scholarly journals State-dependent Lipid Interactions with the A2a Receptor Revealed by MD Simulations Using In Vivo-Mimetic Membranes

Structure ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-403.e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanling Song ◽  
Hsin-Yung Yen ◽  
Carol V. Robinson ◽  
Mark S.P. Sansom
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanling Song ◽  
Hsin-Yung Yen ◽  
Carol V. Robinson ◽  
Mark S.P. Sansom

AbstractG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of integral membrane proteins and a major class of drug targets. Membranes are known to have modulatory effects on GPCRs via specific lipid interactions. However, the mechanisms of such modulations in cell membranes and how they influence GPCR functions remain unclear. Here we report coarse-grained MD simulations on the Adenosine A2a receptor embedded in an in vivo mimetic membrane model comprised of 10 different lipid species. Three conformational states of the receptor, i.e. the inactive state, the active state, and the active state with a mini-GS protein bound were simulated to study the impact of protein-lipid interactions on the receptor activation. The simulations revealed three specific lipids (GM3, cholesterol and PIP2) that form stable and preferential interactions with the receptor, differentiating these from bulk lipids such as PS, PE and PC. In total, nine specific lipid-binding sites were revealed. The strength of lipid interaction with these sites depends on the conformational state of the receptor, suggesting that these lipids may regulate the conformational dynamics of the receptor. In particular, we revealed a dual role of PIP2 in promoting A2aR activation, which involves stabilization of both the characteristic outward tilt of helix TM6 within receptor and also the association of A2aR and mini-Gs when the activated complex forms. Structural comparisons suggested that PIP2 may facilitate Gα activation. Our results reveal likely allosteric effects of bound lipids in regulating the functional behaviour of GPCRs, providing a springboard for design of allosteric modulators of these biomedically important receptors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Friedman ◽  
Carmen Corciulo ◽  
Cristina M. Castro ◽  
Bruce N. Cronstein

AbstractAutophagy, a homeostatic pathway upregulated during cellular stress, is decreased in osteoarthritic chondrocytes and this reduction in autophagy is thought to contribute to the development and progression of osteoarthritis (OA). The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) is a potent anti-inflammatory receptor and deficiency of this receptor leads to the development of OA in mice. Moreover, treatment using liposomally conjugated adenosine or a specific A2AR agonist improved joint scores significantly in both rats with post-traumatic OA (PTOA) and mice subjected to a high fat diet obesity induced OA. Importantly, A2AR ligation is beneficial for mitochondrial health and metabolism in vitro in primary and the TC28a2 human cell line. An additional set of metabolic, stress-responsive, and homeostatic mediators include the Forkhead box O transcription factors (FoxOs). Data has shown that mouse FoxO knockouts develop early OA with reduced cartilage autophagy, indicating that FoxO-induced homeostasis is important for articular cartilage. Given the apparent similarities between A2AR and FoxO signaling, we tested the hypothesis that A2AR stimulation improves cartilage function through activation of the FoxO proteins leading to increased autophagy in chondrocytes. We analyzed the signaling pathway in the human TC28a2 cell line and corroborated these findings in vivo in a metabolically relevant obesity-induced OA mouse model. We found that A2AR stimulation increases activation and nuclear localization of FoxO1 and FoxO3, promotes an increase in autophagic flux, improves metabolic function in chondrocytes, and reduces markers of apoptosis in vitro and reduced apoptosis by TUNEL assay in vivo. A2AR ligation additionally enhances in vivo activation of FoxO1 and FoxO3 with evidence of enhanced autophagic flux upon injection of the liposome-associated A2AR agonist in a mouse obesity-induced OA model. These findings offer further evidence that A2AR may be an excellent target for promoting chondrocyte and cartilage homeostasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2285
Author(s):  
Thu Hang Lai ◽  
Susann Schröder ◽  
Magali Toussaint ◽  
Sladjana Dukić-Stefanović ◽  
Mathias Kranz ◽  
...  

The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) represents a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Aiming at the development of a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer to monitor changes of receptor density and/or occupancy during the A2AR-tailored therapy, we designed a library of fluorinated analogs based on a recently published lead compound (PPY). Among those, the highly affine 4-fluorobenzyl derivate (PPY1; Ki(hA2AR) = 5.3 nM) and the 2-fluorobenzyl derivate (PPY2; Ki(hA2AR) = 2.1 nM) were chosen for 18F-labeling via an alcohol-enhanced copper-mediated procedure starting from the corresponding boronic acid pinacol ester precursors. Investigations of the metabolic stability of [18F]PPY1 and [18F]PPY2 in CD-1 mice by radio-HPLC analysis revealed parent fractions of more than 76% of total activity in the brain. Specific binding of [18F]PPY2 on mice brain slices was demonstrated by in vitro autoradiography. In vivo PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in CD-1 mice revealed a reasonable high initial brain uptake for both radiotracers, followed by a fast clearance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Dons-Jensen ◽  
Line Petersen ◽  
Hans-Erik Bøtker ◽  
Toke Bek

Background: The neurotransmitter adenosine has been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, which may be due to the vasoactive properties of the compound. Previous studies have shown that adenosine can affect the tone of retinal arterioles in vitro to induce dilatation mediated by A2A and A2Breceptors and constriction mediated by A1 and A3 receptors. Purpose: To investigate effects of intravenous administration of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist regadenoson on the diameter of retinal vessels in vivo. Method: The diameter responses of larger retinal arterioles and venules were evaluated using the dynamic vessel analyser in 20 normal persons (age 22–31 years) after intravenous administration of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist regadenoson during exposure to systemic normoxia and hypoxia. Results: The diameter of retinal arterioles and venules increased significantly during stimulation with flickering light (p < 0.0001). Regadenoson reduced the flicker-induced dilatation of venules during normoxia (p = 0.0006), but otherwise had no effect on vessel diameters (p > 0.08 for all comparisons). Conclusions:Intravenous administration of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist regadenoson had no significant effect on the diameter of retinal arterioles. Future studies should investigate differential effects of intra- and extravascular administration of adenosine receptor agonists on retinal vessels.


