1
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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Larson CM, Bouchard JL, John K, Lunzer MM, Koerperich ZM, Haskell-Luevano C. Incorporation of Three Extracyclic Arginine Residues into a Melanocortin Macrocyclic Agonist (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Lys(Arg-Arg-Arg-Ac)-DPro]) Decreases Food Intake When Administered Intrathecally or Subcutaneously Compared to a Macrocyclic Ligand Lacking Extracyclic Arginine Residues (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-DPro)]. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:1114-1125. [PMID: 38633589 PMCID: PMC11020072 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00011] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Of the three Food and Drug Administration-approved melanocortin peptide drugs, two possess a cyclic scaffold, demonstrating that cyclized melanocortin peptides have therapeutic relevance. An extracyclic Arg residue, critical for pharmacological activity in the approved melanocortin cyclic drug setmelanotide, has also been demonstrated to increase the signal when fluorescently labeled cell-penetrating cyclic peptides are incubated with HeLa cells, with the maximal signal observed with three extracyclic Arg amino acids. Herein, a branching Lys residue was substituted into two macrocyclic melanocortin peptide agonists to incorporate 0-3 extracyclic Arg amino acids. Incorporation of the Arg residues resulted in equipotent or increased agonist potency at the mouse melanocortin receptors in vitro, suggesting that these substitutions were tolerated in the macrocyclic scaffolds. Further in vivo evaluation of one parent ligand (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-Pro]) and the three Arg derivative (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Lys(Ac-Arg-Arg-Arg)-Pro)] demonstrated that the three Arg derivative further decreased food intake compared to the parent macrocycle when the compounds were administered either via intrathecal injection or subcutaneous dosing. This suggests that three extracyclic Arg amino acids may be beneficial in the design of cyclic melanocortin ligands and that in vitro pharmacological profiling may not predict the in vivo efficacy of melanocortin ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Courtney M. Larson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jacob L. Bouchard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kristen John
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mary M. Lunzer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zoe M. Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University
of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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2
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Qian M, Sun Z, Chen X, Van Calenbergh S. Study of G protein-coupled receptors dimerization: From bivalent ligands to drug-like small molecules. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106809. [PMID: 37651896 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
In the past decades an increasing number of studies revealed that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are capable of forming dimers or even higher-ordered oligomers, which may modulate receptor function and act as potential drug targets. In this review, we briefly summarized the design strategy of bivalent GPCR ligands and mainly focused on how to use them to study and/or detect GPCP dimerization in vitro and in vivo. Bivalent ligands show specific properties relative to their corresponding monomeric ligands because they are able to bind to GPCR homodimers or heterodimers simultaneously. For example, bivalent ligands with optimal length of spacers often exhibited higher binding affinities for dimers compared to that of monomers. Furthermore, bivalent ligands displayed specific signal transduction compared to monovalent ligands. Finally, we give our perspective on targeting GPCR dimers from traditional bivalent ligands to more drug-like small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcheng Qian
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Zhengyang Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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3
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Gebrie A. The melanocortin receptor signaling system and its role in neuroprotection against neurodegeneration: Therapeutic insights. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1527:30-41. [PMID: 37526975 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin signaling system consists of the melanocortin peptides, their distinctive receptors, accessory proteins, and endogenous antagonists. Melanocortin peptides are small peptide hormones that have been studied in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions. There are five types of melanocortin receptors, and they are distributed within the central nervous system and in several tissues of the periphery. The G protein-coupled melanocortin receptors typically signal through adenylyl cyclase and other downstream signaling pathways. Depending on the ligand, surface expression of melanocortin receptor, receptor occupancy period, related proteins, the type of cell, and other parameters, the signaling pathways are complicated and pleiotropic. While it is known that all five melanocortin receptors are coupled to Gs, they can also occasionally couple to Gq or Gi. Both direct and indirect neuroprotection are induced by the melanocortin signaling system. Targeting several of the components of the melanocortin signaling system (ligands, receptors, accessory proteins, signaling effectors, and regulators) may provide therapeutic opportunities. Activation of the melanocortin system improves different functional traits in neurodegenerative diseases. There is a potential for additional melanocortin system interventions by interfering with dimerization or dissociation. This review aims to discuss the melanocortin receptor signaling system and its role in neuroprotection, as well as its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alemu Gebrie
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
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4
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Ericson MD, Tran LT, Mathre SS, Freeman KT, Holdaway K, John K, Lunzer MM, Bouchard JL, Haskell-Luevano C. Discovery of a Pan-Melanocortin Receptor Antagonist [Ac-DPhe(pI)-Arg-Nal(2')-Orn-NH 2] at the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R that Mediates an Increased Feeding Response in Mice and a 40-Fold Selective MC1R Antagonist [Ac-DPhe(pI)-DArg-Nal(2')-Arg-NH 2]. J Med Chem 2023; 66:8103-8117. [PMID: 37307241 PMCID: PMC10631449 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00432] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Discovery of pan-antagonist ligands for the melanocortin receptors will help identify the physiological activities controlled by these receptors. The previously reported MC3R/MC4R antagonist Ac-DPhe(pI)-Arg-Nal(2')-Arg-NH2 was identified herein, for the first time, to possess MC1R and MC5R antagonist activity. Further structure-activity relationship studies probing the second and fourth positions were performed toward the goal of identifying potent melanocortin antagonists. Of the 21 tetrapeptides synthesized, 13 possessed MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R antagonist activity. Three tetrapeptides were more than 10-fold selective for the mMC1R, including 8 (LTT1-44, Ac-DPhe(pI)-DArg-Nal(2')-Arg-NH2) that possessed 80 nM mMC1R antagonist potency and was at least 40-fold selective over the mMC3R, mMC4R, and mMC5R. Nine tetrapeptides were selective for the mMC4R, including 14 [SSM1-8, Ac-DPhe(pI)-Arg-Nal(2')-Orn-NH2] with an mMC4R antagonist potency of 1.6 nM. This compound was administered IT into mice, resulting in a dose-dependent increase in the food intake and demonstrating the in vivo utility of this compound series.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Linh T Tran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sarah S Mathre
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kelsey Holdaway
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Kristen John
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mary M Lunzer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jacob L Bouchard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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5
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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, LaVoi TM, Donow HM, Santos RG, Giulianotti MA, Pinilla C, Houghten RA, Haskell-Luevano C. The Parallel Structure-Activity Relationship Screening of Three Compounds Identifies the Common Agonist Pharmacophore of Pyrrolidine Bis-Cyclic Guanidine Melanocortin-3 Receptor (MC3R) Small-Molecule Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10145. [PMID: 37373293 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210145] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin receptors are involved in numerous physiological pathways, including appetite, skin and hair pigmentation, and steroidogenesis. In particular, the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is involved in fat storage, food intake, and energy homeostasis. Small-molecule ligands developed for the MC3R may serve as therapeutic lead compounds for treating disease states of energy disequilibrium. Herein, three previously reported pyrrolidine bis-cyclic guanidine compounds with five sites for molecular diversity (R1-R5) were subjected to parallel structure-activity relationship studies to identify the common pharmacophore of this scaffold series required for full agonism at the MC3R. The R2, R3, and R5 positions were required for full MC3R efficacy, while truncation of either the R1 or R4 positions in all three compounds resulted in full MC3R agonists. Two additional fragments, featuring molecular weights below 300 Da, were also identified that possessed full agonist efficacy and micromolar potencies at the mMC5R. These SAR experiments may be useful in generating new small-molecule ligands and chemical probes for the melanocortin receptors to help elucidate their roles in vivo and as therapeutic lead compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Travis M LaVoi
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Haley M Donow
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Radleigh G Santos
- Department of Mathematics, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Marc A Giulianotti
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Clemencia Pinilla
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Center for Translational Science, Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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6
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Bailly T, Bodin S, Goncalves V, Denat F, Morgat C, Prignon A, Valverde IE. Modular One-Pot Strategy for the Synthesis of Heterobivalent Tracers. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:636-644. [PMID: 37197474 PMCID: PMC10184157 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bivalent ligands, i.e., molecules having two ligands covalently connected by a linker, have been gathering attention since the first description of their pharmacological potential in the early 80s. However, their synthesis, particularly of labeled heterobivalent ligands, can still be cumbersome and time-consuming. We herein report a straightforward procedure for the modular synthesis of labeled heterobivalent ligands (HBLs) using dual reactive 3,6-dichloro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine as a starting material and suitable partners for sequential SNAr and inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reactions. This assembly method conducted in a stepwise or in a sequential one-pot manner provides quick access to multiple HBLs. A conjugate combining ligands toward the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) was radiolabeled, and its biological activity was assessed in vitro and in vivo (receptor binding affinity, biodistribution, imaging) as an illustration that the assembly methodology preserves the tumor targeting properties of the ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaud Bailly
