Orthogonal Activation of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Using Coordination Chemogenetics

Cell-surface receptors play a pivotal role as transducers of extracellular input. Although different cell types express the same receptor, the physiological roles of the receptor are highly dependent on cell type. To understand each role, tactics for cell-specific activation of the target receptor are in high demand. Herein, we developed an orthogonal activation method targeting metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1), a G-protein coupled receptor. In this method, direct activation via coordination-based chemogenetics (dA-CBC) was adopted, where activation of mGlu1 was artificially induced by a protein conformational change in response to the coordination of a metal ion or metal-ion complex. Our structure-based protein design and screening approach identified mGlu1 mutants that were directly activated by the coordination of Cu2+ or Zn2+, in addition to our previous Pd-complex-sensitive mGlu1 mutant. Notably, the activation of the mutants was mutually orthogonal, resulting in cell-type selective activation in a model system using HEK293 cells.

Gentamicin Inhibits Ca2+ Channel TPRV5 and Induces Calciuresis Independent of the Calcium-Sensing Receptor-Claudin-14 Pathway

Background Treatment with the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin can be associated with severe adverse effects, including renal calcium wasting. The underlying mechanism is unknown but it has been proposed to involve activation of the Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR) in the thick ascending limb, which would increase expression of claudin-14 (CLDN14) and limit Ca2+ reabsorption. However, no direct evidence for this hypothesis has been presented. Methods We studied the effect of gentamicin in vivo using mouse models with impaired Ca2+ reabsorption in the proximal tubule and the thick ascending limb. We used a Cldn14 promoter luciferase-reporter assay to study CaSR activation and investigated the effect of gentamicin on activity of the distal nephron Ca2+ channel transient potential receptor vanilloid 5 (TPRV5), as determined by patch-clamp in HEK293 cells. Results Gentamicin increased urinary Ca2+ excretion in wild-type mice following acute and chronic administration. This calciuretic effect was unaltered in mice with genetic CaSR overactivation and was present in furosemide-treated animals, whereas the calciuretic effect in Cldn14-/-mice and mice with impaired proximal tubular Ca2+ reabsorption (claudin-2 [CLDN2]-deficient Cldn2-/- mice) was equivalent to that of wild-type mice. In vitro, gentamicin failed to activate the CaSR. In contrast, patch-clamp analysis revealed that gentamicin strongly inhibited rabbit and human TRPV5 activity and that chronic gentamicin administration downregulated distal nephron Ca2+ transporters. Conclusions Gentamicin does not cause hypercalciuria via activation of the CaSR-CLDN14 pathway or by interfering with proximal tubular CLDN2-dependent Ca2+ reabsorption. Instead, gentamicin blocks distal Ca2+ reabsorption by direct inhibition of the Ca2+ channel TRPV5. These findings offer new insights into calcium wasting in patients treated with gentamicin.

Effect of cannabidiol on apoptosis and cellular interferon and interferon-stimulated gene responses to the SARS-CoV-2 genes ORF8, ORF10 and M protein

Aims: To study effects on cellular innate immune responses to novel genes ORF8 and ORF10, and the more conserved Membrane protein (M protein) from the Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, either alone, or in combination with cannabidiol (CBD). Main Methods: HEK293 cells were transfected with a control plasmid, or plasmids expressing ORF8, ORF10, or M protein, and assayed for cell number and markers of apoptosis at 24 h, and expression of interferon and interferon-stimulated genes at 14 h. Key findings: A significant reduction in cell number, and increase in early and late apoptosis, was found after 24 h in cells where expression of viral genes was combined with 1-2 μM CBD treatment, but not in control-transfected cells treated with CBD, or in cells expressing viral genes but treated only with vehicle. CBD (2 μM) augmented expression of IFNγ, IFNλ1 and IFNλ2/3, as well as the 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) family members OAS1, OAS2, OAS3, and OASL, in cells expressing ORF8, ORF10, and M protein. CBD also augmented expression of these genes in control cells not expressing viral genes, without enhancing apoptosis. Significance: Our results demonstrate a poor ability of HEK293 cells to respond to SARS-CoV-2 genes alone, but suggest an augmented innate anti-viral response to these genes in the presence of CBD. Furthermore, our results indicate that CBD may prime components of the innate immune system, increasing readiness to respond to viral infection without activating apoptosis, and therefore could be studied for potential in prophylaxis.

