1
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Steffen J, Ngo J, Wang SP, Williams K, Kramer HF, Ho G, Rodriguez C, Yekkala K, Amuzie C, Bialecki R, Norquay L, Nawrocki AR, Erion M, Pocai A, Shirihai OS, Liesa M. The mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 in liver is required to mitigate NASH and prevents the activation of the mitochondrial ISR. Mol Metab 2022; 64:101566. [PMID: 35940556 PMCID: PMC9420962 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2022.101566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 was proposed to promote NAFLD, as inhibition of hepatocyte Drp1 early in life prevents liver steatosis induced by high-fat diet in mice. However, whether Drp1-knockdown in older mice can reverse established NASH is unknown. METHODS N-acetylgalactosamine-siRNA conjugates, an FDA approved method to deliver siRNA selectively to hepatocytes, were used to knockdown hepatocyte-Drp1 in mice (NAG-Drp1si). NASH was induced in C57BL/6NTac mice by Gubra-Amylin-NASH diet (D09100310, 40% fat, 22% fructose and 2% cholesterol) and treatment with NAG-Drp1si was started at week 24 of diet. Circulating transaminases, liver histology, gene expression of fibrosis and inflammation markers, and hydroxyproline synthesis determined NASH severity. Liver NEFA and triglycerides were quantified by GC/MS. Mitochondrial function was determined by respirometry. Western blots of Oma1, Opa1, p-eIf2α, as well as transcriptional analyses of Atf4-regulated genes determined ISR engagement. RESULTS NAG-Drp1si treatment decreased body weight and induced liver inflammation in adult healthy mice. Increased hepatic Gdf15 production was the major contributor to body-weight loss caused by NAG-Drp1si treatment, as Gdf15 receptor deletion (Gfral KO) prevented the decrease in food intake and mitigated weight loss. NAG-Drp1si activated the Atf4-controlled integrated stress response (ISR) to increase hepatic Gdf15 expression. NAG-Drp1si in healthy mice caused ER stress and activated the mitochondrial protease Oma1, which are the ER and mitochondrial triggers that activate the Atf4-controlled ISR. Remarkably, induction of NASH was not sufficient to activate Oma1 in liver. However, NAG-Drp1si treatment was sufficient to activate Oma1 in adult mice with NASH, as well as exacerbating NASH-induced ER stress. Consequently, NAG-Drp1si treatment in mice with NASH led to higher ISR activation, exacerbated inflammation, fibrosis and necrosis. CONCLUSION Drp1 mitigates NASH by decreasing ER stress, preventing Oma1 activation and ISR exacerbation. The elevation in Gdf15 actions induced by NAG-Drp1si might represent an adaptive response decreasing the nutrient load to liver when mitochondria are misfunctional. Our study argues against blocking Drp1 in hepatocytes to combat NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janos Steffen
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Jennifer Ngo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA. 607 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 650 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Kevin Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA. 607 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Henning F Kramer
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - George Ho
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Carlos Rodriguez
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Krishna Yekkala
- Preclinical Safety and Translational Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Chidozie Amuzie
- Preclinical Safety and Translational Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Russell Bialecki
- Preclinical Safety and Translational Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Lisa Norquay
- Business Development, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Andrea R Nawrocki
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Mark Erion
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA
| | - Alessandro Pocai
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Research, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, 1400 McKean Road, Spring House, PA 19477-0776, USA.
| | - Orian S Shirihai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 650 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 650 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Marc Liesa
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 650 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 650 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute at UCLA, 611 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1570, USA; Institut de Biologia Molecular de Barcelona, IBMB, CSIC, Baldiri Reixac 4-8, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08028, Spain.