- Institut
de Chimie Moléculaire de l’Université de Bourgogne,
UMR CNRS 6302, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Sacha Bodin
- University
of Bordeaux, CNRS, EPHE, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Victor Goncalves
- Institut
de Chimie Moléculaire de l’Université de Bourgogne,
UMR CNRS 6302, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Franck Denat
- Institut
de Chimie Moléculaire de l’Université de Bourgogne,
UMR CNRS 6302, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Clément Morgat
- University
of Bordeaux, CNRS, EPHE, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux F-33000, France
- Nuclear
Medicine Department, University Hospital
of Bordeaux, Bordeaux F-33000, France
| | - Aurélie Prignon
- UMS28
Laboratoire d’Imagerie Moléculaire Positonique (LIMP), Sorbonne Université, Paris 75020, France
| | - Ibai E. Valverde
- Institut
de Chimie Moléculaire de l’Université de Bourgogne,
UMR CNRS 6302, Université de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
- Mailing
Address: Ibai E. Valverde,
Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de L’Université
de Bourgogne, UMR 6302, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 9, Avenue
Alain Savary, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France; , Phone: +33 380 39 90 48
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7
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White AM, Dellsén A, Larsson N, Kaas Q, Jansen F, Plowright AT, Knerr L, Durek T, Craik DJ. Late-Stage Functionalization with Cysteine Staples Generates Potent and Selective Melanocortin Receptor-1 Agonists. J Med Chem 2022; 65:12956-12969. [PMID: 36167503 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this work, cysteine staples were used as a late-stage functionalization strategy to diversify peptides and build conjugates targeting the melanocortin G-protein-coupled receptors [melanocortin receptor-1 (MC1R) and MC3R-MC5R]. Monocyclic and bicyclic agonists based on sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 were used to generate a selection of stapled peptides that were evaluated for binding (pKi) and functional activation (pEC50) of the melanocortin receptor subtypes. Stapled peptides generally had improved activity, with aromatic stapled peptides yielding selective MC1R agonists, including a xylene-stapled peptide (2) with an EC50 of 1.9 nM for MC1R and >150-fold selectivity for MC3R and MC4R. Selected stapled peptides were further functionalized with linkers and payloads, generating a series of conjugated peptides with potent MC1R activity, including one pyridazine-functionalized peptide (21) with picomolar activity at MC1R (Ki 58 pM; EC50 < 9 pM). This work demonstrates that staples can be used as modular synthetic tools to tune potency and selectivity in peptide-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Anita Dellsén
- Mechanistic Biology & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Sweden
| | - Niklas Larsson
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Sweden
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Frank Jansen
- Mechanistic Biology & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Sweden
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Sweden
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Sweden
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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8
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Translational advances of melanocortin drugs: Integrating biology, chemistry and genetics. Semin Immunol 2022; 59:101603. [PMID: 35341670 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Melanocortin receptors have emerged as important targets with a very unusual versatility, as their widespread distribution on multiple tissues (e.g. skin, adrenal glands, brain, immune cells, exocrine glands) together with the variety of physiological processes they control (pigmentation, cortisol release, satiety mechanism, inflammation, secretions), place this family of receptors as genuine therapeutic targets for many disorders. This review focuses in the journey of the development of melanocortin receptors as therapeutic targets from the discovery of their existence in the early 1990 s to the approval of the first few drugs of this class. Two major areas of development characterise the current state of melanocortin drug development: their role in obesity, recently culminated with the approval of setmelanotide, and their potential for the treatment of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or fibrosis. The pro-resolving nature of these drugs offers the advantage of acting by mimicking the way our body naturally resolves inflammation, expecting fewer side effects and a more balanced (i.e. non-immunosuppressive) response from them. Here we also review the approaches followed for the design and development of novel compounds, the importance of the GPCR nature of these receptors in the process of drug development, therapeutic value, current challenges and successes, and the potential for the implementation of precision medicine approaches through the incorporation of genetics advances.
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9
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Ericson MD, Doering SR, Larson CM, Freeman KT, LaVoi TM, Donow HM, Santos RG, Cho RH, Koerperich ZM, Giulianotti MA, Pinilla C, Houghten RA, Haskell-Luevano C. Functional Mixture-Based Positional Scan Identifies a Library of Antagonist Tetrapeptide Sequences (LAtTeS) with Nanomolar Potency for the Melanocortin-4 Receptor and Equipotent with the Endogenous AGRP(86-132) Antagonist. J Med Chem 2021; 64:14860-14875. [PMID: 34592820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) plays an important role in appetite. Agonist ligands that stimulate the MC4R decrease appetite, while antagonist compounds increase food consumption. Herein, a functional mixture-based positional scan identified novel MC4R antagonist sequences. Mixtures comprising a library of 12,960,000 tetrapeptides were screened in the presence and absence of the NDP-MSH agonist. These results led to the synthesis of 48 individual tetrapeptides, of which 40 were screened for functional activity at the melanocortin receptors. Thirteen compounds were found to possess nanomolar antagonist potency at the MC4R, with the general tetrapeptide sequence Ac-Aromatic-Basic-Aromatic-Basic-NH2. The most notable results include the identification of tetrapeptide 48 [COR1-25, Ac-DPhe(pI)-Arg-Nal(2')-Arg-NH2], an equipotent MC4R antagonist to agouti-related protein [AGRP(86-132)], more potent than miniAGRP(87-120), and possessing 15-fold selectivity for the MC4R versus the MC3R. These tetrapeptides may serve as leads for novel appetite-inducing therapies to treat states of negative energy balance, such as cachexia and anorexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Skye R Doering
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Courtney M Larson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Travis M LaVoi
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Haley M Donow
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Radleigh G Santos
- Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, United States
| | - Rachel H Cho
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zoe M Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Marc A Giulianotti
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Clemencia Pinilla
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Richard A Houghten
- Florida International University, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34987, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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10
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Durek T, Kaas Q, White AM, Weidmann J, Fuaad AA, Cheneval O, Schroeder CI, de Veer SJ, Dellsén A, Österlund T, Larsson N, Knerr L, Bauer U, Plowright AT, Craik DJ. Melanocortin 1 Receptor Agonists Based on a Bivalent, Bicyclic Peptide Framework. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9906-9915. [PMID: 34197114 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We have designed a new class of highly potent bivalent melanocortin receptor ligands based on the nature-derived bicyclic peptide sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1). Incorporation of melanotropin pharmacophores in each of the two turn regions of SFTI-1 resulted in substantial gains in agonist activity particularly at human melanocortin receptors 1 and 3 (hMC1R/hMC3R) compared to monovalent analogues. In in vitro binding and functional assays, the most potent molecule, compound 6, displayed low picomolar agonist activity at hMC1R (pEC50 > 10.3; EC50 < 50 pM; pKi: 10.16 ± 0.04; Ki: 69 ± 5 pM) and is at least 30-fold more selective for this receptor than for hMC3R, hMC4R, or hMC5R. The results are discussed in the context of structural homology models of hMCRs in complex with the developed bivalent ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Quentin Kaas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Andrew M White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Joachim Weidmann
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Abdullah Ahmad Fuaad
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Olivier Cheneval
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christina I Schroeder
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Simon J de Veer
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Anita Dellsén
- Mechanistic Biology & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Torben Österlund
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden.,Drug Safety and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Niklas Larsson
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Laurent Knerr
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Udo Bauer
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg 43183, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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11
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Yeo GSH, Chao DHM, Siegert AM, Koerperich ZM, Ericson MD, Simonds SE, Larson CM, Luquet S, Clarke I, Sharma S, Clément K, Cowley MA, Haskell-Luevano C, Van Der Ploeg L, Adan RAH. The melanocortin pathway and energy homeostasis: From discovery to obesity therapy. Mol Metab 2021; 48:101206. [PMID: 33684608 PMCID: PMC8050006 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Over the past 20 years, insights from human and mouse genetics have illuminated the central role of the brain leptin-melanocortin pathway in controlling mammalian food intake, with genetic disruption resulting in extreme obesity, and more subtle polymorphic variations influencing the population distribution of body weight. At the end of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved setmelanotide, a melanocortin 4 receptor agonist, for use in individuals with severe obesity due to either pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency. Scope of review Herein, we chart the melanocortin pathway's history, explore its pharmacology, genetics, and physiology, and describe how a neuropeptidergic circuit became an important druggable obesity target. Major conclusions Unravelling the genetics of the subset of severe obesity has revealed the importance of the melanocortin pathway in appetitive control; coupling this with studying the molecular pharmacology of compounds that bind melanocortin receptors has brought a new obesity drug to the market. This process provides a drug discovery template for complex disorders, which for setmelanotide took 25 years to transform from a single gene into an approved drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles S H Yeo
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | - Anna-Maria Siegert
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Zoe M Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
| | - Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
| | - Stephanie E Simonds
- Metabolism, Diabetes, and Obesity Programme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Courtney M Larson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
| | - Serge Luquet
- Université de Paris, BFA, UMR 8251, CNRS, Paris, France.
