Characterization of CGRP receptor binding

CGRP receptor binding may be measured using homogenates of cell membranes or intact cells. Here a microcentrifugation-based assay is described that utilizes radioiodinated CGRP in displacement studies to determine the binding parameters for any ligand that interacts with CGRP receptors. A similar assay is described for binding to cultured cells. The protocols may be adapted for other radioligands or for filtration-based assays. The main problems with CGRP binding assays can usually be traced to degradation of the radioligand or displacing ligands. Also, some cell lines fail to express CGRP receptors after extensive passage. CGRP binding assays provide a rapid and easy approach for distinguishing between receptors for CGRP and related peptides such as adrenomedullin and amylin.

Novel 5-HT7 ligands as antidepressants:automated synthesis of N-substituted-N-[1-methyl-3-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)propyl]-arylsulfon amides

The 5-HT7 receptor is linked with various CNS disorders. Using an automated solution phase synthesis a combinatorial library of 384 N-substituted N-[1-methyl-3-(4-methylpiperidin-1-yl)propyl]-arylsulfonamides was prepared with 24 chemically diverse amines 1-24 and 16 sulfonyl chlorides A-P. The chemical library of alkylated sulfonamides was evaluated in a receptor binding assay with [3]H-5-CT as ligand. The key synthetic step was the alkylation of a sulfonamide with iodide E, which was prepared from butanediol in 4 synthetic steps. The target compounds 1A, 1B .....24A ... 24P were purified by solvent extraction on a Teacan liquid handling system. Sulfonamide J20, B23, D23, G23, G23, J23 , I24 and O24 displayed a binding affinity IC50 between 100 nM and 10 nM. The crystalline J20 (IC50=39 nM) and O24 (IC50=83 nM) were evaluated further in the despair swimming test and the tail suspension assay. A significant antidepressant activity was found in mice of a greater magnitude than imipramine and fluoxetine at low doses. © 2006 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

Cortical oscillatory dynamics and benzodiazepine-site modulation of tonic inhibition in fast spiking interneurons

Tonic conductance mediated by extrasynaptic GABAA receptors has been implicated in the modulation of network oscillatory activity. Using an in vitro brain slice to produce oscillatory activity and a kinetic model of GABAA receptor dynamics, we show that changes in tonic inhibitory input to fast spiking interneurons underlie benzodiazepine-site mediated modulation of neuronal network synchrony in rat primary motor cortex. We found that low concentrations (10 nM) of the benzodiazepine site agonist, zolpidem, reduced the power of pharmacologically-induced beta-frequency (15–30 Hz) oscillatory activity. By contrast, higher doses augmented beta power. Application of the antagonist, flumazenil, also increased beta power suggesting endogenous modulation of the benzodiazepine binding site. Voltage-clamp experiments revealed that pharmacologically-induced rhythmic inhibitory postsynaptic currents were reduced by 10 nM zolpidem, suggesting an action on inhibitory interneurons. Further voltage -clamp studies of fast spiking cells showed that 10 nM zolpidem augmented a tonic inhibitory GABAA receptor mediated current in fast spiking cells whilst higher concentrations of zolpidem reduced the tonic current. A kinetic model of zolpidem-sensitive GABAA receptors suggested that incubation with 10 nM zolpidem resulted in a high proportion of GABAA receptors locked in a kinetically slow desensitized state whilst 30 nM zolpidem favoured rapid transition into and out of desensitized states. This was confirmed experimentally using a challenge with saturating concentrations of GABA. Selective modulation of an interneuron-specific tonic current may underlie the reversal of cognitive and motor deficits afforded by low-dose zolpidem in neuropathological states.