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2
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Palani A, Nawrocki AR, Orvieto F, Bianchi E, Mandić E, Pessi A, Huang C, Deng Q, Toussaint N, Walsh E, Reddy V, Ashley E, He H, Mumick S, Hawes B, Marsh D, Erion M, Nargund R, Carrington PE. Discovery of MK-1462: GLP-1 and Glucagon Receptor Dual Agonist for the Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1248-1254. [PMID: 35978682 PMCID: PMC9377002 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based analogues of the gut-derived incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. Currently marketed GLP1 receptor (GLP1R) agonists are safe and effective in the management of Type 2 diabetes but often offer only modest weight loss. This has prompted the search for safe and effective alternatives to enhance the weight loss component of these treatments. We have demonstrated that concomitant activation GLP1R and the glucagon receptor (GCGR) can improve glucose metabolism and provide superior weight loss when compared to selective GLP1R agonism in preclinical species. This paper will highlight chemistry structure-activity relationship optimization and summarize in vivo efficacy studies toward the discovery of a once daily balanced dual agonist 12 (MK-1462), which was advanced into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandan Palani
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Andrea R. Nawrocki
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Federica Orvieto
- Peptide
Chemistry Unit, Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina, Km 30.600, 00071 Roma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bianchi
- Peptide
Chemistry Unit, Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina, Km 30.600, 00071 Roma, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mandić
- Peptide
Chemistry Unit, Peptides and Small Molecules R&D, IRBM SpA, Via Pontina, Km 30.600, 00071 Roma, Italy
| | | | - Chunhui Huang
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Qiaolin Deng
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Nathalie Toussaint
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Erika Walsh
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Vijay Reddy
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Eric Ashley
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Huaibing He
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Sheena Mumick
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Brian Hawes
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Donald Marsh
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Mark Erion
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Ravi Nargund
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
| | - Paul E. Carrington
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, New Jersey 07033 United States
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3
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Rady B, Nishio T, Dhar D, Liu X, Erion M, Kisseleva T, Brenner DA, Pocai A. PNPLA3 downregulation exacerbates the fibrotic response in human hepatic stellate cells. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260721. [PMID: 34879108 PMCID: PMC8654208 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) results, in part, from the interaction of metabolic derangements with predisposing genetic variants, leading to liver-related complications and mortality. The strongest genetic determinant is a highly prevalent missense variant in patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3 p.I148M). In human liver hepatocytes PNPLA3 localizes to the surface of lipid droplets where the mutant form is believed to enhance lipid accumulation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Less is known about the role of PNPLA3 in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Here we characterized HSC obtained from patients carrying the wild type (n = 8 C/C) and the heterozygous (n = 6, C/G) or homozygous (n = 6, G/G) PNPLA3 I148M and investigated the effect of genotype and PNPLA3 downregulation on baseline and TGF-β-stimulated fibrotic gene expression. HSCs from all genotypes showed comparable baseline levels of PNPLA3 and expression of the fibrotic genes α-SMA, COL1A1, TIMP1 and SMAD7. Treatment with TGF-β increased PNPLA3 expression in all 3 genotypes (~2-fold) and resulted in similar stimulation of the expression of several fibrogenic genes. In primary human HSCs carrying wild-type (WT) PNPLA3, siRNA treatment reduced PNPLA3 mRNA by 79% resulting in increased expression of α-SMA, Col1a1, TIMP1, and SMAD7 in cells stimulated with TGF-β. Similarly, knock-down of PNPLA3 in HSCs carrying either C/G or G/G genotypes resulted in potentiation of TGF-β induced expression of fibrotic genes. Knockdown of PNPLA3 did not impact fibrotic gene expression in the absence of TGF-β treatment. Together, these data indicate that the presence of the I148M PNPLA3 mutation in HSC has no effect on baseline activation and that downregulation of PNPLA3 exacerbates the fibrotic response irrespective of the genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Rady
- Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, PA, United States of America
| | - Takahiro Nishio
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Debanjan Dhar
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark Erion
- Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, PA, United States of America
| | - Tatiana Kisseleva
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - David A. Brenner
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Pocai
- Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Spring House, PA, United States of America
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4
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Li NX, Brown S, Kowalski T, Wu M, Yang L, Dai G, Petrov A, Ding Y, Dlugos T, Wood HB, Wang L, Erion M, Sherwin R, Kelley DE. GPR119 Agonism Increases Glucagon Secretion During Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia. Diabetes 2018; 67:1401-1413. [PMID: 29669745 PMCID: PMC6014553 DOI: 10.2337/db18-0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-induced hypoglycemia in diabetes is associated with impaired glucagon secretion. In this study, we tested whether stimulation of GPR119, a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed in pancreatic islet as well as enteroendocrine cells and previously shown to stimulate insulin and incretin secretion, might enhance glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia. In the study, GPR119 agonists were applied to isolated islets or perfused pancreata to assess insulin and glucagon secretion during hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic conditions. Insulin infusion hypoglycemic clamps were performed with or without GPR119 agonist pretreatment to assess glucagon counterregulation in healthy and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, including those exposed to recurrent bouts of insulin-induced hypoglycemia that leads to suppression of hypoglycemia-induced glucagon release. Hypoglycemic clamp studies were also conducted in GPR119 knockout (KO) mice to evaluate whether the pharmacological stimulatory actions of GPR119 agonists on glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia were an on-target effect. The results revealed that GPR119 agonist-treated pancreata or cultured islets had increased glucagon secretion during low glucose perfusion. In vivo, GPR119 agonists also significantly increased glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia in healthy and STZ-diabetic rats, a response that was absent in GPR119 KO mice. In addition, impaired glucagon counterregulatory responses were restored by a GPR119 agonist in STZ-diabetic rats that were exposed to antecedent bouts of hypoglycemia. Thus, GPR119 agonists have the ability to pharmacologically augment glucagon secretion, specifically in response to hypoglycemia in diabetic rodents. Whether this effect might serve to diminish the occurrence and severity of iatrogenic hypoglycemia during intensive insulin therapy in patients with diabetes remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Xiaoyan Li
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - Tim Kowalski
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Margaret Wu
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Liming Yang
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Ge Dai
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Aleksandr Petrov
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | | | - Harold B Wood
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Liangsu Wang
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Mark Erion
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - David E Kelley
- Discovery, Preclinical and Early Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
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5
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Kaarsholm NC, Lin S, Yan L, Kelly T, van Heek M, Mu J, Wu M, Dai G, Cui Y, Zhu Y, Carballo-Jane E, Reddy V, Zafian P, Huo P, Shi S, Antochshuk V, Ogawa A, Liu F, Souza SC, Seghezzi W, Duffy JL, Erion M, Nargund RP, Kelley DE. Erratum. Engineering Glucose Responsiveness Into Insulin. Diabetes 2018;67:299-308. Diabetes 2018; 67:1030. [PMID: 29487114 PMCID: PMC5909992 DOI: 10.2337/db18-er05a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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6
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Kaarsholm NC, Lin S, Yan L, Kelly T, van Heek M, Mu J, Wu M, Dai G, Cui Y, Zhu Y, Carballo-Jane E, Reddy V, Zafian P, Huo P, Shi S, Antochshuk V, Ogawa A, Liu F, Souza SC, Seghezzi W, Duffy JL, Erion M, Nargund RP, Kelley DE. Engineering Glucose Responsiveness Into Insulin. Diabetes 2018; 67:299-308. [PMID: 29097375 DOI: 10.2337/db17-0577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Insulin has a narrow therapeutic index, reflected in a small margin between a dose that achieves good glycemic control and one that causes hypoglycemia. Once injected, the clearance of exogenous insulin is invariant regardless of blood glucose, aggravating the potential to cause hypoglycemia. We sought to create a "smart" insulin, one that can alter insulin clearance and hence insulin action in response to blood glucose, mitigating risk for hypoglycemia. The approach added saccharide units to insulin to create insulin analogs with affinity for both the insulin receptor (IR) and mannose receptor C-type 1 (MR), which functions to clear endogenous mannosylated proteins, a principle used to endow insulin analogs with glucose responsivity. Iteration of these efforts culminated in the discovery of MK-2640, and its in vitro and in vivo preclinical properties are detailed in this report. In glucose clamp experiments conducted in healthy dogs, as plasma glucose was lowered stepwise from 280 mg/dL to 80 mg/dL, progressively more MK-2640 was cleared via MR, reducing by ∼30% its availability for binding to the IR. In dose escalations studies in diabetic minipigs, a higher therapeutic index for MK-2640 (threefold) was observed versus regular insulin (1.3-fold).