| | - Iain Clarke
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | | | - Karine Clément
- Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Nutrition Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Nutrition and Obesity: Systemic Approaches (NutriOmics) Research Unit, Paris, France.
| | - Michael A Cowley
- Metabolism, Diabetes, and Obesity Programme, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 55455.
| | | | - Roger A H Adan
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMCU Brain Centre, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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12
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Ericson MD, Haslach EM, Schnell SM, Freeman KT, Xiang ZM, Portillo FP, Speth R, Litherland SA, Haskell-Luevano C. Discovery of Molecular Interactions of the Human Melanocortin-4 Receptor (hMC4R) Asp189 (D189) Amino Acid with the Endogenous G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Antagonist Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Provides Insights to AGRP's Inverse Agonist Pharmacology at the hMC4R. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:542-556. [PMID: 33470098 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are important for numerous biological pathways, including feeding behavior and energy homeostasis. In addition to endogenous peptide agonists, this receptor family has two naturally occurring endogenous antagonists, agouti and agouti-related protein (AGRP). At the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), the AGRP ligand functions as an endogenous inverse agonist in the absence of agonist and as a competitive antagonist in the presence of agonist. At the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R), AGRP functions solely as a competitive antagonist in the presence of agonist. The molecular interactions that differentiate AGRP's inverse agonist activity at the MC4R have remained elusive until the findings reported herein. Upon the basis of homology molecular modeling approaches, we previously postulated a unique interaction between the D189 position of the hMC4R and Asn114 of AGRP. To further test this hypothesis, six D189 mutant hMC4Rs (D189A, D189E, D189N, D189Q, D189S, and D189K) were generated and pharmacologically characterized resulting in the discovery of differences in inverse agonist activity of AGRP and an 11 macrocyclic compound library. These data support the hypothesized interaction between the hMC4R D189 position and Asn114 residue of AGRP and define critical ligand-receptor molecular interactions responsible for the inverse agonist activity of AGRP at the hMC4R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Erica M. Haslach
- Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Sathya M. Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Zhimin M. Xiang
- Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Frederico P. Portillo
- Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Robert Speth
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328, United States
- College of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Sally A. Litherland
- Translational Research, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, Orlando, Florida 32804, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Departments of Pharmacodynamics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
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13
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Ericson MD, Shaikh R, Larson CM, Freeman KT, Haskell-Luevano C. Multiresidue Tetrapeptide Substitutions Yield a 140-fold Selective Melanocortin-3 over Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:115-120. [PMID: 33488972 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The five melanocortin receptors regulate numerous physiological functions. Although many ligands have been developed for the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), the melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) has been less-well characterized, in part due to the lack of potent, selective tool compounds. Previously an Ac-His-Arg-(pI)DPhe-Tic-NH2 scaffold, inverting the Phe-Arg motif of the native melanocortin signal sequence, was identified to possess mMC3R over mMC4R selective agonist activity. In this study, a library of 12 compounds derived from this scaffold was synthesized and assayed at the mouse melanocortin receptors (MCRs), utilizing substitutions previously shown to increase mMC3R agonist potency and/or selectivity. One compound (8, Ac-Val-Gln-DBip-DTic-NH2) was identified as greater than 140-fold selective for the mMC3R over the mMC4R, possessed 70 nM potency at the mMC3R, and partially stimulated the mMC4R at 100 μM concentrations without antagonist activity. This pharmacological profile may be useful in developing new tool and therapeutic ligands that selective signal through the MC3R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Romessa Shaikh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Courtney M. Larson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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14
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Qian M, Ricarte A, Wouters E, Dalton JAR, Risseeuw MDP, Giraldo J, Van Calenbergh S. Discovery of a true bivalent dopamine D 2 receptor agonist. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 212:113151. [PMID: 33450620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Employing two different alkyne-modified dopamine agonists to construct bivalent compounds via click chemistry resulted in the identification of a bivalent ligand (11c) for dopamine D2 receptor homodimer, which, compared to its parent monomeric alkyne, showed a 16-fold higher binding affinity for the dopamine D2 receptor and a 5-fold higher potency in a cAMP assay in HEK 293T cells stably expressing D2R. Molecular modeling revealed that 11c can indeed bridge the orthosteric binding sites of a D2R homodimer in a relaxed conformation via the TM5-TM6 interface and allows to largely rationalize the results of the receptor assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcheng Qian
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China; Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Adrián Ricarte
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Unitat de Bioestadística, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigaciói InnovacióParc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Elise Wouters
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - James A R Dalton
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Unitat de Bioestadística, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigaciói InnovacióParc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Martijn D P Risseeuw
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jesús Giraldo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Unitat de Bioestadística, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain; Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigaciói InnovacióParc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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15
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Adank DN, Lunzer MM, Ericson MD, Koeperich ZM, Wilber SL, Fleming KA, Haskell-Luevano C. Comparative Intracerebroventricular and Intrathecal Administration of a Nanomolar Macrocyclic Melanocortin Receptor Agonist MDE6-5-2c (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-DPro]) Decreases Food Intake in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3051-3063. [PMID: 32822157 PMCID: PMC7605118 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a critical need to find safe therapeutics to treat an increasingly obese population and diseases associated with an imbalance in energy homeostasis. The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) ligands have long been the focus to help scientists understand energy homeostasis and the regulation of feeding behavior. Herein, we use a nanomolar macrocyclic melanocortin receptor agonist ligand MDE6-5-2c (c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-DPro) to examine metabolic and energy hemostasis profiles upon intrathecal (IT) administration directly into the spinal cord as compared to intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration directly into the brain. Overall, central ICV administration of MDE6-5-2c resulted in decreased food intake, in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Comparison of IT versus ICV routes of MDE6-5-2c administration resulted in MDE6-5-2c possessing a longer duration of action on both feeding behavior and RER via IT. The C-peptide, ghrelin, GIP, leptin, IL-6, and resistin plasma hormones and biomarkers were compared using IT versus ICV MDE6-5-2c routes of administration. Plasma resistin levels were decreased upon ICV treatment of MDE6-5-2c, as compared to ICV vehicle control treatment. Intrathecal treatment resulted in significantly decreased inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels compared to ICV administration. Investigation of the nonselective MC3R and MC4R macrocyclic agonist MDE6-5-2c molecule revealed differences in food intake, RER, and plasma biomarker profiles based upon ICV or IT routes of administration and characterize this novel molecular chemotype as a molecular probe to study the melanocortin system in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N. Adank
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Mary M. Lunzer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Zoe M. Koeperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Katlyn A. Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
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16
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Structural Complexity and Plasticity of Signaling Regulation at the Melanocortin-4 Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165728. [PMID: 32785054 PMCID: PMC7460885 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), essential for regulation of appetite and metabolism. Pathogenic inactivating MC4R mutations are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity, a growing medical and socioeconomic problem worldwide. The MC4R mediates either ligand-independent or ligand-dependent signaling. Agonists such as α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induce anorexigenic effects, in contrast to the endogenous inverse agonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP), which causes orexigenic effects by suppressing high basal signaling activity. Agonist action triggers the binding of different subtypes of G proteins and arrestins, leading to concomitant induction of diverse intracellular signaling cascades. An increasing number of experimental studies have unraveled molecular properties and mechanisms of MC4R signal transduction related to physiological and pathophysiological aspects. In addition, the MC4R crystal structure was recently determined at 2.75 Å resolution in an inactive state bound with a peptide antagonist. Underpinned by structural homology models of MC4R complexes simulating a presumably active-state conformation compared to the structure of the inactive state, we here briefly summarize the current understanding and key players involved in the MC4R switching process between different activity states. Finally, these perspectives highlight the complexity and plasticity in MC4R signaling regulation and identify gaps in our current knowledge.
