scholarly journals Structural basis for prodrug recognition by the SLC15 family of proton coupled peptide transporters

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurdeep S. Minhas ◽  
Simon Newstead

AbstractA major challenge in drug development is the optimisation of intestinal absorption and cellular uptake. A successful strategy has been to develop prodrug molecules, which hijack solute carrier (SLC) transporters for active transport into the body. The proton coupled oligopeptide transporters, PepT1 and PepT2, have been successfully targeted using this approach. Peptide transporters display a remarkable capacity to recognise a diverse library of di‐ and tri-peptides, making them extremely promiscuous and major contributors to the pharmacokinetic profile of several important drug classes, including beta-lactam antibiotics, anti-viral and antineoplastic agents. Of particular interest has been their ability to recognise amino acid and peptide-based prodrug molecules, thereby providing a rational approach to improving drug transport into the body. However, the structural basis for prodrug recognition has remained elusive. Here we present crystal structures of a prokaryotic homologue of the mammalian transporters in complex with the antiviral prodrug valacyclovir and the peptide based photodynamic therapy agent, 5-aminolevulinic acid. The valacyclovir structure reveals that prodrug recognition is mediated through both the amino acid scaffold and the ester bond, which is commonly used to link drug molecules to the carrier’s physiological ligand, whereas 5-aminolevulinic acid makes far fewer interactions compared to physiological peptides. These structures provide a unique insight into how peptide transporters interact with xenobiotic molecules and provide a template for further prodrug development.

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 804-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurdeep S. Minhas ◽  
Simon Newstead

A major challenge in drug development is the optimization of intestinal absorption and cellular uptake. A successful strategy has been to develop prodrug molecules, which hijack solute carrier (SLC) transporters for active transport into the body. The proton-coupled oligopeptide transporters, PepT1 and PepT2, have been successfully targeted using this approach. Peptide transporters display a remarkable capacity to recognize a diverse library of di- and tripeptides, making them extremely promiscuous and major contributors to the pharmacokinetic profile of several important drug classes, including beta-lactam antibiotics and antiviral and antineoplastic agents. Of particular interest has been their ability to recognize amino acid and peptide-based prodrug molecules, thereby providing a rational approach to improving drug transport into the body. However, the structural basis for prodrug recognition has remained elusive. Here we present crystal structures of a prokaryotic homolog of the mammalian transporters in complex with the antiviral prodrug valacyclovir and the peptide-based photodynamic therapy agent, 5-aminolevulinic acid. The valacyclovir structure reveals that prodrug recognition is mediated through both the amino acid scaffold and the ester bond, which is commonly used to link drug molecules to the carrier’s physiological ligand, whereas 5-aminolevulinic acid makes far fewer interactions compared with physiological peptides. These structures provide a unique insight into how peptide transporters interact with xenobiotic molecules and provide a template for further prodrug development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (a1) ◽  
pp. C458-C458
Author(s):  
Hirofumi Komori ◽  
Yoko Nitta ◽  
Hiroshi Ueno ◽  
Yoshiki Higuchi

Histamine is a bioactive amine responsible for a variety of physiological reactions, including allergy, gastric acid secretion, and neurotransmission. In mammals, histamine production from histidine is catalyzed by histidine decarboxylase (HDC). Mammalian HDC is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylase and belongs to the same family as mammalian glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and mammalian aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AroDC). The decarboxylases of this family function as homodimers and catalyze the formation of physiologically important amines like GABA and dopamine via decarboxylation of glutamate and DOPA, respectively. Despite high sequence homology, both AroDC and HDC react with different substrates. For example, AroDC catalyzes the decarboxylation of several aromatic L-amino acids, but has little activity on histidine. Although such differences are known, the substrate specificity of HDC has not been extensively studied because of the low levels of HDC in the body and the instability of recombinant HDC, even in a well-purified form. However, knowledge about the substrate specificity and decarboxylation mechanism of HDC is valuable from the viewpoint of drug development, as it could help lead to designing of novel drugs to prevent histamine biosynthesis. We have determined the crystal structure of human HDC in complex with inhibitors, histidine methyl ester (HME) and alpha-fluoromethyl histidine (FMH). These structures showed the detailed features of the PLP-inhibitor adduct (external aldimine) in the active site of HDC. These data provided insight into the molecular basis for substrate recognition among the PLP-dependent L-amino acid decarboxylases.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasutomi Kamei ◽  
Yukino Hatazawa ◽  
Ran Uchitomi ◽  
Ryoji Yoshimura ◽  
Shinji Miura