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Inbred Strains
- Binding, Competitive
- CHO Cells
- Cricetulus
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/blood
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/drug therapy
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/metabolism
- Dogs
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Design
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Half-Life
- Humans
- Hyperglycemia/prevention & control
- Hypoglycemia/chemically induced
- Hypoglycemia/prevention & control
- Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage
- Hypoglycemic Agents/adverse effects
- Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacokinetics
- Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use
- Insulin, Regular, Human/adverse effects
- Insulin, Regular, Human/analogs & derivatives
- Insulin, Regular, Human/pharmacokinetics
- Insulin, Regular, Human/therapeutic use
- Lectins, C-Type/agonists
- Lectins, C-Type/genetics
- Lectins, C-Type/metabolism
- Ligands
- Male
- Mannose Receptor
- Mannose-Binding Lectins/agonists
- Mannose-Binding Lectins/genetics
- Mannose-Binding Lectins/metabolism
- Metabolic Clearance Rate
- Receptor, Insulin/agonists
- Receptor, Insulin/genetics
- Receptor, Insulin/metabolism
- Receptors, Cell Surface/agonists
- Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics
- Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/adverse effects
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacokinetics
- Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use
- Swine
- Swine, Miniature
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Songnian Lin
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Lin Yan
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Theresa Kelly
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - James Mu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Margaret Wu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Ge Dai
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Yan Cui
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Yonghua Zhu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - Vijay Reddy
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Peter Zafian
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Pei Huo
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Shuai Shi
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - Aimie Ogawa
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Franklin Liu
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Sandra C Souza
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | | | - Joseph L Duffy
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Mark Erion
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - Ravi P Nargund
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
| | - David E Kelley
- Merck Research Laboratories, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ
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7
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Satapati S, Qian Y, Wu MS, Petrov A, Dai G, Wang SP, Zhu Y, Shen X, Muise ES, Chen Y, Zycband E, Weinglass A, Di Salvo J, Debenham JS, Cox JM, Lan P, Shah V, Previs SF, Erion M, Kelley DE, Wang L, Howard AD, Shang J. GPR120 suppresses adipose tissue lipolysis and synergizes with GPR40 in antidiabetic efficacy. J Lipid Res 2017; 58:1561-1578. [PMID: 28583918 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m075044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
GPR40 and GPR120 are fatty acid sensors that play important roles in glucose and energy homeostasis. GPR40 potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion and demonstrated in clinical studies robust glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. GPR120 improves insulin sensitivity in rodents, albeit its mechanism of action is not fully understood. Here, we postulated that the antidiabetic efficacy of GPR40 could be enhanced by coactivating GPR120. A combination of GPR40 and GPR120 agonists in db/db mice, as well as a single molecule with dual agonist activities, achieved superior glycemic control compared with either monotherapy. Compared with a GPR40 selective agonist, the dual agonist improved insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, preserved islet morphology, and increased expression of several key lipolytic genes in adipose tissue of Zucker diabetic fatty rats. Novel insights into the mechanism of action for GPR120 were obtained. Selective GPR120 activation suppressed lipolysis in primary white adipocytes, although this effect was attenuated in adipocytes from obese rats and obese rhesus, and sensitized the antilipolytic effect of insulin in rat and rhesus primary adipocytes. In conclusion, GPR120 agonism enhances insulin action in adipose tissue and yields a synergistic efficacy when combined with GPR40 agonism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Qian
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Margaret S Wu
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Aleksandr Petrov
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Ge Dai
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Sheng-Ping Wang
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Yonghua Zhu
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Xiaolan Shen
- Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Eric S Muise
- Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Ying Chen
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Emanuel Zycband
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Adam Weinglass
- Genetics and Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Jerry Di Salvo
- Genetics and Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - John S Debenham
- Genetics and Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Jason M Cox
- Genetics and Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Ping Lan
- Genetics and Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Vinit Shah
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Stephen F Previs
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Mark Erion
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - David E Kelley
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Liangsu Wang
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Andrew D Howard
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
| | - Jin Shang
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033.