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17
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Li Z, Li J, Liu L, Deng W, Liu Q, Liu R, Zhang W, He Z, Fan L, Yang Y, Duan Y, Hou H, Wang X, Yang Z, Wang X, Chen S, Wang Y, Huang N, Chen J. Structural Insight into the Mechanism of 4-Aminoquinolines Selectivity for the alpha2A-Adrenoceptor. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2020; 14:2585-2594. [PMID: 32694911 PMCID: PMC7340475 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s214157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background α2A-adrenoceptor (AR) is a potential target for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, and α2A-AR agonists are effective drugs for this condition. However, the lack of high selectivity for α2A-AR subtype of traditional drugs greatly limits their clinic usage. Methods A series of homobivalent 4-aminoquinolines conjugated by two 4-aminoquinoline moieties via varying alkane linker length (C2-C12) were characterized for their affinities for each α2-AR subtype. Subsequently, docking, molecular dynamics and mutagenesis were applied to uncover the molecular mechanism. Results Most 4-aminoquinolines (4-aminoquinoline monomer, C2-C6, C8-C10) were selective for α2A-AR over α2B- and α2C-ARs. Besides, the affinities are of similar linker length-dependence for each α2-AR subtype. Among all the compounds tested, C10 has the highest affinity for α2A-AR (pKi=−7.45±0.62), which is 12-fold and 60-fold selective over α2B-AR and α2C-AR, respectively. Docking and molecular dynamics suggest that C10 simultaneously interacts with orthosteric and “allosteric” sites of the α2A-AR. The mutation of F205 decreases the affinity by 2-fold. The potential allosteric residues include S90, N93, E94 and W99. Conclusion The specificity of C10 for the α2A-AR and the potential orthosteric and allosteric binding sites proposed in this study provide valuable guidance for the development of novel α2A-AR subtype selective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaibing Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China.,Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingyu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyan Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyi Deng
- West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingrong Liu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruofan Liu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zhang
- West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zaiqing He
- Department of Pathology, Nuclear of Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610051, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Fan
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Nuclear of Industry 416 Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610051, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingzhuo Yang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Duan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Huifang Hou
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhimei Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanze Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Junli Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
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18
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Fulton MG, Loch MT, Rodriguez AL, Lin X, Javitch JA, Conn PJ, Niswender CM, Lindsley CW. Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of bivalent tethered ligands to target the mGlu 2/4 heterodimeric receptor results in a compound with mGlu 2/2 homodimer selectivity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127212. [PMID: 32371100 PMCID: PMC9746010 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This Letter details our ongoing efforts to develop selective positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the mGlu2/4 heterodimeric receptor that exists in the CNS and may represent a novel drug target to modulate the glutamatergic system. As multiple hit-to-lead campaigns from HTS hits failed to produce selective small molecule mGlu2/4 heterodimer PAMs, we were inspired by the work of Portoghese to synthesize and evaluate a set of nine bivalent tethered ligands (possessing an mGlu2 PAM at one terminus and an mGlu4 PAM at the other). Utilizing G protein-Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (GIRK) channel functional assays, we found that the tethered ligands displayed PAM activity in a cell line co-expressing both mGlu2 and mGlu4 but also in cells expressing mGlu2 or mGlu4 alone. In a CODA-RET assay, one of the tethered ligands potentiated mGlu2/4 heterodimers; however, another compound displayed 75-fold preference for the mGlu2/2 homodimer over heterodimeric mGlu2/4 or homomeric mGlu4/4. This work highlights the development of mGlu receptor PAMs with homodimer/heterodimer preference and expands the potential for PAMs as tethered ligands beyond the more classical antagonists and NAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark G. Fulton
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Matthew T. Loch
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Alice L. Rodriguez
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Javitch
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA,Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Craig W. Lindsley
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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19
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Winget MD, Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Haskell-Luevano C. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Melanocortin His-Phe-Arg-Trp Sequences Decrease Tetrapeptide Potency and Efficacy. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:272-277. [PMID: 32184956 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin receptors are stimulated by agonists (α-MSH, β-MSH, γ-MSH, and ACTH) processed from the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene transcript and possess a common His-Phe-Arg-Trp tetrapeptide sequence critical for receptor activation. Deficiency in POMC signaling in humans is associated with adrenal insufficiency, altered pigmentation, and rapid, early onset weight gain. Herein, 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) deposited into the Variation Viewer database within the His-Phe-Arg-Trp sequences of ACTH/α-MSH, β-MSH, and γ-MSH were substituted into tetrapeptide scaffolds to examine the in vitro signaling effects of these polymorphisms at the cloned melanocortin receptors. Every polymorphism decreased agonist potency and/or efficacy at the melanocortin receptors assayed, indicating that polymorphisms within the signaling sequence of POMC-derived agonists negatively impacts receptor activation. Future work to incorporate these substitutions into the full-length POMC agonists would confirm these findings, identifying new patient populations that might benefit from therapeutic regiments to treat POMC-deficient signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marshall D. Winget
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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20
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Koerperich ZM, Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Speth RC, Pogozheva ID, Mosberg HI, Haskell-Luevano C. Incorporation of Agouti-Related Protein (AgRP) Human Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the AgRP-Derived Macrocyclic Scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-dPro] Decreases Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonist Potency and Results in the Discovery of Melanocortin-5 Receptor Antagonists. J Med Chem 2020; 63:2194-2208. [PMID: 31845801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) are known to be involved in numerous biological pathways, the potential roles of the MC5R have not been clearly elucidated in humans. Agouti-related protein (AgRP), an MC3R/MC4R antagonist and MC4R inverse agonist, contains an exposed β-hairpin loop composed of six residues (Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe) that is imperative for binding and function. Within this active loop of AgRP, four human missense polymorphisms were deposited into the NIH Variation Viewer database. These polymorphisms, Arg111Cys, Arg111His, Phe112Tyr, and Ala115Val (AgRP full-length numbering), were incorporated into the peptide macrocycles c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Xaa5-Ala6-Phe7-dPro8], where Xaa was Dap5 or Asn5, to explore the functional effects of these naturally occurring substitutions in a simplified AgRP scaffold. All peptides lowered potency at least 10-fold in a cAMP accumulation assay compared to the parent sequences at the MC4Rs. Compounds MDE 6-82-3c, ZMK 2-82, MDE 6-82-1c, ZMK 2-85, and ZMK 2-112 are also the first AgRP-based chemotypes that antagonize the MC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe M Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Robert C Speth
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328-2018, United States.,College of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Irina D Pogozheva
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Henry I Mosberg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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21
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Botta J, Appelhans J, McCormick PJ. Continuing challenges in targeting oligomeric GPCR-based drugs. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 169:213-245. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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22
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Structure⁻Activity Relationships of the Tetrapeptide Ac-His-Arg-( pI)DPhe-Tic-NH 2 at the Mouse Melanocortin Receptors: Modification at the ( pI)DPhe Position Leads to mMC3R Versus mMC4R Selective Ligands. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24081463. [PMID: 31013889 PMCID: PMC6515519 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The five melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R) are involved in numerous biological pathways, including steroidogenesis, pigmentation, and food intake. In particular, MC3R and MC4R knockout mice suggest that the MC3R and MC4R regulate energy homeostasis in a non-redundant manner. While MC4R-selective agonists have been utilized as appetite modulating agents, the lack of MC3R-selective agonists has impeded progress in modulating this receptor in vivo. In this study, the (pI)DPhe position of the tetrapeptide Ac-His-Arg-(pI)DPhe-Tic-NH2 (an MC3R agonist/MC4R antagonist ligand) was investigated with a library of 12 compounds. The compounds in this library were found to have higher agonist efficacy and potency at the mouse (m) MC3R compared to the MC4R, indicating that the Arg-DPhe motif preferentially activates the mMC3R over the mMC4R. This observation may be used in the design of new MC3R-selective ligands, leading to novel probe and therapeutic lead compounds that will be useful for treating metabolic disorders.
