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Camerin L, Maleeva G, Gomila AMJ, Suárez-Pereira I, Matera C, Prischich D, Opar E, Riefolo F, Berrocoso E, Gorostiza P. Photoswitchable Carbamazepine Analogs for Non-Invasive Neuroinhibition In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202403636. [PMID: 38887153 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202403636] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
A problem of systemic pharmacotherapy is off-target activity, which causes adverse effects. Outstanding examples include neuroinhibitory medications like antiseizure drugs, which are used against epilepsy and neuropathic pain but cause systemic side effects. There is a need of drugs that inhibit nerve signals locally and on-demand without affecting other regions of the body. Photopharmacology aims to address this problem with light-activated drugs and localized illumination in the target organ. Here, we have developed photoswitchable derivatives of the widely prescribed antiseizure drug carbamazepine. For that purpose, we expanded our method of ortho azologization of tricyclic drugs to meta/para and to N-bridged diazocine. Our results validate the concept of ortho cryptoazologs (uniquely exemplified by Carbazopine-1) and bring to light Carbadiazocine (8), which can be photoswitched between 400-590 nm light (using violet LEDs and halogen lamps) and shows good drug-likeness and predicted safety. Both compounds display photoswitchable activity in vitro and in translucent zebrafish larvae. Carbadiazocine (8) also offers in vivo analgesic efficacy (mechanical and thermal stimuli) in a rat model of neuropathic pain and a simple and compelling treatment demonstration with non-invasive illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Camerin
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Doctorate program in organic chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - Galyna Maleeva
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Alexandre M J Gomila
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Irene Suárez-Pereira
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, 11003, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Mental Health (CIBER-SAM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz, INiBICA, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, 11009, Spain
| | - Carlo Matera
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Davia Prischich
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Current address: Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London, SW120BZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ekin Opar
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
| | - Fabio Riefolo
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Current address: Teamit Institute, Partnerships, Barcelona Health Hub, Barcelona, 08025, Spain
| | - Esther Berrocoso
- Neuropsychopharmacology & Psychobiology Research Group, Department of Neuroscience, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, 11003, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Mental Health (CIBER-SAM), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of Cádiz, INiBICA, University Hospital Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, 11009, Spain
| | - Pau Gorostiza
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials, and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), ISCIII, Madrid, 28029, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010, Spain
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Petukhova E, Ponomareva D, Rustler K, Koenig B, Bregestovski P. Action of the Photochrome Glyght on GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in Mouse Brain Slices. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810553. [PMID: 36142469 PMCID: PMC9503965 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glyght is a new photochromic compound described as an effective modulator of glycine receptors at heterologous expression, in brain slices and in zebrafish larvae. Glyght also caused weak inhibition of GABAA-mediated currents in a cell line expressing α1/β2/γ2 GABAA receptors. However, the effects of Glyght on GABAergic transmission in the brain have not been analysed, which does not allow a sufficiently comprehensive assessment of the effects of the compound on the nervous system. Therefore, in this study using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, we analysed the Glyght (100 µM) action on evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in mice hippocampal slices. Two populations of cells were found: the first responded by reducing the GABAergic eIPSCs’ amplitude, whereas the second showed no sensitivity to the compound. Glyght did not affect the ionic currents’ amplitude induced by GABA application, suggesting the absence of action on postsynaptic GABA receptors. Additionally, Glyght had no impact on the paired-pulse modulation of GABAergic eIPSCs, indicating that Glyght does not modulate the neurotransmitter release mechanisms. In the presence of strychnine, an antagonist of glycine receptors, the Glyght effect on GABAergic synaptic transmission was absent. Our results suggest that Glyght can modulate GABAergic synaptic transmission via action on extrasynaptic glycine receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Petukhova
- Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- OpenLab Gene and Cell Technologies, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Daria Ponomareva
- Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, INS, 13005 Marseille, France
- Department of Normal Physiology, Kazan State Medical University, 420111 Kazan, Russia
| | - Karin Rustler
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Burkhard Koenig
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Piotr Bregestovski
- Institute of Neurosciences, Kazan State Medical University, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM, INS, 13005 Marseille, France
