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Nelic D, Chetverikov N, Hochmalová M, Diaz C, Doležal V, Boulos J, Jakubík J, Martemyanov K, Janoušková-Randáková A. Agonist-selective activation of individual G-proteins by muscarinic receptors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9652. [PMID: 38671143 PMCID: PMC11053168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60259-4] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Selective activation of individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors is a promising way to safely alleviate a wide range of pathological conditions in the central nervous system and the periphery as well. The flexible G-protein interface of muscarinic receptors allows them to interact with several G-proteins with various efficacy, potency, and kinetics. Agonists biased to the particular G-protein mediated pathway may result in selectivity among muscarinic subtypes and, due to the non-uniform expression of individual G-protein alpha subunits, possibly achieve tissue specificity. Here, we demonstrate that novel tetrahydropyridine-based agonists exert specific signalling profiles in coupling with individual G-protein α subunits. These signalling profiles profoundly differ from the reference agonist carbachol. Moreover, coupling with individual Gα induced by these novel agonists varies among subtypes of muscarinic receptors which may lead to subtype selectivity. Thus, the novel tetrahydropyridine-based agonist can contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism of pathway-specific activation of muscarinic receptors and serve as a starting point for the development of desired selective muscarinic agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Nelic
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nikolai Chetverikov
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Hochmalová
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Christina Diaz
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Vladimír Doležal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - John Boulos
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kirill Martemyanov
- Department of Neuroscience, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
| | - Alena Janoušková-Randáková
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Neuroscience, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, University of Florida, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA.
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Rudajev V, Novotny J. Cholesterol-dependent amyloid β production: space for multifarious interactions between amyloid precursor protein, secretases, and cholesterol. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:171. [PMID: 37705117 PMCID: PMC10500844 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01127-y] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid β is considered a key player in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many studies investigating the effect of statins on lowering cholesterol suggest that there may be a link between cholesterol levels and AD pathology. Since cholesterol is one of the most abundant lipid molecules, especially in brain tissue, it affects most membrane-related processes, including the formation of the most dangerous form of amyloid β, Aβ42. The entire Aβ production system, which includes the amyloid precursor protein (APP), β-secretase, and the complex of γ-secretase, is highly dependent on membrane cholesterol content. Moreover, cholesterol can affect amyloidogenesis in many ways. Cholesterol influences the stability and activity of secretases, but also dictates their partitioning into specific cellular compartments and cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts, where the amyloidogenic machinery is predominantly localized. The most complicated relationships have been found in the interaction between cholesterol and APP, where cholesterol affects not only APP localization but also the precise character of APP dimerization and APP processing by γ-secretase, which is important for the production of Aβ of different lengths. In this review, we describe the intricate web of interdependence between cellular cholesterol levels, cholesterol membrane distribution, and cholesterol-dependent production of Aβ, the major player in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Rudajev
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Novotny
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Szczurowska E, Szánti-Pintér E, Randáková A, Jakubík J, Kudova E. Allosteric Modulation of Muscarinic Receptors by Cholesterol, Neurosteroids and Neuroactive Steroids. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13075. [PMID: 36361865 PMCID: PMC9656441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are membrane receptors involved in many physiological processes. Malfunction of muscarinic signaling is a cause of various internal diseases, as well as psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Cholesterol, neurosteroids, neuroactive steroids, and steroid hormones are molecules of steroid origin that, besides having well-known genomic effects, also modulate membrane proteins including muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Here, we review current knowledge on the allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptors by these steroids. We give a perspective on the research on the non-genomic effects of steroidal compounds on muscarinic receptors and drug development, with an aim to ultimately exploit such knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Szczurowska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eszter Szánti-Pintér
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 2, Prague 6, 166 10 Prague, Czech Republic