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23
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Targeting the Oxytocin System: New Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2019; 40:22-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2018.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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24
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Heyder N, Kleinau G, Szczepek M, Kwiatkowski D, Speck D, Soletto L, Cerdá-Reverter JM, Krude H, Kühnen P, Biebermann H, Scheerer P. Signal Transduction and Pathogenic Modifications at the Melanocortin-4 Receptor: A Structural Perspective. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:515. [PMID: 31417496 PMCID: PMC6685040 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00515] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) can be endogenously activated by binding of melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH), which mediates anorexigenic effects. In contrast, the agouti-related peptide (AgRP) acts as an endogenous inverse agonist and suppresses ligand-independent basal signaling activity (orexigenic effects). Binding of ligands to MC4R leads to the activation of different G-protein subtypes or arrestin and concomitant signaling pathways. This receptor is a key protein in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and energy expenditure and naturally-occurring inactivating MC4R variants are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity. In general, obesity is a growing problem on a global scale and is of social, medical, and economic relevance. A significant goal is to develop optimized pharmacological tools targeting MC4R without adverse effects. To date, this has not been achieved because of inter alia non-selective ligands across the five functionally different MCR subtypes (MC1-5R). This motivates further investigation of (i) the three-dimensional MC4R structure, (ii) binding mechanisms of various ligands, and (iii) the molecular transfer process of signal transduction, with the aim of understanding how structural features are linked with functional-physiological aspects. Unfortunately, experimentally elucidated structural information is not yet available for the MC receptors, a group of class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). We, therefore, generated MC4R homology models and complexes with interacting partners to describe approximate structural properties associated with signaling mechanisms. In addition, molecular insights from pathogenic mutations were incorporated to discriminate more precisely their individual malfunction of the signal transfer mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Heyder
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Gunnar Kleinau
| | - Michal Szczepek
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Kwiatkowski
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Speck
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lucia Soletto
- Departamento de Fisiología de Peces y Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal, Ribera de Cabanes, Spain
| | - José Miguel Cerdá-Reverter
- Departamento de Fisiología de Peces y Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Acuicultura Torre de la Sal, Ribera de Cabanes, Spain
| | - Heiko Krude
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Kühnen
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Biebermann
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Patrick Scheerer
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25
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Ericson MD, Koerperich ZM, Freeman KT, Fleming KA, Haskell-Luevano C. Arg-Phe-Phe d-Amino Acid Stereochemistry Scan in the Macrocyclic Agouti-Related Protein Antagonist Scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Xxx-Ala-Phe-DPro] Results in Unanticipated Melanocortin-1 Receptor Agonist Profiles. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:3015-3023. [PMID: 29924583 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors (MC3R and MC4R), endogenous agonists derived from the proopiomelanocortin gene transcript, and naturally occurring antagonists agouti and agouti-related protein (AGRP) have been linked to biological pathways associated with energy homeostasis. The active tripeptide sequence of AGRP, Arg111-Phe112-Phe113, is located on a hypothesized β-hairpin loop. Herein, stereochemical modifications of the Arg-Phe-Phe sequence were examined in the octapeptide AGRP-derived macrocyclic scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Xxx-Ala-Phe-DPro], where Xxx was Asn or diaminopropionic acid (Dap). Macrocyclic peptides were synthesized with one, two, or three residues of the Arg-Phe-Phe sequence substituted with the corresponding d-isomer(s), generating a 14 compound library. While l-to-d inversions of the Arg-Phe-Phe sequence in a 20-residue AGRP-derived ligand previously resulted in agonist activity at the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R, only the MC1R was consistently stimulated by the macrocyclic ligands in the present study, with varying ligand potencies and efficacies observed at the MC1R. A general trend of increased MC4R antagonist potency was observed for Dap-containing compounds, while MC5R inverse agonist activity was observed for select ligands. It was observed that stereochemical modification of the Arg-Phe-Phe active tripeptide sequence was insufficient to convert melanocortin antagonist into agonists. Overall, these observations are important in the design of melanocortin ligands possessing potent and selective agonist and antagonist activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 United States
| | - Zoe M. Koerperich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 United States
| | - Katlyn A. Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 United States
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26
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Todorovic A, Lensing CJ, Holder JR, Scott JW, Sorensen NB, Haskell-Luevano C. Discovery of Melanocortin Ligands via a Double Simultaneous Substitution Strategy Based on the Ac-His-dPhe-Arg-Trp-NH 2 Template. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2753-2766. [PMID: 29783840 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system regulates an array of diverse physiological functions including pigmentation, feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, cardiovascular regulation, sexual function, and steroidogenesis. Endogenous melanocortin agonist ligands all possess the minimal messaging tetrapeptide sequence His-Phe-Arg-Trp. Based on this endogenous sequence, the Ac-His1-dPhe2-Arg3-Trp4-NH2 tetrapeptide has previously been shown to be a useful scaffold when utilizing traditional positional scanning approaches to modify activity at the various melanocortin receptors (MC1-5R). The study reported herein was undertaken to evaluate a double simultaneous substitution strategy as an approach to further diversify the Ac-His1-dPhe2-Arg3-Trp4-NH2 tetrapeptide with concurrent introduction of natural and unnatural amino acids at positions 1, 2, or 4, as well as an octanoyl residue at the N-terminus. The designed library includes the following combinations: (A) double simultaneous substitution at capping group position (Ac) together with position 1, 2, or 4, (B) double simultaneous substitution at positions 1 and 2, (C) double simultaneous substitution at positions 1 and 4, and (D) double simultaneous substitution at positions 2 and 4. Several lead ligands with unique pharmacologies were discovered in the current study including antagonists targeting the neuronal mMC3R with minimal agonist activity and ligands with selective profiles for the various melanocortin subtypes. The results suggest that the double simultaneous substitution strategy is a suitable approach in altering melanocortin receptor potency or selectivity or converting agonists into antagonists and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Todorovic
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Cody J. Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Jerry Ryan Holder
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Joseph W. Scott
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Nicholas B. Sorensen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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27
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Fleming KA, Freeman KT, Ericson MD, Haskell-Luevano C. Synergistic Multiresidue Substitutions of a Macrocyclic c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-dPro] Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Scaffold Yield Potent and >600-Fold MC4R versus MC3R Selective Melanocortin Receptor Antagonists. J Med Chem 2018; 61:7729-7740. [PMID: 30035543 PMCID: PMC6174881 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antagonist ligands of the melanocortin-3 and -4 receptors (MC3R, MC4R), including agouti-related protein (AGRP), are postulated to be targets for the treatment of diseases of negative energy balance. Previous studies reported the macrocyclic MC3R/MC4R antagonist c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Asn5-Ala6-Phe7-dPro8], which is 250-fold less potent at the mouse (m) mMC3R and 3-fold less potent at the mMC4R than AGRP. Previous studies explored the structure-activity relationships around individual positions in this template. Herein, a multiresidue substitution strategy is utilized, combining the lead sequence with hPhe4, Dap5, Arg5, Ser6, and Nle7 substitutions previously reported. Two compounds from this study (16, 20) contain an hPhe4/Ser6/Nle7 substitution pattern, are 3-6-fold more potent than AGRP at the mMC4R and are 600-800-fold selective for the mMC4R over the mMC3R. Another lead compound (21), possessing the hPhe4/Arg5 substitutions, is only 5-fold less potent than AGRP at the mMC3R and is equipotent to AGRP at the mMC4R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katlyn A. Fleming
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D. Ericson
