Determination of l-serine-O-phosphate in rat and mouse brain tissue using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorimetric detection

Selectivity and evolutionary divergence of metabotropic glutamate receptors for endogenous ligands and G proteins coupled to phospholipase C or TRP channels

To define the upstream and downstream signaling specificities of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR), we have examined the ability of representative mGluR of group I, II, and III to be activated by endogenous amino acids and catalyze activation of G proteins coupled to phospholipase C (PLC), or activation of G(i/o) proteins coupled to the ion channel TRPC4β. Fluorescence-based assays have allowed us to observe interactions not previously reported or clearly identified. We have found that the specificity for endogenous amino acids is remarkably stringent. Even at millimolar levels, structurally similar compounds do not elicit significant activation. As reported previously, the clear exception is L-serine-O-phosphate (L-SOP), which strongly activates group III mGluR, especially mGluR4,-6,-8 but not group I or II mGluR. Whereas L-SOP cannot activate mGluR1 or mGluR2, it acts as a weak antagonist for mGluR1 and a potent antagonist for mGluR2, suggesting that co-recognition of L-glutamate and L-SOP arose early in evolution, and was followed later by divergence of group I and group II mGluR versus group III in l-SOP responses. mGluR7 has low affinity and efficacy for activation by both L-glutamate and L-SOP. Molecular docking studies suggested that residue 74 corresponding to lysine in mGluR4 and asparagine in mGluR7 might play a key role, and, indeed, mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that mutating this residue to lysine in mGluR7 enhances the potency of L-SOP. Experiments with pertussis toxin and dominant-negative Gα(i/o) proteins revealed that mGluR1 couples strongly to TRPC4β through Gα(i/o), in addition to coupling to PLC through Gα(q/11).

Analysis of L-serine-O-phosphate in cerebrospinal spinal fluid by derivatization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

L-serine-O-phosphate (L-SOP), the precursor of L-serine, is a potent agonist against the group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and, thus, is of interest as a potential biomarker for monitoring modulation of neurotransmitter release. So far, no reports are available on the analysis of L-SOP in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Here a novel method is presented to determine L-SOP levels in CSF employing precolumn derivatization with (5-N-succinimidoxy-5-oxopentyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (SPTPP) coupled to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (derivatization-LC/MS, d-LC/MS).

Searching for an endogenous anti-Alzheimer molecule: identifying small molecules in the brain that slow Alzheimer disease progression by inhibition of ß-amyloid aggregation

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that progresses with marked interindividual clinical variability. We postulate the existence of endogenous molecules within the human brain exerting an antiaggregant activity that will prevent/slow Alzheimer disease progression.

METHODS

We performed in silico studies to determine if the small endogenous molecules L-phosphoserine (L-PS) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) could bind to the target region of ß-amyloid responsible for protein misfolding. In vitro assays measured the antiaggregation effect of these molecules at varying concentrations.

RESULTS

In silico studies demonstrated that L-PS and 3-HAA, both endogenous brain molecules, were capable of binding to the histidine(13)-histidine-glutamine-lysine(16) (HHQK) region of ß-amyloid involved in misfolding: these interactions were energetically favoured. The in vitro assays showed that both L-PS and 3-HAA were capable of inhibiting ß-amyloid aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, with 3-HAA being more potent than L-PS.

LIMITATIONS

Studies were performed in silico and in vitro but not in vivo.

CONCLUSION

We successfully identified 2 endogenous brain molecules, L-PS and 3-HAA, that were capable of binding to the region of ß-amyloid that leads to protein misfolding and neurotoxicity. Both L-PS and 3-HAA were able to inhibit ß-amyloid aggregation in varying concentrations; levels of these compounds in the brain may impact their effectiveness in slowing/preventing ß-amyloid aggregation.

Modulation of glutamate release from parallel fibers by mGlu4 and pre-synaptic GABA(A) receptors

The regulation of pre-synaptic glutamate release is important in the maintenance and fidelity of excitatory transmission in the nervous system. In this study, we report a novel interaction between a ligand-gated ion channel and a G-protein coupled receptor which regulates glutamate release from parallel fiber axon terminals. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed that GABA(A) receptors and the high affinity group III metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGlu4) are co-localized on glutamatergic parallel fiber axon terminals in the cerebellum. GABA(A) and mGlu4 receptors were also found to co-immunoprecipitate from cerebellar membranes. Independently, these two receptors have opposing roles on glutamate release: pre-synaptic GABA(A) receptors promote, while mGlu4 receptors inhibit, glutamate release. However, coincident activation of GABA(A) receptors with muscimol and mGlu4 with the agonist (2S)-S-2-amino-4-phosphonobutanoic acid , increased glutamate release from [(3) H]glutamate-loaded cerebellar synaptosomes above that observed with muscimol alone. Further support for an interaction between GABA(A) and mGlu4 receptors was obtained in the mGlu4 knockout mouse which displayed reduced binding of the GABA(A) ligand [(35) S]tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate, and decreased expression of the α1, α6, β2 GABA(A) receptor subunits in the cerebellum. Taken together, our data suggest a new role for mGlu4 whereby simultaneous activation with GABA(A) receptors acts to amplify glutamate release at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses.

The effects of a low protein diet on amino acids and enzymes in the serine synthesis pathway in mice

L-serine is required for cellular and tissue growth and is particularly important in the immature brain where it acts as a crucial neurotrophic factor. In this study, the levels of amino acids and enzymes in the L-serine biosynthetic pathway were examined in the forebrain, cerebellum, liver, and kidney after the exposure of mice to protein-restricted diets. The levels of L-serine, D-serine, and L-serine-O-phosphate were quantified by HPLC and quantitative Western blotting was used to measure changes in protein levels of five enzymes in the pathway. The L-serine biosynthetic enzyme phosphoserine phosphatase was strongly upregulated, while the serine degradative enzymes serine racemase and serine dehydratase were downregulated in the livers and kidneys of mice fed low (6%) or very low (2%) protein diets for 2 weeks compared with mice fed a normal diet (18% protein). No changes in these enzymes were seen in the brain. The levels of L-serine increased in the livers of mice fed 2% protein; in contrast, D-serine levels were reduced below the limit of detection in the livers of mice given either the 6 or 2% diets. D-Serine is a co-agonist at the NMDA class of glutamate receptors; no alterations in NMDA-R1 subunit expression were observed in liver or brain after protein restriction. These findings demonstrate that the expression of L-serine synthetic and degradative enzymes display reciprocal changes in the liver and kidney to increase L-serine and decrease D-serine levels under conditions of protein restriction, and that the brain is insulated from such changes.