Amino acids are components of proteins that also exist free-form in the body; their functions can be divided into (1) nutritional, (2) sensory, and (3) biological regulatory roles. The skeletal muscle, which is the largest organ in the human body, representing ~40% of the total body weight, plays important roles in exercise, energy expenditure, and glucose/amino acid usage—processes that are modulated by various amino acids and their metabolites. In this review, we address the metabolism and function of amino acids in the skeletal muscle. The expression of PGC1α, a transcriptional coactivator, is increased in the skeletal muscle during exercise. PGC1α activates branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism and is used for energy in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Leucine, a BCAA, and its metabolite, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), both activate mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and increase protein synthesis, but the mechanisms of activation appear to be different. The metabolite of valine (another BCAA), β-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIBA), is increased by exercise, is secreted by the skeletal muscle, and acts on other tissues, such as white adipose tissue, to increase energy expenditure. In addition, several amino acid-related molecules reportedly activate skeletal muscle function. Oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) supplementation can protect against mild hyperglycemia and help prevent type 2 diabetes. β-alanine levels are decreased in the skeletal muscles of aged mice. β-alanine supplementation increased the physical performance and improved the executive function induced by endurance exercise in middle-aged individuals. Further studies focusing on the effects of amino acids and their metabolites on skeletal muscle function will provide data essential for the production of food supplements for older adults, athletes, and individuals with metabolic diseases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurdeep S. Minhas ◽  
Simon Newstead

Solute carrier (SLC) transporters play important roles in regulating the movement of small molecules and ions across cellular membranes. In mammals, they play an important role in regulating the uptake of nutrients and vitamins from the diet, and in controlling the distribution of their metabolic intermediates within the cell. Several SLC families also play an important role in drug transport and strategies are being developed to hijack SLC transporters to control and regulate drug transport within the body. Through the addition of amino acid and peptide moieties several novel antiviral and anticancer agents have been developed that hijack the proton-coupled oligopeptide transporters, PepT1 (SCL15A1) and PepT2 (SLC15A2), for improved intestinal absorption and renal retention in the body. A major goal is to understand the rationale behind these successes and expand the library of prodrug molecules that utilise SLC transporters. Recent co-crystal structures of prokaryotic homologues of the human PepT1 and PepT2 transporters have shed important new insights into the mechanism of prodrug recognition. Here, I will review recent developments in our understanding of ligand recognition and binding promiscuity within the SLC15 family, and discuss current models for prodrug recognition.


1999 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1211-1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Hlaváček ◽  
Renáta Marcová

The first part of this review deals with the biosynthesis and a biological function of strongly vasoactive peptides named endothelins (ETs) including vasoactive intestinal contractor. Where it was useful, snake venoms sarafotoxins which are structural endothelin derivatives, were also mentioned. In the second part, an attention is paid to structural basis of the ETs biological activity, with respect to alterations of amino acid residues in the parent peptides modifying the conformation and consequently the physico-chemical and biological properties in corresponding ETs analogs. Special attention is focussed on the area of ETs receptors and their interaction with peptide and non peptide agonists and antagonists, important in designing selective inhibitors of ETs receptors potentially applicable as drugs in a medicine. A review with 182 references.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6198
Author(s):  
Aleksandra A. Ageeva ◽  
Ilya M. Magin ◽  
Alexander B. Doktorov ◽  
Victor F. Plyusnin ◽  
Polina S. Kuznetsova ◽  
...  