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translation Neuroscience, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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28
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Olson KM, Keresztes A, Tashiro JK, Daconta LV, Hruby VJ, Streicher JM. Synthesis and Evaluation of a Novel Bivalent Selective Antagonist for the Mu-Delta Opioid Receptor Heterodimer that Reduces Morphine Withdrawal in Mice. J Med Chem 2018; 61:6075-6086. [PMID: 29939746 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A major limitation in the study of the mu-delta opioid receptor heterodimer (MDOR) is that few selective pharmacological tools exist and no heteromer-selective antagonists. We thus designed a series of variable-length (15-41 atoms) bivalent linked peptides with selective but moderate/low-affinity pharmacophores for the mu and delta opioid receptors. We observed a U-shaped MDOR potency/affinity profile in vitro, with the 24-atom spacer length (D24M) producing the highest MDOR potency/affinity (<1 nM) and selectivity (≥89-fold). We further evaluated D24M in mice and observed that D24M dose-dependently antagonized tail flick antinociception produced by the MDOR agonists CYM51010 and Deltorphin-II, without antagonizing the monomer agonists DAMGO and DSLET. We also observed that D24M sharply reduced withdrawal behavior in models of acute and chronic morphine dependence. These findings suggest that D24M is a first-in-class high-potency MDOR-selective antagonist both in vitro and in vivo.
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29
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Tala SR, Singh A, Lensing CJ, Schnell SM, Freeman KT, Rocca JR, Haskell-Luevano C. 1,2,3-Triazole Rings as a Disulfide Bond Mimetic in Chimeric AGRP-Melanocortin Peptides: Design, Synthesis, and Functional Characterization. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:1001-1013. [PMID: 29257879 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system is involved in the regulation of complex physiological functions, including energy and weight homeostasis, feeding behavior, inflammation, sexual function, pigmentation, and exocrine gland function. The five melanocortin receptors that belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are regulated by endogenously expressed agonists and antagonists. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of replacing the disulfide bridge in chimeric AGRP-melanocortin peptide Tyr-c[Cys-His-d-Phe-Arg-Trp-Asn-Ala-Phe-Cys]-Tyr-NH2 (1) with 1,2,3-triazole moieties. A series of 1,2,3-triazole-bridged peptidomimetics were designed, synthesized, and pharmacologically evaluated at the mouse melanocortin receptors. The ligands possessed nanomolar to micromolar agonist cAMP signaling potency. A key finding was that the disulfide bond in peptide 1 can be replaced with the monotriazole ring with minimal effect on the functional activity at the melanocortin receptors. The 1,5-disubstituted triazole-bridged peptide 6 showed equipotent functional activity at the mMC3R and modest 5-fold decreased agonist potency at the mMC4R compared to those of 1. Interestingly, the 1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted isomers of the triazole ring resulted in different selectivities at the receptor subtypes, indicating subtle structural features that may be exploited in the generation of selective melanocortin ligands. Introducing cyclic and acyclic bis-triazole moieties into chimeric AGRP template 1 generally decreased agonist activity. These results will be useful for the further design of neuronal chemical probes for the melanocortin receptors as well as in other receptor systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa R. Tala
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Anamika Singh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Cody J. Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sathya M. Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - James R. Rocca
- Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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30
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Fleming KA, Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Adank DN, Lunzer MM, Wilber SL, Haskell-Luevano C. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of a Macrocyclic AGRP-Mimetic Scaffold c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro] Yield Potent and Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonists and Melanocortin-5 Receptor Inverse Agonists That Increase Food Intake in Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:1141-1151. [PMID: 29363944 PMCID: PMC5955836 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin system has five receptors, and antagonists of the central melanocortin receptors (MC3R, MC4R) are postulated to be viable therapeutics for disorders of negative energy balance such as anorexia, cachexia, and failure to thrive. Agouti-related protein (AGRP) is an antagonist of the MC3R and an antagonist/inverse agonist of the MC4R. Biophysical NMR-based structural studies have demonstrated that the active sequence of this hormone, Arg-Phe-Phe, is located on an exposed β-hairpin loop. It has previously been demonstrated that the macrocyclic octapeptide scaffold c[Pro1-Arg2-Phe3-Phe4-Asn5-Ala6-Phe7-DPro8] is 16-fold less potent than AGRP at the mouse MC4R (mMC4R). Herein it was hypothesized that the Phe7 position may be substituted to produce more potent and/or selective melanocortin receptor antagonist ligands based on this template. A 10-membered library was synthesized that substituted small (Gly), polar (Ser), acidic (Asp), basic (Lys), aliphatic (Leu, Nle, and Cha), and aromatic (Trp, Tyr, hPhe) amino acids to explore potential modifications at the Phe7 position. The most potent mMC4R antagonist contained a Nle7 substitution, was equipotent to the lead ligand 200-fold selective for the mMC4R over the mMC3R, and caused a significant increase in food intake when injected intrathecally into male mice. Three compounds possessed sigmoidal dose-response inverse agonist curves at the mMC5R, while the remaining seven decreased cAMP production from basal levels at a concentration of 100 μM. These findings will add to the knowledge base toward the development of potent and selective probes to study the role of the melanocortin system in diseases of negative energy balance and can be useful in the design of molecular probes to examine the physiological functions of the mMC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katlyn A. Fleming
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mark D. Ericson
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Danielle N. Adank
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Mary M. Lunzer
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- University of Minnesota, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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31
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Lensing CJ, Freeman KT, Schnell SM, Speth RC, Zarth AT, Haskell-Luevano C. Developing a Biased Unmatched Bivalent Ligand (BUmBL) Design Strategy to Target the GPCR Homodimer Allosteric Signaling (cAMP over β-Arrestin 2 Recruitment) Within the Melanocortin Receptors. J Med Chem 2018; 62:144-158. [PMID: 29669202 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the functional relevance of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) homodimerization has been limited by the insufficient tools to assess asymmetric signaling occurring within dimers comprised of the same receptor type. We present unmatched bivalent ligands (UmBLs) to study the asymmetric function of melanocortin homodimers. UmBLs contain one agonist and one antagonist pharmacophore designed to target a melanocortin homodimer such that one receptor is occupied by an agonist and the other receptor by an antagonist pharmacophore. First-in-class biased UmBLs (BUmBLs) targeting the human melanocortin-4 receptor (hMC4R) were discovered. The BUmBLs displayed biased agonism by potently stimulating cAMP signaling (EC50 ∼ 2-6 nM) but minimally activating the β-arrestin recruitment pathway (≤55% maximum signal at 10 μM). To our knowledge, we report the first single-compound strategy to pharmacologically target melanocortin receptor allosteric signaling that occurs between homodimers that can be applied straightforwardly in vitro and in vivo to other GPCR systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience , University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience , University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Sathya M Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience , University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Robert C Speth
- College of Pharmacy , Nova Southeastern University , Fort Lauderdale , Florida 33328-2018 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology , Georgetown University , Washington, D.C. 20057 , United States
| | - Adam T Zarth
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience , University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States.,Masonic Cancer Center , University of Minnesota , 2231 Sixth Street SE, 2-210 CCRB , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Translational Neuroscience , University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE , Minneapolis , Minnesota 55455 , United States
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32
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Ericson MD, Singh A, Tala SR, Haslach EM, Dirain MLS, Schaub JW, Flores V, Eick N, Lensing CJ, Freeman KT, Smeester BA, Adank DN, Wilber SL, Speth R, Haskell-Luevano C. Human β-Defensin 1 and β-Defensin 3 (Mouse Ortholog mBD14) Function as Full Endogenous Agonists at Select Melanocortin Receptors. J Med Chem 2018; 61:3738-3744. [PMID: 29578343 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
β-Defensin 3 (BD3) was identified as a ligand for the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) in 2007, although the pharmacology activity of BD3 has not been clearly elucidated. Herein, it is demonstrated that human BD3 and mouse BD3 are full micromolar agonists at the MCRs. Furthermore, mouse β-defensin 1 (BD1) and human BD1 are also MCR micromolar agonists. This work identifies BD1 as an endogenous MCR ligand and clarifies the controversial role of BD3 as a micromolar agonist.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anamika Singh