Mutational Analysis of Compound Heterozygous Mutation P.q6x/p.h232r in Srd5a2 Causing 46,xy Disorder of Sex Development

Background: Over 100 mutations in the SRD5A2 gene have been identified in subjects with 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD). Exploration of SRD5A2 mutations and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms behind their effects should reveal the functions of the domains of the 5α-reductase 2 enzyme and identify the cause of 46,XY DSD. Previously, we reported a novel compound heterozygous p.Q6X/p.H232R mutation of the SRD5A2 gene in a case with 46,XY DSD. Whether the compound heterozygous p.Q6X/p.H232R mutation in this gene causes 46,XY DSD requires further exploration. Results: To clarify the cause of 46,XY DSD in the affected family focused on here, SRD5A2 sequencing was performed. Heterozygous p.H232R mutation was identified in the proband’s father, so we concluded that this mutation originated from the paternal side of the family and did not cause 46,XY DSD. Meanwhile, heterozygous p.Q6X mutation was identified in the proband’s mother, maternal uncle, and maternal grandfather, indicating that this mutation originated from maternal side of the family and did not cause 46,XY DSD. To clarify the effect of the p.H232R mutation in SRD5A2 on dihydrotestosterone (DHT) production, p.H232R mutant SRD5A2 plasmids were transfected into HEK293 cells. LC-MS indicated that DHT production decreased compared with that in cells transfected with wild-type SRD5A2.Conclusions: Our findings confirmed that the compound heterozygous p.Q6X/p.H232R mutation in the SRD5A2 gene is the cause of 46,XY DSD. p.H232R mutation reduced DHT production while attenuating the catalytic efficiency of the 5α-reductase 2 enzyme.

Overexpression of protein disulfide isomerase enhances vitamin K epoxide reductase activity

Vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) activity is catalyzed by the VKORC1 enzyme. It is the target of vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Numerous mutations of VKORC1 have been reported and have been suspected to confer resistance to VKA and/or affect its velocity. Nevertheless, the results between studies have been conflicting, the functional characterization of these mutations in a cell system being complex due to the interweaving of VKOR activity in the vitamin K cycle. In this study, a new cellular approach was implemented to globally evaluate the vitamin K cycle in the HEK293 cells. This global approach was based on the vitamin K quinone/vitamin K epoxide (K/KO) balance. In the presence of VKA or when the VKORC1/VKORC1L1 were knocked out, the K/KO balance decreased significantly due to an accumulation of vitamin KO. On the contrary, when VKORC1 was overexpressed, the balance remained unchanged, demonstrating a limitation of the VKOR activity. This limitation was shown to be due to an insufficient expression of the activation partner of VKORC1, as overexpressing the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) overcomes the limitation. This study is the first to demonstrate a functional interaction between VKORC1 and the PDI enzyme.

The non-neutral, multi-level, phenotypic impact of synonymous mutations revealed through heterologous gene expression in human cells.

Redundancy in the genetic code allows for differences in transcription and/or translation efficiency between mRNA molecules carrying synonymous polymorphisms, with potential phenotypic impact at the molecular and at the organismal level. A combination of neutral and selective processes determines the global genome codon usage preferences, as well as local differences between genes within a genome and between positions along a single gene. The relative contribution of evolutionary forces at shaping codon usage bias in eukaryotes is a matter of debate, especially in mammals. The main riddle remains understanding the sharp contrast between the strong molecular impact of gene expression differences arising from codon usage preferences and the thin evidence for codon usage selection at the organismal level. Here we report a multiscale analysis of the consequences of alternative codon usage on heterologous gene expression in human cells. We generated synonymous versions of the shble antibiotic resistance gene, fused to a fluorescent reporter, and expressed independently them in human HEK293 cells. We analysed: i) mRNA-to-DNA and protein-to-mRNA ratios for each shble version; ii) cellular fluorescence, using flow cytometry, as a proxy for single cell-level construct expression; and iii) real-time cell proliferation in absence or presence of antibiotic, as a proxy for the cellular fitness. Our results show that differences in codon usage preferences in our focal gene strongly impacted the molecular and the cellular phenotype: i) they elicited large differences in mRNA and in protein levels, as well in mRNA-to-protein ratio; ii) they introduced splicing events not predicted by current algorithms; iii) they lead to reproducible phenotypic heterogeneity as different multimodal distributions of cellular fluorescence EGFP; iv) they resulted in a trade-off between burden of heterologous expression and antibiotic resistance. While certain codon usage-related variables monotonically correlated with protein expression, other variables (e.g. CpG content or mRNA folding energy) displayed a bell-like behaviour. We interpret that codon usage preferences strongly shape the molecular and cellular phenotype in human cells through a direct impact on gene expression.

Biophysical Characterization of Novel DNA Aptamers against K103N/Y181C Double Mutant HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 Reverse Transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) plays a pivotal role in essential viral replication and is the main target for antiviral therapy. The anti-HIV-1 RT drugs address resistance-associated mutations. This research focused on isolating the potential specific DNA aptamers against K103N/Y181C double mutant HIV-1 RT. Five DNA aptamers showed low IC50 values against both the KY-mutant HIV-1 RT and wildtype (WT) HIV-1 RT. The kinetic binding affinity forms surface plasmon resonance of both KY-mutant and WT HIV-1 RTs in the range of 0.06–2 μM and 0.15–2 μM, respectively. Among these aptamers, the KY44 aptamer was chosen to study the interaction of HIV-1 RTs-DNA aptamer complex by NMR experiments. The NMR results indicate that the aptamer could interact with both WT and KY-mutant HIV-1 RT at the NNRTI drug binding pocket by inducing a chemical shift at methionine residues. Furthermore, KY44 could inhibit pseudo-HIV particle infection in HEK293 cells with nearly 80% inhibition and showed low cytotoxicity on HEK293 cells. These together indicated that the KY44 aptamer could be a potential inhibitor of both WT and KY-mutant HIV-RT.

