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Hu W, Song A, Zheng H. Substrate binding plasticity revealed by Cryo-EM structures of SLC26A2. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3616. [PMID: 38684689 PMCID: PMC11059360 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48028-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
SLC26A2 is a vital solute carrier responsible for transporting essential nutritional ions, including sulfate, within the human body. Pathogenic mutations within SLC26A2 give rise to a spectrum of human diseases, ranging from lethal to mild symptoms. The molecular details regarding the versatile substrate-transporter interactions and the impact of pathogenic mutations on SLC26A2 transporter function remain unclear. Here, using cryo-electron microscopy, we determine three high-resolution structures of SLC26A2 in complexes with different substrates. These structures unveil valuable insights, including the distinct features of the homodimer assembly, the dynamic nature of substrate binding, and the potential ramifications of pathogenic mutations. This structural-functional information regarding SLC26A2 will advance our understanding of cellular sulfate transport mechanisms and provide foundations for future therapeutic development against various human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, US
| | - Alex Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, US
| | - Hongjin Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine, Aurora, US.
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Jakobsen S, Nielsen CU. Exploring Amino Acid Transporters as Therapeutic Targets for Cancer: An Examination of Inhibitor Structures, Selectivity Issues, and Discovery Approaches. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:197. [PMID: 38399253 PMCID: PMC10893028 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Amino acid transporters are abundant amongst the solute carrier family and have an important role in facilitating the transfer of amino acids across cell membranes. Because of their impact on cell nutrient distribution, they also appear to have an important role in the growth and development of cancer. Naturally, this has made amino acid transporters a novel target of interest for the development of new anticancer drugs. Many attempts have been made to develop inhibitors of amino acid transporters to slow down cancer cell growth, and some have even reached clinical trials. The purpose of this review is to help organize the available information on the efforts to discover amino acid transporter inhibitors by focusing on the amino acid transporters ASCT2 (SLC1A5), LAT1 (SLC7A5), xCT (SLC7A11), SNAT1 (SLC38A1), SNAT2 (SLC38A2), and PAT1 (SLC36A1). We discuss the function of the transporters, their implication in cancer, their known inhibitors, issues regarding selective inhibitors, and the efforts and strategies of discovering inhibitors. The goal is to encourage researchers to continue the search and development within the field of cancer treatment research targeting amino acid transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jakobsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Carsten Uhd Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
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Yajima K, Akiyoshi T, Sakamoto K, Suzuki Y, Oka T, Imaoka A, Yamamura H, Kurokawa J, Ohtani H. Determination of single-molecule transport activity of OATP2B1 by measuring the number of transporter molecules using electrophysiological approach. J Pharmacol Sci 2023; 153:153-160. [PMID: 37770156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2023.08.008] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Transporter-mediated clearance is determined by two factors, its single-molecule clearance, and expression level. However, no reliable method has been developed to evaluate them separately. This study aimed to develop a reliable method for evaluating the single-molecule activity of membrane transporters, such as organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 2B1. HEK293 cells that co-expressed large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel and OATP2B1 were established and used for the following experiments. i) BK channel-mediated whole-cell conductance was measured using patch-clamp technique and divided by its unitary conductance to estimate the number of channels on plasma membrane (QI). ii) Using plasma membrane fraction, quantitative targeted absolute proteomics determined the stoichiometric ratio (ρ) of OATP2B1 to BK channel. iii) The uptake of estrone 3-sulfate was evaluated to calculate the Michaelis constant and uptake clearance (CL) per cell. Single-molecule clearance (CLint) was calculated by dividing CL by QI·ρ. QI and ρ values were estimated to be 916 and 2.16, respectively, yielding CLint of 5.23 fL/min/molecule. We successfully developed a novel method to reliably measure the single-molecule activity of a transporter, which could be used to evaluate the influences of factors such as genetic variations and post-translational modifications on the intrinsic activity of transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kodai Yajima
- Division of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30, Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Akiyoshi
- Division of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30, Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Kazuho Sakamoto
- Department of Bio-Informational Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Yoshiaki Suzuki
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabedori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan.
| | - Takayuki Oka
- Nanion Technologies Japan K.K., Tokyo Laboratory, Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0056, Japan.
| | - Ayuko Imaoka
- Division of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30, Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan.
| | - Hisao Yamamura
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabedori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8603, Japan.
| | - Junko Kurokawa
- Department of Bio-Informational Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.
| | - Hisakazu Ohtani
- Division of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Keio University, 1-5-30, Shibakoen Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan; Department of Pharmacy, Keio University Hospital, 35, Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Chon NL, Schultz NJ, Zheng H, Lin H. Anion Pathways in the NarK Nitrate/Nitrite Exchanger. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5142-5152. [PMID: 37585651 PMCID: PMC10482320 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
NarK nitrate/nitrite antiporter imports nitrate (a mineral form of the essential element nitrogen) into the cell and exports nitrite (a metabolite that can be toxic in high concentrations) out of the cell. However, many details about its operational mechanism remain poorly understood. In this work, we performed steered molecular dynamics simulations of anion translocations and quantum-chemistry model calculations of the binding sites to study the wild-type NarK protein and its R89K mutant. Our results shed light on the importance of the two strictly conserved binding-site arginine residues (R89 and R305) and two glycine-rich signature motifs (G164-M176 and G408-F419) in anion movement through the pore. We also observe conformational changes of the protein during anion migration. For the R89K mutant, our quantum calculations reveal a competition for a proton between the anion (especially nitrite) and lysine, which can potentially slow down or even trap the anion in the pore. Our findings provide a possible explanation for the striking experimental finding that the arginine-to-lysine mutation, despite preserving the charge, impedes or abolishes anion transport in such mutants of NarK and other similar nitrate/nitrite exchangers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Lee Chon
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
| | - Natalie Jean Schultz
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
| | - Hongjin Zheng
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Hai Lin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80217, United States
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Wright SH, Secomb TW. Novel method for kinetic analysis applied to transport by the uniporter OCT2. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2022; 323:F370-F387. [PMID: 35862650 PMCID: PMC9423780 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00106.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The kinetics of solute transport shed light on the roles these processes play in cellular physiology, and the absolute values of the kinetic parameters that quantitatively describe transport are increasingly used to model its impact on drug clearance. However, accurate assessment of transport kinetics is challenging. Although most carrier-mediated transport is adequately described by the Michaelis-Menten equation, its use presupposes that the rates of uptake used in the analysis of maximal rates of transport (Jmax) and half-saturation constants (Kt) reflect true unidirectional rates of influx from known concentrations of substrate. Most experimental protocols estimate the initial rate of transport from net substrate accumulation determined at a single time point (typically between 0.5 and 5 min) and assume it reflects unidirectional influx. However, this approach generally results in systematic underestimates of Jmax and overestimates of Kt; the former primarily due to the unaccounted impact of efflux of accumulated substrate, and the latter due to the influence of unstirred water layers. Here, we describe the bases of these time-dependent effects and introduce a computational model that analyzes the time course of net substrate uptake at several concentrations to calculate Jmax and Kt for unidirectional influx, taking into account the influence of unstirred water layers and mediated efflux. This method was then applied to calculate the kinetics of transport of 1-methyl-4-phenylpryridinium and metformin by renal organic cation transporter 2 as expressed in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we describe a mathematical model that uses the time course of net substrate uptake into cells from several increasing concentrations to calculate unique kinetic parameters [maximal rates of transport (Jmax) and half-saturation constants (Kt)] of the process. The method is the first to take into consideration the common complicating factors of unstirred layers and carrier-mediated efflux in the experimental determination of transport kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen H Wright
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Timothy W Secomb
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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