- Department of Normal Physiology, Kazan State Medical University, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Brondi M, Bruzzone M, Lodovichi C, dal Maschio M. Optogenetic Methods to Investigate Brain Alterations in Preclinical Models. Cells 2022; 11:1848. [PMID: 35681542 PMCID: PMC9180859 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigating the neuronal dynamics supporting brain functions and understanding how the alterations in these mechanisms result in pathological conditions represents a fundamental challenge. Preclinical research on model organisms allows for a multiscale and multiparametric analysis in vivo of the neuronal mechanisms and holds the potential for better linking the symptoms of a neurological disorder to the underlying cellular and circuit alterations, eventually leading to the identification of therapeutic/rescue strategies. In recent years, brain research in model organisms has taken advantage, along with other techniques, of the development and continuous refinement of methods that use light and optical approaches to reconstruct the activity of brain circuits at the cellular and system levels, and to probe the impact of the different neuronal components in the observed dynamics. These tools, combining low-invasiveness of optical approaches with the power of genetic engineering, are currently revolutionizing the way, the scale and the perspective of investigating brain diseases. The aim of this review is to describe how brain functions can be investigated with optical approaches currently available and to illustrate how these techniques have been adopted to study pathological alterations of brain physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Brondi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council-CNR, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy; (M.B.); (C.L.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Matteo Bruzzone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35121 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Claudia Lodovichi
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council-CNR, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy; (M.B.); (C.L.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35121 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco dal Maschio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35121 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Università degli Studi di Padova, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy
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Kneuttinger AC. A guide to designing photocontrol in proteins: methods, strategies and applications. Biol Chem 2022; 403:573-613. [PMID: 35355495 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Light is essential for various biochemical processes in all domains of life. In its presence certain proteins inside a cell are excited, which either stimulates or inhibits subsequent cellular processes. The artificial photocontrol of specifically proteins is of growing interest for the investigation of scientific questions on the organismal, cellular and molecular level as well as for the development of medicinal drugs or biocatalytic tools. For the targeted design of photocontrol in proteins, three major methods have been developed over the last decades, which employ either chemical engineering of small-molecule photosensitive effectors (photopharmacology), incorporation of photoactive non-canonical amino acids by genetic code expansion (photoxenoprotein engineering), or fusion with photoreactive biological modules (hybrid protein optogenetics). This review compares the different methods as well as their strategies and current applications for the light-regulation of proteins and provides background information useful for the implementation of each technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Kneuttinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
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Nin-Hill A, Mueller NPF, Molteni C, Rovira C, Alfonso-Prieto M. Photopharmacology of Ion Channels through the Light of the Computational Microscope. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12072. [PMID: 34769504 PMCID: PMC8584574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The optical control and investigation of neuronal activity can be achieved and carried out with photoswitchable ligands. Such compounds are designed in a modular fashion, combining a known ligand of the target protein and a photochromic group, as well as an additional electrophilic group for tethered ligands. Such a design strategy can be optimized by including structural data. In addition to experimental structures, computational methods (such as homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling techniques) can provide structural insights to guide photoswitch design and to understand the observed light-regulated effects. This review discusses the application of such structure-based computational methods to photoswitchable ligands targeting voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels. Structural mapping may help identify residues near the ligand binding pocket amenable for mutagenesis and covalent attachment. Modeling of the target protein in a complex with the photoswitchable ligand can shed light on the different activities of the two photoswitch isomers and the effect of site-directed mutations on photoswitch binding, as well as ion channel subtype selectivity. The examples presented here show how the integration of computational modeling with experimental data can greatly facilitate photoswitchable ligand design and optimization. Recent advances in structural biology, both experimental and computational, are expected to further strengthen this rational photopharmacology approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Nin-Hill
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-H.); (C.R.)
| | - Nicolas Pierre Friedrich Mueller
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Carla Molteni
- Physics Department, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK;
| | - Carme Rovira
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica (Secció de Química Orgànica) and Institut de Química Teòrica i Computacional (IQTCUB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.N.-H.); (C.R.)
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), 08020 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto
- Institute for Advanced Simulations IAS-5 and Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-9, Computational Biomedicine, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute for Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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