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Srinivasa R Tala
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Erica M Haslach
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Marvin L S Dirain
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Jay W Schaub
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Viktor Flores
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | - Natalie Eick
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert Speth
- College of Pharmacy , Nova Southeastern University , Fort Lauderdale , Florida 33328 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology , Georgetown University , Washington, D.C. 20057 , United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Departments of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacodynamics , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32610 , United States
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33
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Adank DN, Lunzer MM, Lensing CJ, Wilber SL, Gancarz AM, Haskell-Luevano C. Comparative in Vivo Investigation of Intrathecal and Intracerebroventricular Administration with Melanocortin Ligands MTII and AGRP into Mice. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:320-327. [PMID: 28968061 PMCID: PMC5821609 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Central administration of melanocortin ligands has been used as a critical technique to study energy homeostasis. While intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection is the most commonly used method during these investigations, intrathecal (IT) injection can be equally efficacious for the central delivery of ligands. Importantly, intrathecal administration can optimize exploration of melanocortin receptors in the spinal cord. Herein, we investigate comparative IT and ICV administration of two melanocortin ligands, the synthetic MTII (Ac-Nle-c[Asp-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2) MC4R agonist and agouti-related peptide [AGRP(87-132)] MC4R inverse agonist/antagonist, on the same batch of age-matched mice in TSE metabolic cages undergoing a nocturnal satiated paradigm. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test how central administration of these ligands directly to the spinal cord affects energy homeostasis. Results showed, as expected, that MTII IT administration caused a decrease in food and water intake and an overall negative energy balance without affecting activity. As anticipated, IT administration of AGRP caused weight gain, increase of food/water intake, and increase respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Unexpectantly, the prolonged activity of AGRP was notably shorter (2 days) compared to mice given ICV injections of the same concentrations in previous studies (7 days or more).1-4 It appears that IT administration results in a more sensitive response that may be a good approach for testing synthetic compound potency values ranging in nanomolar to high micromolar in vitro EC50 values. Indeed, our investigation reveals that the spine influences a different melanocortin response compared to the brain for the AGRP ligand. This study indicates that IT administration can be a useful technique for future metabolic studies using melanocortin ligands and highlights the importance of exploring the role of melanocortin receptors in the spinal cord.
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MESH Headings
- Agouti-Related Protein/administration & dosage
- Animals
- Body Weight/drug effects
- Catheters, Indwelling
- Cross-Over Studies
- Eating/drug effects
- Homeostasis/drug effects
- Injections, Intraventricular
- Injections, Spinal
- Male
- Mice, 129 Strain
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/agonists
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/metabolism
- Time Factors
- alpha-MSH/administration & dosage
- alpha-MSH/analogs & derivatives
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle N. Adank
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Mary M. Lunzer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Cody J. Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
| | - Amy M. Gancarz
- Department of Psychology, California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA 93311, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
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34
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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Schnell SM, Fleming KA, Haskell-Luevano C. Structure-Activity Relationship Studies on a Macrocyclic Agouti-Related Protein (AGRP) Scaffold Reveal Agouti Signaling Protein (ASP) Residue Substitutions Maintain Melanocortin-4 Receptor Antagonist Potency and Result in Inverse Agonist Pharmacology at the Melanocortin-5 Receptor. J Med Chem 2017; 60:8103-8114. [PMID: 28813605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The melanocortin system consists of five reported receptors, agonists from the proopiomelanocortin gene transcript, and two antagonists, agouti-signaling protein (ASP) and agouti-related protein (AGRP). For both ASP and AGRP, the hypothesized Arg-Phe-Phe pharmacophores are on exposed β-hairpin loops. In this study, the Asn and Ala positions of a reported AGRP macrocyclic scaffold (c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro]) were explored with 14-compound and 8-compound libraries, respectively, to generate more potent, selective melanocortin receptor antagonists. Substituting diaminopropionic acid (Dap), DDap, and His at the Asn position yielded potent MC4R ligands, while replacing Ala with Ser maintained MC4R potency. Since these substitutions correlate to ASP loop residues, an additional Phe to Ala substitution was synthesized and observed to maintain MC4R potency. Seventeen compounds also possessed inverse agonist activity at the MC5R, the first report of this pharmacology. These findings are useful in developing molecular probes to study negative energy balance conditions and unidentified functions of the MC5R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sathya M Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katlyn A Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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35
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Ericson MD, Lensing CJ, Fleming KA, Schlasner KN, Doering SR, Haskell-Luevano C. Bench-top to clinical therapies: A review of melanocortin ligands from 1954 to 2016. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2017; 1863:2414-2435. [PMID: 28363699 PMCID: PMC5600687 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the endogenous melanocortin agonists in the 1950s have resulted in sixty years of melanocortin ligand research. Early efforts involved truncations or select modifications of the naturally occurring agonists leading to the development of many potent and selective ligands. With the identification and cloning of the five known melanocortin receptors, many ligands were improved upon through bench-top in vitro assays. Optimization of select properties resulted in ligands adopted as clinical candidates. A summary of every melanocortin ligand is outside the scope of this review. Instead, this review will focus on the following topics: classic melanocortin ligands, selective ligands, small molecule (non-peptide) ligands, ligands with sex-specific effects, bivalent and multivalent ligands, and ligands advanced to clinical trials. Each topic area will be summarized with current references to update the melanocortin field on recent progress. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Melanocortin Receptors - edited by Ya-Xiong Tao.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Cody J Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katlyn A Fleming
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katherine N Schlasner
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Skye R Doering
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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36
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Lensing CJ, Adank DN, Wilber SL, Freeman KT, Schnell SM, Speth RC, Zarth AT, Haskell-Luevano C. A Direct in Vivo Comparison of the Melanocortin Monovalent Agonist Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH 2 versus the Bivalent Agonist Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-PEDG20-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH 2: A Bivalent Advantage. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:1262-1278. [PMID: 28128928 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bivalent ligands targeting putative melanocortin receptor dimers have been developed and characterized in vitro; however, studies of their functional in vivo effects have been limited. The current report compares the effects of homobivalent ligand CJL-1-87, Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-PEDG20-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2, to monovalent ligand CJL-1-14, Ac-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-NH2, on energy homeostasis in mice after central intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration into the lateral ventricle of the brain. Bivalent ligand CJL-1-87 had noteworthy advantages as an antiobesity probe over CJL-1-14 in a fasting-refeeding in vivo paradigm. Treatment with CJL-1-87 significantly decreased food intake compared to CJL-1-14 or saline (50% less intake 2-8 h after treatment). Furthermore, CJL-1-87 treatment decreased the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) without changing the energy expenditure indicating that fats were being burned as the primary fuel source. Additionally, CJL-1-87 treatment significantly lowered body fat mass percentage 6 h after administration (p < 0.05) without changing the lean mass percentage. The bivalent ligand significantly decreased insulin, C-peptide, leptin, GIP, and resistin plasma levels compared to levels after CJL-1-14 or saline treatments. Alternatively, ghrelin plasma levels were significantly increased. Serum stability of CJL-1-87 and CJL-1-14 (T1/2 = 6.0 and 16.8 h, respectively) was sufficient to permit physiological effects. The differences in binding affinity of CJL-1-14 compared to CJL-1-87 are speculated as a possible mechanism for the bivalent ligand's unique effects. We also provide in vitro evidence for the formation of a MC3R-MC4R heterodimer complex, for the first time to our knowledge, that may be an unexploited neuronal molecular target. Regardless of the exact mechanism, the advantageous ability of CJL-1-87 compared to CJL-1-14 to increase in vitro binding affinity, increase the duration of action in spite of decreased serum stability, decrease in vivo food intake, decrease mice's body fat percent, and differentially affect mouse hormone levels demonstrates the distinct characteristics achieved from the current melanocortin agonist bivalent design strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Lensing