The study of the L- and D-amino acid properties in proteins and peptides has attracted considerable attention in recent years, as the replacement of even one L-amino acid by its D-analogue due to aging of the body is resulted in a number of pathological conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. A recent trend is using short model systems to study the peculiarities of proteins with D-amino acids. In this report, the comparison of the excited states quenching of L- and D-tryptophan (Trp) in a model donor–acceptor dyad with (R)- and (S)-ketoprofen (KP-Trp) was carried out by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Quenching of the Trp excited states, which occurs via two mechanisms: prevailing resonance energy transfer (RET) and electron transfer (ET), indeed demonstrates some peculiarities for all three studied configurations of the dyad: (R,S)-, (S,R)-, and (S,S)-. Thus, the ET efficiency is identical for (S,R)- and (R,S)-enantiomers, while RET differs by 1.6 times. For (S,S)-, the CIDNP coefficient is almost an order of magnitude greater than for (R,S)- and (S,R)-. To understand the source of this difference, hyperpolarization of (S,S)-and (R,S)- has been calculated using theory involving the electron dipole–dipole interaction in the secular equation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne E. van Outersterp ◽  
Sam J. Moons ◽  
Udo F. H. Engelke ◽  
Herman Bentlage ◽  
Tessa M. A. Peters ◽  
...  

AbstractThe identification of disease biomarkers plays a crucial role in developing diagnostic strategies for inborn errors of metabolism and understanding their pathophysiology. A primary metabolite that accumulates in the inborn error phenylketonuria is phenylalanine, however its levels do not always directly correlate with clinical outcomes. Here we combine infrared ion spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy to identify the Phe-glucose Amadori rearrangement product as a biomarker for phenylketonuria. Additionally, we find analogous amino acid-glucose metabolites formed in the body fluids of patients accumulating methionine, lysine, proline and citrulline. Amadori rearrangement products are well-known intermediates in the formation of advanced glycation end-products and have been associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus and ageing, but are now shown to also form under conditions of aminoacidemia. They represent a general class of metabolites for inborn errors of amino acid metabolism that show potential as biomarkers and may provide further insight in disease pathophysiology.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Dei Cas ◽  
Riccardo Ghidoni

The yellow pigment curcumin, extracted from turmeric, is a renowned polyphenol with a broad spectrum of health properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-allergic, anti-dermatophyte, and neuroprotective. However, these properties are followed by a poor pharmacokinetic profile which compromises its therapeutic potential. The association of low absorption by the small intestine and the extensive reductive and conjugative metabolism in the liver dramatically weakens the oral bioavailability. Several strategies such as inhibition of curcumin metabolism with adjuvants as well as novel solid and liquid oral delivery systems have been tried to counteract curcumin poor absorption and rapid elimination from the body. Some of these drug deliveries can successfully enhance the solubility, extending the residence in plasma, improving the pharmacokinetic profile and the cellular uptake.


Microbiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 161 (4) ◽  
pp. 895-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouparna Dutta ◽  
Debasish Kar ◽  
Ankita Bansal ◽  
Sandeep Chakraborty ◽  
Anindya S. Ghosh

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. BOILA ◽  
T. J. DEVLIN

Four dairy steers were allotted to four lysine infusion levels in a 4 × 4 latin square design and fed an 11.5% crude protein (90% dry matter (DM)) diet continuously (10-min intervals every 24 hr). Lysine hydrochloride equivalent to 0.0, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 g lysine per day was infused per abomasum. When 9 g lysine were infused per day, the percent of absorbed nitrogen (N) retained was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced; urinary N excretion as a percentage of N intake and plasma-free lysine were increased significantly compared with the other three infusion treatments. The infusion of 9 g lysine per day apparently exceeded the body tissue requirements for this amino acid and the excess N was excreted in the urine. A possibility of lysine being limiting (0.28% lysine of a 100% DM diet) was apparently offset by the synthesis of lysine by rumen microorganisms, which increased the dietary lysine two- to threefold. Increased levels of infused lysine did not result in a linear increase of lysine in the abomasum. With 3 g per day lysine infusion rumen ammonia and N retentions were high. However, a smaller amount of N reached the abomasum with steers on this treatment.


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