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8
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Shang J, Previs SF, Conarello S, Chng K, Zhu Y, Souza SC, Staup M, Chen Y, Xie D, Zycband E, Schlessinger K, Johnson VP, Arreaza G, Liu F, Levitan D, Wang L, van Heek M, Erion M, Wang Y, Kelley DE. Phenotyping of adipose, liver, and skeletal muscle insulin resistance and response to pioglitazone in spontaneously obese rhesus monkeys. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2017; 312:E235-E243. [PMID: 28143858 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00398.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Insulin resistance and diabetes can develop spontaneously with obesity and aging in rhesus monkeys, highly similar to the natural history of obesity, insulin resistance, and progression to type 2 diabetes in humans. The current studies in obese rhesus were undertaken to assess hepatic and adipose contributions to systemic insulin resistance-currently, a gap in our knowledge-and to benchmark the responses to pioglitazone (PIO). A two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, with tracer-based glucose flux estimates, was used to measure insulin resistance, and in an intervention study was repeated following 6 wk of PIO treatment (3 mg/kg). Compared with lean healthy rhesus, obese rhesus has a 60% reduction of glucose utilization during a high insulin infusion and markedly impaired suppression of lipolysis, which was evident at both low and high insulin infusion. However, obese dysmetabolic rhesus manifests only mild hepatic insulin resistance. Six-week PIO treatment significantly improved skeletal muscle and adipose insulin resistance (by ~50%). These studies strengthen the concept that insulin resistance in obese rhesus closely resembles human insulin resistance and indicate the value of obese rhesus for appraising new insulin-sensitizing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Shang
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | | | | | - Keefe Chng
- Crown Bioscience, Incorporated, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Yonghua Zhu
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Sandra C Souza
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Michael Staup
- Crown Bioscience, Incorporated, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - Ying Chen
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Dan Xie
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | | | | | | | - Gladys Arreaza
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Franklin Liu
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Diane Levitan
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Liangsu Wang
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | | | - Mark Erion
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
| | - Yixin Wang
- Crown Bioscience, Incorporated, Kannapolis, North Carolina
| | - David E Kelley
- Merck & Company, Incorporated, Kenilworth, New Jersey; and
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9
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Wang X, Kurowski S, Wu W, Castriota GA, Zhou X, Chu L, Ellsworth KP, Chu D, Edmondson S, Ali A, Andre P, Seiffert D, Erion M, Gutstein DE, Chen Z. Inhibition of Factor XIa Reduces the Frequency of Cerebral Microembolic Signals Derived from Carotid Arterial Thrombosis in Rabbits. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2016; 360:476-483. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.116.238600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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10
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Shang J, Castro-Perez JM, Shen X, Zhu Y, Liu H, Qian Y, Previs S, Howard AD, Erion M, Kelley DE, Wang L. Duodenal-jejunal bypass surgery induces hepatic lipidomic alterations associated with ameliorated hepatic steatosis in mice. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2016; 24:1938-45. [PMID: 27458076 DOI: 10.1002/oby.21583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Bariatric surgery induces weight loss and improvement of insulin resistance; one aspect of both is an amelioration of hepatic steatosis. This study was undertaken to assess the changes in the hepatic lipidome after duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery. METHODS A DJB surgical model was developed and characterized in diet-induced obese mice. In comparison with sham-operated mice, an unbiased lipidomic profiling of hepatic lipids was performed together with measurements of gene expression within key pathways of hepatic lipid metabolism. RESULTS In the liver of DJB mice, a dramatic reduction (by 77%) in hepatic triacylglycerols was observed. Global lipidomic profiling identified marked decreases of triacylglycerols comprised of medium length fatty acids and with low double bond content. Specific diacylglycerol species were also among the most dramatic decreases in hepatic lipids, whereas lysophosphatidic acids and phosphatidic acids were increased. Expression of fatty acid transporter and lipogenic genes was down-regulated. CONCLUSIONS From in-depth analysis of hepatic lipid composition, specific lipid intermediates were identified that are preferentially changed following DJB surgery. These changes were most likely due to DJB-induced weight loss, and only further studies will be able to distinguish weight loss-dependent from weight loss-independent changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Shang