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Dolejší E, Szánti-Pintér E, Chetverikov N, Nelic D, Randáková A, Doležal V, Kudová E, Jakubík J. Neurosteroids and steroid hormones are allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108798. [PMID: 34555368 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The membrane cholesterol was found to bind and modulate the function of several G-protein coupled receptors including muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. We investigated the binding of 20 steroidal compounds including neurosteroids and steroid hormones to muscarinic receptors. Corticosterone, progesterone and some neurosteroids bound to muscarinic receptors with the affinity of 100 nM or greater. We established a structure-activity relationship for steroid-based allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors. Further, we show that corticosterone and progesterone allosterically modulate the functional response of muscarinic receptors to acetylcholine at physiologically relevant concentrations. It can play a role in stress control or in pregnancy, conditions where levels of these hormones dramatically oscillate. Allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptors via the cholesterol-binding site represents a new pharmacological approach at diseases associated with altered cholinergic signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Dolejší
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eszter Szánti-Pintér
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dominik Nelic
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Doležal
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Kudová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Dolejší E, Chetverikov N, Szánti-Pintér E, Nelic D, Randáková A, Doležal V, El-Fakahany EE, Kudová E, Jakubík J. Neuroactive steroids, WIN-compounds and cholesterol share a common binding site on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 192:114699. [PMID: 34324870 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous neurosteroids and their synthetic analogues-neuroactive steroids-have been found to bind to muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and allosterically modulate acetylcholine binding and function. Using radioligand binding experiments we investigated their binding mode. We show that neuroactive steroids bind to two binding sites on muscarinic receptors. Their affinity for the high-affinity binding site is about 100 nM. Their affinity for the low-affinity binding site is about 10 µM. The high-affinity binding occurs at the same site as binding of steroid-based WIN-compounds that is different from the common allosteric binding site for alcuronium or gallamine that is located between the second and third extracellular loop of the receptor. This binding site is also different from the allosteric binding site for the structurally related aminosteroid-based myorelaxants pancuronium and rapacuronium. Membrane cholesterol competes with neurosteroids/neuroactive steroids binding to both high- and low-affinity binding site, indicating that both sites are oriented towards the cell membrane..
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Dolejší
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Eszter Szánti-Pintér
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Nelic
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Doležal
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Esam E El-Fakahany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Eva Kudová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Randáková A, Jakubík J. Functionally selective and biased agonists of muscarinic receptors. Pharmacol Res 2021; 169:105641. [PMID: 33951507 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of cholinergic signalling via muscarinic receptors is associated with various pathologies, like Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia. Selective muscarinic agonists possess therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetes, pain or Sjögren's syndrome. The orthosteric binding site of all subtypes of the muscarinic receptor is structurally identical, making the development of affinity-based selective agonists virtually impossible. Some agonists, however, are functionally selective; they activate only a subset of receptors or signalling pathways. Others may stabilise specific conformations of the receptor leading to non-uniform modulation of individual signalling pathways (biased agonists). Functionally selective and biased agonists represent a promising approach for selective activation of individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors. In this work we review chemical structures, receptor binding and agonist-specific conformations of currently known functionally selective and biased muscarinic agonists in the context of their intricate intracellular signalling. Further, we take a perspective on the possible use of biased agonists for tissue and organ-specific activation of muscarinic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Randáková
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Jakubík J, El-Fakahany EE. Allosteric Modulation of GPCRs of Class A by Cholesterol. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1953. [PMID: 33669406 PMCID: PMC7920425 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane proteins that convey extracellular signals to the cellular milieu. They represent a target for more than 30% of currently marketed drugs. Here we review the effects of membrane cholesterol on the function of GPCRs of Class A. We review both the specific effects of cholesterol mediated via its direct high-affinity binding to the receptor and non-specific effects mediated by cholesterol-induced changes in the properties of the membrane. Cholesterol binds to many GPCRs at both canonical and non-canonical binding sites. It allosterically affects ligand binding to and activation of GPCRs. Additionally, it changes the oligomerization state of GPCRs. In this review, we consider a perspective of the potential for the development of new therapies that are targeted at manipulating the level of membrane cholesterol or modulating cholesterol binding sites on to GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Jakubík
