scholarly journals Analgesic α-conotoxins modulate GIRK1/2 channels via GABAB receptor activation and reduce neuroexcitability

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuja R. Bony ◽  
Jeffrey R. McArthur ◽  
Rocio K. Finol-Urdaneta ◽  
David J. Adams

AbstractActivation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK or Kir3) channels leads to membrane hyperpolarization and dampening of neuronal excitability. Here we show that the analgesic α-conotoxin Vc1.1 potentiates inwardly rectifying K+ currents (IKir) mediated through native and recombinant GIRK1/2 channels by activation of the G protein-coupled GABAB receptor (GABABR) via a Pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive G protein. Recombinant co-expression of human GIRK1/2 subunits and GABABR in HEK293T cells resulted in a Ba2+-sensitive IKir potentiated by baclofen and Vc1.1 which was inhibited by PTX, intracellular GDP-β-S, or the GABABR-selective antagonist CGP 55845. In adult mouse DRG neurons, GABABR-dependent GIRK channel potentiation by Vc1.1 and baclofen hyperpolarizes the cell resting membrane potential with concomitant reduction of excitability consistent with Vc1.1 and baclofen analgesic effects in vivo. This study provides new insight into Vc1.1 as an allosteric agonist for GABABR-mediated potentiation of GIRK channels and may aid in the development of novel non-opioid treatments for chronic pain.

2001 ◽  
Vol 357 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nickolai O. DULIN ◽  
Sergei N. ORLOV ◽  
Chad M. KITCHEN ◽  
Tatyana A. VOYNO-YASENETSKAYA ◽  
Joseph M. MIANO

A hallmark of cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is the rapid down-regulation of several lineage-restricted genes that define their in vivo differentiated phenotype. Identifying factors that maintain an SMC differentiated phenotype has important implications in understanding the molecular underpinnings governing SMC differentiation and their subversion to an altered phenotype in various disease settings. Here, we show that several G-protein coupled receptors [α-thrombin, lysophosphatidic acid and angiotensin II (AII)] increase the expression of smooth muscle calponin (SM-Calp) in rat and human SMC. The increase in SM-Calp protein appears to be selective for G-protein-coupled receptors as epidermal growth factor was without effect. Studies using AII showed a 30-fold increase in SM-Calp protein, which was dose- and time-dependent and mediated by the angiotensin receptor-1 (AT1 receptor). The increase in SM-Calp protein with AII was attributable to transcriptional activation of SM-Calp based on increases in steady-state SM-Calp mRNA, increases in SM-Calp promoter activity and complete abrogation of protein induction with actinomycin D. To examine the potential role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2), protein kinase B, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C in AII-induced SM-Calp, inhibitors to each of the signalling pathways were used. None of these signalling molecules appears to be crucial for AII-induced SM-Calp expression, although Erk1/2 may be partially involved. These results identify SM-Calp as a target of AII-mediated signalling, and suggest that the SMC response to AII may incorporate a novel activity of SM-Calp.


2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 4359-4368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangwei Du ◽  
Yelena M. Altshuller ◽  
Yong Kim ◽  
Jung Min Han ◽  
Sung Ho Ryu ◽  
...  

G protein-coupled and tyrosine kinase receptor activation of phospholipase D1 (PLD1) play key roles in agonist-stimulated cellular responses such as regulated exocytosis, actin stress fiber formation, and alterations in cell morphology and motility. Protein Kinase C, ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), and Rho family members activate PLD1 in vitro; however, the actions of the stimulators on PLD1 in vivo have been proposed to take place through indirect pathways. We have used the yeast split-hybrid system to generate PLD1 alleles that fail to bind to or to be activated by RhoA but that retain wild-type responses to ARF and PKC. These alleles then were employed in combination with alleles unresponsive to PKC or to both stimulators to examine the activation of PLD1 by G protein-coupled receptors. Our results demonstrate that direct stimulation of PLD1 in vivo by RhoA (and by PKC) is critical for significant PLD1 activation but that PLD1 subcellular localization and regulated phosphorylation occur independently of these stimulatory pathways.


2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 871-872 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Binet ◽  
C. Goudet ◽  
C. Brajon ◽  
L. Le Corre ◽  
F. Acher ◽  
...  

The GABAB (γ-aminobutyric acid-B) receptor is composed of two subunits, GABAB1 and GABAB2. Both subunits share structural homology with other class-III G-protein-coupled receptors. They contain two main domains, a heptahelical domain typical of all G-protein-coupled receptors and a large ECD (extracellular domain). It has not been demonstrated whether the association of these two subunits is always required for function. However, GABAB2 plays a major role in coupling with G-proteins, and GABAB1 has been shown to bind GABA. To date, only ligands interacting with GABAB1-ECD have been identified. In the present study, we explored the mechanism of action of CGP7930, a compound described as a positive allosteric regulator of the GABAB receptor. We have shown that it can weakly activate the wild-type GABAB receptor, but also the GABAB2 expressed alone, thus being the first described agonist of GABAB2. CGP7930 retains its weak agonist activity on a GABAB2 subunit deleted of its ECD. Thus the heptahelical domain of GABAB2 behaves similar to a rhodopsin-like receptor. These results open new strategies for studying the mechanism of activation of GABAB receptor and examine any possible role of GABAB2.


