Family-wide chemical profiling and structural analysis of PARP and tankyrase inhibitors.

Inhibitors of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) family proteins are currently in clinical trials as cancer therapeutics, yet the specificity of many of these compounds is unknown. Here we evaluated a series of 185 small-molecule inhibitors, including research reagents and compounds being tested clinically, for the ability to bind to the catalytic domains of 13 of the 17 human PARP family members including the tankyrases, TNKS1 and TNKS2. Many of the best-known inhibitors, including TIQ-A, 6(5H)-phenanthridinone, olaparib, ABT-888 and rucaparib, bound to several PARP family members, suggesting that these molecules lack specificity and have promiscuous inhibitory activity. We also determined X-ray crystal structures for five TNKS2 ligand complexes and four PARP14 ligand complexes. In addition to showing that the majority of PARP inhibitors bind multiple targets, these results provide insight into the design of new inhibitors.

A facilitated approach to evaluate the inhibitor mode and potency of compounds targeting microsomal prostaglandin e synthase-1.

Microsomal prostaglandin E(2) synthase-1 (MPGES1) catalyzes the formation of prostaglandin E(2) from the endoperoxide prostaglandin H(2). MPGES1 expression is induced in inflammatory diseases, and this enzyme is regarded as a potential drug target. To aid in the drug discovery effort, a simple method for determination of inhibition mechanism and potency toward both prostaglandin H(2) and glutathione (GSH) has been developed. Using an assay with thiobarbituric acid-based detection, the inhibitory effects of six MPGES1 inhibitors were evaluated. The IC(50) values obtained at three substrate (S) concentrations ([S]K(M)) were used to estimate inhibition modality and inhibition constant values. This facilitated strategy is a useful and general screening method to evaluate the inhibitory effects of new drug compounds.

Evidence against adenosine analogues being agonists at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor.

Adenosine and adenosine analogues have been reported to act as agonists or partial agonists at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a). We have re-examined this question. A concentration-dependent increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) was observed in GHSR1a transfected HEK 293-EBNA cells stimulated with adenosine (EC50: 0.2 microM) or 2-chloroadenosine (EC50: 1.1 microM) but also in untransfected HEK 293-EBNA cells stimulated with 2-chloroadenosine (EC50: 0.67 microM) or 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) (EC50: 0.045 microM). These findings support endogenous expression of adenosine receptors, presumably A(2B) receptors in HEK 293-EBNA cells. In GHSR1a transfected CHO cells, lacking adenosine receptors, the GHSR1a agonist hGhrelin (EC50: 2.4 nM) increased [Ca(2+)](i), but no effects of adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine or NECA were detected. An inverse agonist of GHSR1a, [d-Arg-1, d-Phe-5, d-Trp-7, 9, Leu-11] substance P, reduced hGhrelin effects but adenosine, 2-chloroadenosine or 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX) did not. NECA increased the [Ca(2+)](i) in co-transfected (GHSR1a and A(2B) receptor) CHO cells (EC50: 0.053 microM), but no additive or synergistic effects on [Ca(2+)](i) or cAMP formation were observed after stimulation with NECA in the absence or in the presence of hGhrelin. In binding studies on GHSR1a transfected CHO cell membranes, [(125)I]-hGhrelin binding could be displaced by the GHSR1a agonist MK-0677 (IC50: 0.34 nM), hGhrelin (IC50: 1.5 nM), and the substance P analogue (IC50: 0.64 microM) but not by adenosine or 2-chloroadenosine. We conclude that adenosine and analogues do not act as agonists or partial agonists at the GHSR1a and that cross-talk between the GHSR1a and A(2B) receptors is limited.

Human neuropeptide Y signal peptide gain-of-function polymorphism is associated with increased body mass index: possible mode of function.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been implicated in the control of food intake and energy balance based on many observations in animals. We have studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the regulatory and coding sequences of the human NPY gene. One variant (1128 T>C), which causes an amino acid change from leucine to proline at codon 7 in the signal peptide of NPY, was associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in two separate Swedish populations of normal and overweight individuals. In vitro transcription and translation studies indicated the unlikelihood that this signal peptide variation affects the site of cleavage and targeting or uptake of NPY into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, the mutant, and to a lesser extent the wild-type, signal peptide by themselves markedly potentiated NPY-induced food intake, as well as hypothalamic NPY receptor signaling. Our findings in humans strongly indicate that the NPY signaling system is implicated in body weight regulation and suggest a new and unexpected functional role of a signal peptide.

Dihydrexidine--the first full dopamine D1 receptor agonist.

The functional role of dopamine D(1) receptors is still controversial. One reason for this controversy is that for a long time the only available agonists for in vivo characterization of dopamine D(1) receptors were benzazepines. Among them was the prototype dopamine D(1) receptor partial agonist, SKF 38393. The lack of a selective and fully efficacious dopamine D(1) receptor agonist hampered basic research on dopamine D(1) receptors and left the potential clinical utility of dopamine D(1) receptor agonists elusive. The research situation improved when the first potent full dopamine D(1) receptor agonist dihydrexidine, a phenanthridine, was introduced in the late 1980s. In contrast to SKF 38393, dihydrexidine was shown to stimulate cyclic AMP synthesis just as well or better than dopamine, and potently displaced [(3)H]SCH 23390 from rat and monkey striatal membranes. Also, dihydrexidine was the first dopamine D(1) receptor agonist that had potent antiparkinsonian activity in a primate model of Parkinson's disease. This finding suggested clinical utility for dopamine D(1) receptor agonists in Parkinson's disease and that this utility might be critically dependent on the intrinsic efficacy of the drug. Clinical utility for dopamine D(1) receptor agonists in other central nervous disorders might also be dependent on the intrinsic efficacy of the drug. However, even though studies with dihydrexidine as a pharmacological tool have pointed to the clinical use for dopamine D(1) receptor agonists, dihydrexidine's unfavorable pharmacokinetic profile and various adverse effects are likely to restrict or even preclude its use in humans. This review article provides an updated overview of the pharmacology of dihydrexidine and discusses possible clinical utility of dopamine D(1) receptor agonists in various central nervous system disorders.

Anoxia redistributes adenosine A(2A) receptors in PC12 cells and increases receptor-mediated formation of cAMP.

Abstract. Undifferentiated and NGF-treated PC12 cells were subjected to anoxia for up to 24 h. The adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist 5-amino-7-(2-phenylethyl)-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4 triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (SCH 58261) decreased viability of undifferentiated, but not NGF-treated PC12 cells after 6 h of anoxia. Anoxia also transiently enhanced cAMP responses induced via activation of adenosine A(2A) receptors in undifferentiated PC12 cells (20-fold decrease in the EC(50) value for the agonist 2-[ p-(2-carbonylethyl) phenylethylamino]-5'- N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine, CGS 21680). In NGF-treated PC12 cells, by contrast, anoxia decreased both the maximal response to and the potency of CGS 21680. In undifferentiated PC12 cells subjected to anoxia a very modest increase of A(2A) receptor mRNA was detected in cells by Northern blotting, but no changes in the amount of the receptor protein could be seen by Western blotting. However, surface biotinylation of the cells followed by avidin pull-down showed that the A(2A) receptor at the cell membrane was increased after anoxia. This was supported by immunolabelling of the A(2A) receptors: much of the receptor protein was present in the cytoplasm of normoxic cells, but in cells subjected to anoxia the A(2A) receptor immunolabelling at the cell membrane was more pronounced, indicating redistribution of the receptors from intracellular pools to the cell membrane during anoxia.