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jose M Castro-Perez
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Xiaolan Shen
- Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resource, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yonghua Zhu
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Haiying Liu
- Imaging, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ying Qian
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stephen Previs
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andrew D Howard
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Mark Erion
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - David E Kelley
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
| | - Liangsu Wang
- Cardiometabolic Disease, Merck Research Laboratories, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA
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11
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Reddy M, Reddy C, Rathore R, Erion M, Aparoy P, Reddy R, Reddanna P. Free Energy Calculations to Estimate Ligand-Binding Affinities in Structure-Based Drug Design. Curr Pharm Des 2014; 20:3323-37. [DOI: 10.2174/13816128113199990604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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12
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Keana JFW, Taneja HR, Erion M. Synthesis of 3-Substituted 1-Acyloxy-1,3-butadienes via Thermolysis of the Corresponding Cyclobutenes. SYNTHETIC COMMUN 2006. [DOI: 10.1080/00397918208063673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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13
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Keana JFW, Boyle PJ, Erion M, Hartling R, Husman JR, Richman JE, Roman RB, Wah RM. Synthetic intermediates potentially useful for the synthesis of tetrodotoxin and derivatives. 8. A series of highly functionalized pyrimidinones. J Org Chem 2002. [DOI: 10.1021/jo00169a001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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14
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Keana JFW, Bland JS, Boyle PJ, Erion M, Hartling R, Husman JR, Roman RB, Ferguson G, Parvez M. Synthetic intermediates potentially useful for the synthesis of tetrodotoxin and derivatives. 9. Hydroquinazolines possessing the carbon skeleton of tetrodotoxin. J Org Chem 2002. [DOI: 10.1021/jo00169a002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Ksander GM, Erion M, Yuan AM, Diefenbacher CG, el-Chehabi L, Cote D, Levens N. Dual angiotensin converting enzyme/thromboxane synthase inhibitors. J Med Chem 1994; 37:1823-32. [PMID: 8021921 DOI: 10.1021/jm00038a011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A variety of compounds were prepared to determine whether dual angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/thromboxane synthase (TxS) inhibition could be obtained in the same molecule. These compounds would be used to explore the concept that a dual inhibitor would have superior antihypertensive activity in the spontaneous hypertensive rat compared to an ACE inhibitor. Potent in vitro dual ACE and TxS inhibition was obtained in the same molecule with five series of compounds. Potent blood pressure lowering in the SHR was observed after oral administration of 8b and 11. However, a correlation between blood pressure lowering and the A1 pressor response inhibition was not observed. The blood pressure-lowering actions of enalapril were significantly potentiated by concurrent administration of 3, a thromboxane synthase inhibitor. Analysis of the area under the curve for 24 h showed nearly a doubling of the blood pressure-lowering effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Ksander
- Research Department, CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, Summit, New Jersey 07901
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16
