglial Apolipoprotein E Secretion in Rat In Vitro Models of Brain Pathophysiology. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2015; 74:818-34. [PMID: 26185969 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0000000000000222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is mainly secreted by glial cells and is involved in many brain functions, including neuronal plasticity, β-amyloid clearance, and neuroprotection. Microglia--the main immune cells of the brain--are one source of ApoE, but little is known about the physiologic regulation of microglial ApoE secretion by neurons and whether this release changes under inflammatory or neurodegenerative conditions. Using rat primary neural cell cultures, we show that microglia release ApoE through a Golgi-mediated secretion pathway and that ApoE progressively accumulates in neuroprotective microglia-conditioned medium. This constitutive ApoE release is negatively affected by microglial activation both with lipopolysaccharide and with ATP. Microglial ApoE release is stimulated by neuron-conditioned media and under coculture conditions. Neuron-stimulated microglial ApoE release is mediated by serine and glutamate through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and is differently regulated by activation states (i.e. lipopolysaccharide vs ATP) and by 6-hydroxydopamine. Microglial ApoE silencing abrogated protection of cerebellar granule neurons against 6-hydroxydopamine toxicity in cocultures, indicating that microglial ApoE release is neuroprotective. Our findings shed light on the reciprocal cross-talk between neurons and microglia that is crucial for normal brain functions. They also open the way for the identification of possible pharmacologic targets that can modulate neuroprotective microglial ApoE release under pathologic conditions.
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19
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Li X, McCullum C, Zhao S, Hu H, Liu YM. D-serine uptake and release in PC-12 cells measured by chiral microchip electrophoresis-mass spectrometry. ACS Chem Neurosci 2015; 6:582-7. [PMID: 25611520 DOI: 10.1021/cn5003122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work has established that D-serine (D-Ser) plays important roles in certain neurological processes. Study on its uptake/storage and release by neuronal cells is highly significant for elucidating relevant mechanisms. In this work, PC-12 cells were incubated with racemic Ser (100 μM each enantiomer). After incubation, both intra- and extracellular levels of D-Ser and L-Ser were quantified by chiral microchip electrophoresis with mass spectrometric detection. It was found the cells preferably took up D-Ser over L-Ser. After 120 min incubation, D-Ser percentage ([D-Ser]/([D-Ser] + [L-Ser]) in the culture media changed from 50% to 9% while inside the cells it increased from 13% to 67%. Small neutral amino acids such as threonine impaired D-Ser uptake. Ser release was studied by using PC-12 cells preloaded with D-Ser. KCl, Glu, and Gly evoked Ser release. Interestingly, while depolarization by KCl evoked release of Ser as a D-Ser/L-Ser mixture of 1:1 ratio, the stereoisomeric composition of Ser released due to Glu exposure varied with the exposure time, ranging from 73% D-Ser (i.e., [D-Ser] > [L-Ser]) at 2 min to 44% (i.e., [D-Ser] < [L-Ser]) at 14 min, clearly indicating a stereochemical preference for D-Ser in Ser release from neuronal cells evoked by Glu-receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangtang Li
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Cassandra McCullum
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
| | - Shulin Zhao
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
- College
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Hankun Hu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
- Zhongnan
Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yi-Ming Liu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch
Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39217, United States
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20
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Marchetti M, Bruno S, Campanini B, Bettati S, Peracchi A, Mozzarelli A. Regulation of human serine racemase activity and dynamics by halides, ATP and malonate. Amino Acids 2014; 47:163-73. [PMID: 25331425 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-014-1856-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
D-Serine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that acts as a co-agonist of the NMDA receptors in the central nervous system. D-Serine is produced by human serine racemase (hSR), a homodimeric pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that also catalyzes the physiologically relevant β-elimination of both L- and D-serine to pyruvate and ammonia. After improving the protein purification yield and stability, which had so far limited the biochemical characterization of hSR, we found that the catalytic activity is affected by halides, in the order fluoride > chloride > bromide. On the contrary, iodide elicited a complete inhibition, accompanied by a modulation of the tautomeric equilibrium of the internal aldimine. We also investigated the reciprocal effects of ATP and malonate, an inhibitor that reversibly binds at the active site, 20 Å away from the ATP-binding site. ATP increased ninefold the affinity of hSR for malonate and malonate increased 100-fold that of ATP, confirming an allosteric interaction between the two binding sites. To further investigate this allosteric communication, we probed the active site accessibility by quenching of the coenzyme fluorescence in the absence and presence of ATP. We found that ATP stabilizes a closed conformation of the external aldimine Schiff base, suggesting a possible mechanism for ATP-induced hSR activation.
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21
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Vorlová B, Nachtigallová D, Jirásková-Vaníčková J, Ajani H, Jansa P, Rezáč J, Fanfrlík J, Otyepka M, Hobza P, Konvalinka J, Lepšík M. Malonate-based inhibitors of mammalian serine racemase: kinetic characterization and structure-based computational study. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 89:189-97. [PMID: 25462239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Overactivation of NMDA receptors has been implicated in various neuropathological conditions, including brain ischaemia, neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy. Production of d-serine, an NMDA receptor co-agonist, from l-serine is catalyzed in vivo by the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme serine racemase. Specific inhibition of this enzyme has been proposed as a promising strategy for treatment of neurological conditions caused by NMDA receptor dysfunction. Here we present the synthesis and activity analysis of a series of malonate-based inhibitors of mouse serine racemase (mSR). The compounds possessed IC50 values ranging from 40 ± 11 mM for 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)malonate down to 57 ± 1 μM for 2,2-dichloromalonate, the most effective competitive mSR inhibitor known to date. The structure-activity relationship of the whole series in the human orthologue (hSR) was interpreted using Glide docking, WaterMap analysis of hydration and quantum mechanical calculations based on the X-ray structure of the hSR/malonate complex. Docking into the hSR active site with three thermodynamically favourable water molecules was able to discern qualitatively between good and weak inhibitors. Further improvement in ranking was obtained using advanced PM6-D3H4X/COSMO semiempirical quantum mechanics-based scoring which distinguished between the compounds with IC50 better/worse than 2 mM. We have thus not only found a new potent hSR inhibitor but also worked out a computer-assisted protocol to rationalize the binding affinity which will thus aid in search for more effective SR inhibitors. Novel, potent hSR inhibitors may represent interesting research tools as well as drug candidates for treatment of diseases associated with NMDA receptor overactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Vorlová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Nachtigallová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Jirásková-Vaníčková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Haresh Ajani
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Jansa
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rezáč
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Otyepka
- Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Hobza
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials, Department of Physical Chemistry, Palacky University, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Konvalinka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Flemingovo nam. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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