2007 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichiro Hayashida ◽  
Sophia DeGoes ◽  
Regina Curry ◽  
James C. Eisenach

Background Gabapentin has been reported to inhibit various acute and chronic pain conditions in animals and humans. Although the efficacy of gabapentin depends on the alpha2delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, its analgesic mechanisms in vivo are still unknown. Here, the authors tested the role of spinal noradrenergic inhibition in gabapentin's analgesia for postoperative pain. Methods Gabapentin was administered orally and intracerebroventricularly to rats on the day after paw incision, and withdrawal threshold to paw pressure was measured. The authors also measured cerebrospinal fluid concentration of norepinephrine and postoperative morphine use after surgery in patients who received oral placebo or gabapentin. Results Both oral and intracerebroventricular gabapentin attenuated postoperative hypersensitivity in rats in a dose-dependent manner. This effect of gabapentin was blocked by intrathecal administration of the alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonist idazoxan and the G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel antagonist tertiapin-Q, but not by atropine. In humans, preoperative gabapentin, 1,200 mg, significantly increased norepinephrine concentration in cerebrospinal fluid and decreased morphine requirements. Conclusions These data suggest that gabapentin activates the descending noradrenergic system and induces spinal norepinephrine release, which produces analgesia via spinal alpha2-adrenoceptor stimulation, followed by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels. The authors' clinical data suggest that gabapentin activates the descending noradrenergic system after preoperative oral administration at the time of surgery. These data support a central mechanism of oral gabapentin to reduce postoperative pain and suggest that this effect could be magnified by treatments that augment the effect of norepinephrine release.


2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (41) ◽  
pp. 14065-14083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Vizurraga ◽  
Rashmi Adhikari ◽  
Jennifer Yeung ◽  
Maiya Yu ◽  
Gregory G. Tall

Adhesion G protein–coupled receptors (AGPCRs) are a thirty-three-member subfamily of Class B GPCRs that control a wide array of physiological processes and are implicated in disease. AGPCRs uniquely contain large, self-proteolyzing extracellular regions that range from hundreds to thousands of residues in length. AGPCR autoproteolysis occurs within the extracellular GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing (GAIN) domain that is proximal to the N terminus of the G protein–coupling seven-transmembrane–spanning bundle. GAIN domain–mediated self-cleavage is constitutive and produces two-fragment holoreceptors that remain bound at the cell surface. It has been of recent interest to understand how AGPCRs are activated in relation to their two-fragment topologies. Dissociation of the AGPCR fragments stimulates G protein signaling through the action of the tethered-peptide agonist stalk that is occluded within the GAIN domain in the holoreceptor form. AGPCRs can also signal independently of fragment dissociation, and a few receptors possess GAIN domains incapable of self-proteolysis. This has resulted in complex theories as to how these receptors are activated in vivo, complicating pharmacological advances. Currently, there is no existing structure of an activated AGPCR to support any of the theories. Further confounding AGPCR research is that many of the receptors remain orphans and lack identified activating ligands. In this review, we provide a detailed layout of the current theorized modes of AGPCR activation with discussion of potential parallels to mechanisms used by other GPCR classes. We provide a classification means for the ligands that have been identified and discuss how these ligands may activate AGPCRs in physiological contexts.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Farrants ◽  
Amanda Acosta Ruiz ◽  
Vanessa A. Gutzeit ◽  
Dirk Trauner ◽  
Kai Johnsson ◽  
...  

AbstractG protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate the transduction of extracellular signals into complex intracellular responses. Despite their ubiquitous roles in physiological processes and as drug targets for a wide range of disorders, the precise mechanisms of GPCR function at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels remain partially understood. In order to dissect the function of individual receptors subtypes with high spatiotemporal precision, various optogenetic and photopharmacological approaches have been reported that use the power of light for receptor activation and deactivation. Here, we introduce a novel and, to date, most remote way of applying photoswitchable orthogonally remotely-tethered ligands (PORTLs) by using a SNAP-tag fused nanobody. Our nanobody-photoswitch conjugates (NPCs) can be used to target a GFP-fused metabotropic glutamate receptor by either gene-free application of purified complexes or co-expression of genetically encoded nanobodies to yield robust, reversible control of agonist binding and subsequent downstream activation. By harboring and combining the selectivity and flexibility of both nanobodies and self-labelling enzymes, we set the stage for targeting endogenous receptors in vivo.


2001 ◽  
Vol 359 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel HERMANS ◽  
R. A. John CHALLISS

In 1991 a new type of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) was cloned, the type 1a metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor, which, despite possessing the defining seven-transmembrane topology of the GPCR superfamily, bore little resemblance to the growing number of other cloned GPCRs. Subsequent studies have shown that there are eight mammalian mGlu receptors that, together with the calcium-sensing receptor, the GABAB receptor (where GABA is γ-aminobutyric acid) and a subset of pheromone, olfactory and taste receptors, make up GPCR family C. Currently available data suggest that family C GPCRs share a number of structural, biochemical and regulatory characteristics, which differ markedly from those of the other GPCR families, most notably the rhodopsin/family A GPCRs that have been most widely studied to date. This review will focus on the group I mGlu receptors (mGlu1 and mGlu5). This subgroup of receptors is widely and differentially expressed in neuronal and glial cells within the brain, and receptor activation has been implicated in the control of an array of key signalling events, including roles in the adaptative changes needed for long-term depression or potentiation of neuronal synaptic connectivity. In addition to playing critical physiological roles within the brain, the mGlu receptors are also currently the focus of considerable attention because of their potential as drug targets for the treatment of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders.


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