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Tamburini PP, Jones BN, Consalvo AP, Young SD, Lovato SJ, Gilligan JP, Wennogle LP, Erion M, Jeng AY. Structure-activity relationships for glycine-extended peptides and the alpha-amidating enzyme derived from medullary thyroid CA-77 cells. Arch Biochem Biophys 1988; 267:623-31. [PMID: 3145718 DOI: 10.1016/0003-9861(88)90070-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A peptidyl alpha-amidating enzyme has been partially purified from conditioned medium derived from cultured medullary thyroid CA-77 cells. The interactions of this enzyme with a series of tripeptides, pentapeptides, and mature glycine-extended prohormones has now been studied using a competition assay that features the enzymatic alpha-amidation of N-dansyl-Tyr-Val-Gly. While a peptide C-terminal glycine was obligatory for tight binding to the alpha-amidating enzyme, other peptide structural elements modulated the interaction. Thus, a greater than 1300-fold range in apparent inhibitor constants was observed by substitution at the -1 (penultimate) position in a C-terminal glycine-containing tripeptide with each of the 20 common L-amino acids. Peptide inhibitory potency decreased through the following amino acid groupings: sulfur containing greater than aromatic greater than or equal to histidine greater than nonpolar greater than polar greater than glycine greater than charged. This pattern was qualitatively dissimilar to that observed for a more limited series of substitutions at the -2 position, demonstrating the positional selectivity of these structural requirements. The structure-activity relationships observed with the tripeptides at the -1 position were consistent with the apparent inhibitor constants obtained for a collection of prohormones and their pentapeptide mimics. Finally, selected prohormones and their pentapeptide mimics were equipotent inhibitors, demonstrating that the peptide structural elements important for alpha-amidating enzyme recognition are located entirely within the C-terminal pentapeptide segment.
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Affiliation(s)
- P P Tamburini
- Department of Protein Chemistry, Unigene Laboratories, Inc., Fairfield, New Jersey 07006
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17
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McMillen DA, Volwerk JJ, Ohishi J, Erion M, Keana JF, Jost PC, Griffith OH. Identifying regions of membrane proteins in contact with phospholipid head groups: covalent attachment of a new class of aldehyde lipid labels to cytochrome c oxidase. Biochemistry 1986; 25:182-93. [PMID: 3006751 DOI: 10.1021/bi00349a027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A series of amine-specific reagents based on the benzaldehyde reactive group have been synthesized, characterized, and used to study beef heart cytochrome c oxidase reconstituted in phospholipid bilayers. The series contained three classes of reagents: lipid-soluble phosphodiesters having a single hydrocarbon chain, phospholipid analogues, and a water-soluble benzaldehyde. All reagents were either radiolabeled or spin-labeled or both. The Schiff bases formed by these benzaldehydes with amines were found to be reversible until the addition of the reducing agent sodium cyanoborohydride, whereas attachment of lipid-derived aliphatic aldehydes was not readily reversible in the absence of the reducing agent. The benzaldehyde group provides a convenient method of controlling and delaying permanent attachment to integral membrane proteins until after the reconstitution steps. This ensures that the lipid analogues are located properly to identify amine groups at the lipid-protein interface rather than reacting indiscriminately with amines of the hydrophilic domains of the protein. The benzaldehyde lipid labels attach to cytochrome c oxidase with high efficiency. Typically, 20% of the amount of lipid label present was covalently attached to the protein, and the number of moles of label incorporated per mole of protein ranged from 1 to 6, depending on the molar ratios of label, lipid, and protein. The efficiency of labeling by the water-soluble benzaldehyde was much less than that observed for any of the lipid labels because of dilution effects, but equivalent levels of incorporation were achieved by increasing the label concentration. Electron spin resonance spectra of a nitroxide-containing phospholipid analogue covalently attached to reconstituted cytochrome c oxidase exhibited a large motion-restricted component, which is characteristic of spin-labeled lipids in contact with the hydrophobic surfaces of membrane proteins. The line shape and splittings were similar for covalently attached label and label free to diffuse and contact the protein molecules in the bilayer, providing independent evidence that the coupling occurs at the protein-lipid interface. The distribution of the benzaldehyde reagents attached to the polypeptide components of cytochrome c oxidase was examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The labeling pattern observed for the lipid analogues was not affected by the presence of the nitroxide moiety on the acyl chains but was dependent on the molar ratio of labeling reagent to protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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