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Esam E. El-Fakahany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Randáková A, Nelic D, Doležal V, El-Fakahany EE, Boulos J, Jakubík J. Agonist-Specific Conformations of the M 2 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Assessed by Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:2325-2338. [PMID: 32130001 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Binding of muscarinic ligands, both antagonists and agonists, and their effects on the conformation of the M2 acetylcholine receptor were modeled in silico and compared to experimental data. After docking of antagonists to the M2 receptor in an inactive conformation (3UON, 5ZK3, 5ZKB, or 5ZKB) and agonists in an active conformation (4MQS), 100 ns of conventional molecular dynamics (MD) followed by 500 ns of accelerated MD was run. Conventional MD revealed ligand-specific interactions with the receptor. Antagonists stabilized the receptor in an inactive conformation during accelerated MD. The receptor in complex with various agonists attained different conformations specific to individual agonists. The magnitude of the TM6 movement correlated with agonist efficacy at the non-preferential Gs pathway. The shape of the intracellular opening where the receptor interacts with a G-protein was different for the classical agonist carbachol, super-agonist iperoxo, and Gi/o-biased partial agonists JR-6 and JR-7, being compatible with experimentally observed agonist bias at the G-protein level. Moreover, a wash-resistant binding of the unique agonist xanomeline associated with interactions with membrane lipids was formed during accelerated MD. Thus, accelerated MD is suitable for modeling of ligand-specific receptor binding and receptor conformations that is essential for the design of experiments aimed at identification of the secondary binding sites and understanding molecular mechanisms underlying receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Randáková
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, CZ 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Nelic
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, CZ 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimír Doležal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, CZ 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Esam E El-Fakahany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - John Boulos
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida 33161, United States
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, CZ 142 20, Czech Republic
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Jakubik J, El-Fakahany EE. Current Advances in Allosteric Modulation of Muscarinic Receptors. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10020325. [PMID: 32085536 PMCID: PMC7072599 DOI: 10.3390/biom10020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators are ligands that bind to a site on the receptor that is spatially separated from the orthosteric binding site for the endogenous neurotransmitter. Allosteric modulators modulate the binding affinity, potency, and efficacy of orthosteric ligands. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are prototypical allosterically-modulated G-protein-coupled receptors. They are a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of psychiatric, neurologic, and internal diseases like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington disease, type 2 diabetes, or chronic pulmonary obstruction. Here, we reviewed the progress made during the last decade in our understanding of their mechanisms of binding, allosteric modulation, and in vivo actions in order to understand the translational impact of studying this important class of pharmacological agents. We overviewed newly developed allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors as well as new spin-off ideas like bitopic ligands combining allosteric and orthosteric moieties and photo-switchable ligands based on bitopic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Jakubik
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (J.J.); (E.E.E.-F.)
| | - Esam E. El-Fakahany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Correspondence: (J.J.); (E.E.E.-F.)
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Randáková A, Nelic D, Ungerová D, Nwokoye P, Su Q, Doležal V, El-Fakahany EE, Boulos J, Jakubík J. Novel M 2 -selective, G i -biased agonists of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:2073-2089. [PMID: 31910288 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE More than 30% of currently marketed medications act via GPCRs. Thus, GPCRs represent one of the most important pharmacotherapeutic targets. In contrast to traditional agonists activating multiple signalling pathways, agonists activating a single signalling pathway represent a new generation of drugs with increased specificity and fewer adverse effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We have synthesized novel agonists of muscarinic ACh receptors and tested their binding and function (on levels of cAMP and inositol phosphates) in CHO cells expressing individual subtypes of muscarinic receptors, primary cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells and suspensions of digested native tissues from rats. Binding of the novel compounds to M2 receptors was modelled in silico. KEY RESULTS Two of the tested new compounds (1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridinium and 1-methyl-1-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-pyridinium) only inhibited cAMP synthesis in CHO cells, primary cultures, and native tissues, with selectivity for M2 muscarinic receptors and displaying bias towards the Gi signalling pathway at all subtypes of muscarinic receptors. Molecular modelling revealed interactions with the orthosteric binding site in a way specific for a given agonist followed by agonist-specific changes in the conformation of the receptor. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The identified compounds may serve as lead structures in the search for novel non-steroidal and non-opioid analgesics acting via M2 and M4 muscarinic receptors with reduced side effects associated with activation of the phospholipase C signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Randáková
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dominik Nelic
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dana Ungerová
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Nwokoye
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida
| | - Qiwen Su
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida
| | - Vladimír Doležal
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Esam E El-Fakahany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - John Boulos
- Department of Physical Sciences, Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida
| | - Jan Jakubík
- Department of Neurochemistry, Institute of Physiology CAS, Prague, Czech Republic
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