Demonstration of a common DPhe7 to DNal(2')7 peptide ligand antagonist switch for the melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors identifies systematic mischaracterization of the pharmacological properties of melanocortin peptides

Melanocortin peptides containing a D-naphthylalanine residue in position 7 (DNal(2')7), reported as melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) subtype-specific agonists in two separate publications, were found to lack significant MC3R agonist activity. The cell lines used at the University of Arizona for pharmacological characterization of these peptides, consisting of HEK293 cells stably transfected with human melanocortin receptor subtypes MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, or MC5R, were then obtained and characterized by quantitative PCR. While the MC1R cell line correctly expressed only the hMCR1, the three other cell lines were mischaracterized with regard to receptor subtype expression. Demonstration that a D-naphthylalanine residue in position 7, irrespective of the melanocortin peptide template, results primarily in antagonism of the MC3R and MC4R, then allowed us to search the published literature for additional errors. The erroneously characterized DNal(2')7-containing peptides date back to 2003; thus, our analysis suggests that systematic mischaracterization of the pharmacological properties of melanocortin peptides occurred.

Dynamic Distribution of HIG2A between the Mitochondria and the Nucleus in Response to Hypoxia and Oxidative Stress

Mitochondrial respiratory supercomplex formation requires HIG2A protein, which also has been associated with cell proliferation and cell survival under hypoxia. HIG2A protein localizes in mitochondria and nucleus. DNA methylation and mRNA expression of the HIGD2A gene show significant alterations in several cancers, suggesting a role for HIG2A in cancer biology. The present work aims to understand the dynamics of the HIG2A subcellular localization under cellular stress. We found that HIG2A protein levels increase under oxidative stress. H2O2 shifts HIG2A localization to the mitochondria, while rotenone shifts it to the nucleus. HIG2A protein colocalized at a higher level in the nucleus concerning the mitochondrial network under normoxia and hypoxia (2% O2). Hypoxia (2% O2) significantly increases HIG2A nuclear colocalization in C2C12 cells. In HEK293 cells, chemical hypoxia with CoCl2 (>1% O2) and FCCP mitochondrial uncoupling, the HIG2A protein decreased its nuclear localization and shifted to the mitochondria. This suggests that the HIG2A distribution pattern between the mitochondria and the nucleus depends on stress and cell type. HIG2A protein expression levels increase under cellular stresses such as hypoxia and oxidative stress. Its dynamic distribution between mitochondria and the nucleus in response to stress factors suggests a new communication system between the mitochondria and the nucleus.

Novel interaction between neurotrophic factor-α1/carboxypeptidase E and serotonin receptor, 5-HTR1E, protects human neurons against oxidative/neuroexcitotoxic stress via β-arrestin/ERK signaling

Protecting neurons from death during oxidative and neuroexcitotoxic stress is key for preventing cognitive dysfunction. We uncovered a novel neuroprotective mechanism involving interaction between neurotrophic factor-α1 (NF-α1/carboxypeptidase E, CPE) and human 5-HTR1E, a G protein-coupled serotonin receptor with no previously known neurological function. Co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down assays confirmed interaction between NFα1/CPE and 5-HTR1E and 125I NF-α1/CPE-binding studies demonstrated saturable, high-affinity binding to 5-HTR1E in stably transfected HEK293 cells (Kd = 13.82 nM). Treatment of 5-HTR1E stable cells with NF-α1/CPE increased pERK 1/2 and pCREB levels which prevented a decrease in pro-survival protein, BCL2, during H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Cell survival assay in β-arrestin Knockout HEK293 cells showed that the NF-α1/CPE-5-HTR1E-mediated protection against oxidative stress was β-arrestin-dependent. Molecular dynamics studies revealed that NF-α1/CPE interacts with 5-HTR1E via 3 salt bridges, stabilized by several hydrogen bonds, independent of the serotonin pocket. Furthermore, after phosphorylating the C-terminal tail and intracellular loop 3 (ICL3) of NF-α1/CPE-5-HTR1E, it recruited β-arrestin1 by forming numerous salt bridges and hydrogen bonds to ICL2 and ICL3, leading to activation of β-arrestin1. Immunofluorescence studies showed 5-HTR1E and NF-α1/CPE are highly expressed and co-localized on cell surface of human hippocampal neurons. Importantly, knock-down of 5-HTR1E in human primary neurons diminished the NF-α1/CPE-mediated protection of these neurons against oxidative stress and glutamate neurotoxicity-induced cell death. Thus, NF-α1/CPE uniquely interacts with serotonin receptor 5-HTR1E to activate the β-arrestin/ERK/CREB/BCL2 pathway to mediate stress-induced neuroprotection.