Author(s):  
Shawn Regis ◽  
Manisha Jassal ◽  
Sina Youssefian ◽  
Nima Rahbar ◽  
Sankha Bhowmick

Fibronectin plays a crucial role in adhesion of several cell types, mainly due to the fact that it is recognized by at least ten different integrin receptors. Since most cell types can bind to fibronectin, it becomes involved in many various biological processes. The interaction of cells with ECM proteins such as fibronectin provides the signals affecting morphology, motility, gene expression, and survival of cells [1]. Fibronectin exists in both soluble and insoluble forms; soluble fibronectin is secreted by cells and exits in cell media or body fluids, whereas insoluble fibronectin exists in tissues or the extracellular matrix of cultured cells [2]. The ability to control adsorption of fibronectin on tissue engineering scaffolds would therefore play a huge role in controlling cell attachment and survival in vivo. This can be achieved through surface functionalization of the scaffolds. The goal of these studies is to use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to mechanistically understand how fibronectin adsorption is enhanced by surface functionalization of submicron scaffolds.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 951-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas F. Trojanowski ◽  
Olivia Padovan-Merhar ◽  
David M. Raizen ◽  
Christopher Fang-Yen

Degenerate networks, in which structurally distinct elements can perform the same function or yield the same output, are ubiquitous in biology. Degeneracy contributes to the robustness and adaptability of networks in varied environmental and evolutionary contexts. However, how degenerate neural networks regulate behavior in vivo is poorly understood, especially at the genetic level. Here, we identify degenerate neural and genetic mechanisms that underlie excitation of the pharynx (feeding organ) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using cell-specific optogenetic excitation and inhibition. We show that the pharyngeal neurons MC, M2, M4, and I1 form multiple direct and indirect excitatory pathways in a robust network for control of pharyngeal pumping. I1 excites pumping via MC and M2 in a state-dependent manner. We identify nicotinic and muscarinic receptors through which the pharyngeal network regulates feeding rate. These results identify two different mechanisms by which degeneracy is manifest in a neural circuit in vivo.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trina Ekawati Tallei ◽  
Fatimawali ◽  
Afriza Yelnetty ◽  
Rinaldi Idroes ◽  
Diah Kusumawaty ◽  
...  

The rapid spread of a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 has compelled the entire world to seek ways to weaken this virus, prevent its spread and also eliminate it. However, no drug has been approved to treat COVID-19. Furthermore, the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on this viral spike protein, as well as several other important parts of this virus, have recently undergone mutations, resulting in new virus variants. While no treatment is currently available, a naturally derived molecule with known antiviral properties could be used as a potential treatment. Bromelain is an enzyme found in the fruit and stem of pineapples. This substance has been shown to have a broad antiviral activity. In this article, we analyse the ability of bromelain to counteract various variants of the SARS-CoV-2 by targeting bromelain binding on the side of this viral interaction with human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches. We have succeeded in making three-dimensional configurations of various RBD variants using protein modelling. Bromelain exhibited good binding affinity toward various variants of RBDs and binds right at the binding site between RBDs and hACE2. This result is also presented in the modelling between Bromelain, RBD, and hACE2. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations study revealed significant stability of the bromelain and RBD proteins separately up to 100 ns with an RMSD value of 2 Å. Furthermore, despite increases in RMSD and changes in Rog values of complexes, which are likely due to some destabilized interactions between bromelain and RBD proteins, two proteins in each complex remained bonded, and the site where the two proteins bind remained unchanged. This finding indicated that bromelain could have an inhibitory effect on different SARS-CoV-2 variants, paving the way for a new SARS-CoV-2 inhibitor drug. However, more in vitro and in vivo research on this potential mechanism of action is required.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian A. Haanes ◽  
Alejandro Labastida-Ramírez ◽  
Kayi Y. Chan ◽  
René de Vries ◽  
Brian Shook ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 1848-1859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Sheets ◽  
Peter Gerner ◽  
Chi-Fei Wang ◽  
Sho-Ya Wang ◽  
Ging Kuo Wang ◽  
...  

The calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor trifluoperazine (TFP) can produce analgesia when given intrathecally to rats; however, the mechanism is not known. We asked whether TFP could modulate the Nav1.7 sodium channel, which is highly expressed in the peripheral nervous system and plays an important role in nociception. We show that 500 nM and 2 μM TFP induce major decreases in Nav1.7 and Nav1.4 current amplitudes and that 2 μM TFP causes hyperpolarizing shifts in the steady-state inactivation of Nav1.7 and Nav1.4. CaM can bind to the C-termini of voltage-gated sodium channels and modulate their functional properties; therefore we investigated if TFP modulation of sodium channels was due to CaM inhibition. However, the TFP inhibition was not replicated by whole cell dialysis of a calmodulin inhibitory peptide, indicating that major effects of TFP do not involve a disruption of CaM-channel interactions. Rather, our data show that TFP inhibition is state dependent and that the majority of the TFP inhibition depends on specific amino-acid residues in the local anesthetic receptor site in sodium channels. TFP was also effective in vivo in causing motor and sensory blockade after subfascial injection to the rat sciatic nerve. The state-dependent block of Nav1.7 channels with nanomolar concentrations of TFP raises the possibility that TFP, or TFP analogues, might be useful for regional anesthesia and pain management and could be more potent than traditional local anesthetics.


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