NKG2D ligands mediate immunosurveillance of senescent cells

Cellular senescence is a stress response mechanism that limits tumorigenesis and tissue damage. Induction of cellular senescence commonly coincides with an immunogenic phenotype that promotes self-elimination by components of the immune system, thereby facilitating tumor suppression and limiting excess fibrosis during wound repair. The mechanisms by which senescent cells regulate their immune surveillance are not completely understood. Here we show that ligands of an activating Natural Killer (NK) cell receptor (NKG2D), MICA and ULBP2 are consistently up-regulated following induction of replicative senescence, oncogene-induced senescence and DNA damage - induced senescence. MICA and ULBP2 proteins are necessary for efficient NK-mediated cytotoxicity towards senescent fibroblasts. The mechanisms regulating the initial expression of NKG2D ligands in senescent cells are dependent on a DNA damage response, whilst continuous expression of these ligands is regulated by the ERK signaling pathway. In liver fibrosis, the accumulation of senescent activated stellate cells is increased in mice lacking NKG2D receptor leading to increased fibrosis. Overall, our results provide new insights into the mechanisms regulating the expression of immune ligands in senescent cells and reveal the importance of NKG2D receptor-ligand interaction in protecting against liver fibrosis.

Receptor activity-modifying proteins 2 and 3 generate adrenomedullin receptor subtypes with distinct molecular properties

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide hormone with numerous effects in the vascular systems. AM signals through the AM1 and AM2 receptors formed by the obligate heterodimerization of a G protein-coupled receptor, the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), and receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP) 2 and 3, respectively. These different CLR-RAMP interactions yield discrete receptor pharmacology and physiological effects. The effective design of therapeutics that target the individual AM receptors is dependent on understanding the molecular details of the effects of RAMPs on CLR. To understand the role of RAMPs 2 and 3 on the activation and conformation of the CLR subunit of AM receptors we mutated 68 individual amino acids in the juxtamembrane region of CLR, a key region for activation of AM receptors and determined the effects on cAMP signalling. Sixteen CLR mutations had differential effects between the AM1 and AM2 receptors. Accompanying this, independent molecular modelling of the full-length AM-bound AM1 and AM2 receptors predicted differences in the binding pocket, and differences in the electrostatic potential of the two AM receptors. Druggability analysis indicated unique features that could be used to develop selective small molecule ligands for each receptor. The interaction of RAMP2 or RAMP3 with CLR induces conformational variation in the juxtamembrane region, yielding distinct binding pockets, probably via an allosteric mechanism. These subtype-specific differences have implications for the design of therapeutics aimed at specific AM receptors and for understanding the mechanisms by which accessory proteins affect G protein-coupled receptor function.

Cholecystokinin-1 receptor antagonists:5-hydroxy-5-aryl-pyrrol-2-ones as anticancer agents

A new class of 5-arylated 5-hydroxypyrrolones was derived from mucochloric acid in 2 synthetic steps and the chemical structure was confirmed additionally by X-ray analysis. Using a radiolabelled binding assay, potent CCK1 selective ligands were identified (CCK1: 12 nM) and the antagonism was confirmed by using isolated tissue preparations. A series of isobutyl derivatives displayed unsurmountable CCK antagonistic properties and in vitro excellent inhibition of proliferation was obtained in cholecystokinin related cancer cell lines in the nanomolar range. Finally, using xenograft studies in nude mice, two selected pyrrolone derivatives, X = H and X = F a fluorinated analogue (PNB-028), showed a strong inhibition of tumour growth in a chemo-resistant colon cancer-(MAC 16) and a human pancreatic cell line (MIAPACA) at 50 mg kg-1 by oral administration.

Receptor activity-modifying protein-directed G protein signaling specificity for the calcitonin gene-related peptide family of receptors

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) family of G protein- coupled receptors (GPCRs) is formed through the association of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and one of three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). Binding of one of the three peptide ligands, CGRP, adrenomedullin (AM), and intermedin/adrenomedullin 2 (AM2), is well known to result in aGαs-mediated increase in cAMP. Here we used modified yeast strains that couple receptor activation to cell growth, via chimeric yeast/Gα subunits, and HEK-293 cells to characterize the effect of different RAMP and ligand combinations on this pathway. We not only demonstrate functional couplings to both Gαs and Gαq but also identify a Gαi component to CLR signaling in both yeast and HEK-293 cells, which is absent in HEK-293S cells. We show that the CGRP family of receptors displays both ligand- and RAMPdependent signaling bias among the Gαs, Gαi, and Gαq/11 pathways. The results are discussed in the context of RAMP interactions probed through molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of the RAMP-GPCR-G protein complexes. This study further highlights the importance of RAMPs to CLR pharmacology and to bias in general, as well as identifying the importance of choosing an appropriate model system for the study of GPCR pharmacology.