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Danielle N. Adank
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T. Freeman
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sathya M. Schnell
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Robert C. Speth
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328-2018, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Adam T. Zarth
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 2231 6th Street SE, 2-210 CCRB, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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37
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Ericson MD, Freeman KT, Schnell SM, Haskell-Luevano C. A Macrocyclic Agouti-Related Protein/[Nle 4,DPhe 7]α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone Chimeric Scaffold Produces Subnanomolar Melanocortin Receptor Ligands. J Med Chem 2017; 60:805-813. [PMID: 28045525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The melanocortin system consists of five receptor subtypes, endogenous agonists, and naturally occurring antagonists. These receptors and ligands have been implicated in numerous biological pathways including processes linked to obesity and food intake. Herein, a truncation structure-activity relationship study of chimeric agouti-related protein (AGRP)/[Nle4,DPhe7]α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH) ligands is reported. The tetrapeptide His-DPhe-Arg-Trp or tripeptide DPhe-Arg-Trp replaced the Arg-Phe-Phe sequence in the AGRP active loop derivative c[Pro-Arg-Phe-Phe-Xxx-Ala-Phe-DPro], where Xxx was the native Asn of AGRP or a diaminopropionic (Dap) acid residue previously shown to increase antagonist potency at the mMC4R. The Phe, Ala, and Dap/Asn residues were successively removed to generate a 14-member library that was assayed for agonist activity at the mouse MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R. Two compounds possessed nanomolar agonist potency at the mMC4R, c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Asn-Ala-Phe-DPro] and c[Pro-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Dap-Ala-DPro], and may be further developed to generate novel melanocortin probes and ligands for understanding and treating obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Ericson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Katie T Freeman
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sathya M Schnell
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
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38
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Lensing CJ, Adank DN, Doering SR, Wilber SL, Andreasen A, Schaub JW, Xiang Z, Haskell-Luevano C. Ac-Trp-DPhe(p-I)-Arg-Trp-NH2, a 250-Fold Selective Melanocortin-4 Receptor (MC4R) Antagonist over the Melanocortin-3 Receptor (MC3R), Affects Energy Homeostasis in Male and Female Mice Differently. ACS Chem Neurosci 2016; 7:1283-91. [PMID: 27385405 PMCID: PMC5687811 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.6b00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) has been indicated as a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders such as anorexia, cachexia, and obesity. The current study investigates the in vivo effects on energy homeostasis of a 15 nM MC4R antagonist SKY2-23-7, Ac-Trp-DPhe(p-I)-Arg-Trp-NH2, that is a 3700 nM melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) antagonist with minimal MC3R and MC4R agonist activity. When monitoring both male and female mice in TSE metabolic cages, sex-specific responses were observed in food intake, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and energy expenditure. A 7.5 nmol dose of SKY2-23-7 increased food intake, increased RER, and trended toward decreasing energy expenditure in male mice. However, this compound had minimal effect on female mice's food intake and RER at the 7.5 nmol dose. A 2.5 nmol dose of SKY2-23-7 significantly increased female food intake, RER, and energy expenditure while having a minimal effect on male mice at this dose. The observed sex differences of SKY2-23-7 administration result in the discovery of a novel chemical probe for elucidating the molecular mechanisms of the sexual dimorphism present within the melanocortin pathway. To further explore the melanocortin sexual dimorphism, hypothalamic gene expression was examined. The mRNA expression of the MC3R and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) were not significantly different between sexes. However, the expression of agouti-related peptide (AGRP) was significantly higher in female mice which may be a possible mechanism for the sex-specific effects observed with SKY2-23-7.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Eating/drug effects
- Energy Metabolism/drug effects
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Oligopeptides/pharmacology
- Peptide Fragments/pharmacology
- Peptide YY/pharmacology
- Perilipin-2/genetics
- Perilipin-2/metabolism
- Pro-Opiomelanocortin/genetics
- Pro-Opiomelanocortin/metabolism
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3/genetics
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 3/metabolism
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/genetics
- Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4/metabolism
- Sex Factors
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody J. Lensing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Danielle N. Adank
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Skye R. Doering
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stacey L. Wilber
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Amy Andreasen
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jay W. Schaub
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Zhimin Xiang
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Carrie Haskell-Luevano
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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39
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Busnelli M, Kleinau G, Muttenthaler M, Stoev S, Manning M, Bibic L, Howell LA, McCormick PJ, Di Lascio S, Braida D, Sala M, Rovati GE, Bellini T, Chini B. Design and Characterization of Superpotent Bivalent Ligands Targeting Oxytocin Receptor Dimers via a Channel-Like Structure. J Med Chem 2016; 59:7152-66. [PMID: 27420737 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Dimeric/oligomeric states of G-protein coupled receptors have been difficult to target. We report here bivalent ligands consisting of two identical oxytocin-mimetics that induce a three order magnitude boost in G-protein signaling of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in vitro and a 100- and 40-fold gain in potency in vivo in the social behavior of mice and zebrafish. Through receptor mutagenesis and interference experiments with synthetic peptides mimicking transmembrane helices (TMH), we show that such superpotent behavior follows from the binding of the bivalent ligands to dimeric receptors based on a TMH1-TMH2 interface. Moreover, in this arrangement, only the analogues with a well-defined spacer length (∼25 Å) precisely fit inside a channel-like passage between the two protomers of the dimer. The newly discovered oxytocin bivalent ligands represent a powerful tool for targeting dimeric OTR in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and, in general, provide a framework to untangle specific arrangements of G-protein coupled receptor dimers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Busnelli
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience , Milan, Italy 20129.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20129
| | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Berlin, Germany 13353
| | - Markus Muttenthaler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland , Brisbane, Australia 4072
| | - Stoytcho Stoev
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio 43614, United States
| | - Maurice Manning
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, University of Toledo , Toledo, Ohio 43614, United States
| | - Lucka Bibic
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia , Norwich Research Park, Norwich, U.K. NR4 7TJ
| | - Lesley A Howell
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia , Norwich Research Park, Norwich, U.K. NR4 7TJ
| | - Peter J McCormick
- School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia , Norwich Research Park, Norwich, U.K. NR4 7TJ
| | - Simona Di Lascio
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20129
| | - Daniela Braida
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20129
| | - Mariaelvina Sala
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience , Milan, Italy 20129.,Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20129
| | - G Enrico Rovati
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20133
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan, Italy 20129
| | - Bice Chini
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience , Milan, Italy 20129
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