Acacetin alleviates energy metabolism disorder through promoting white fat browning mediated by AC-cAMP pathway.

Acacetin (ACA), a flavone isolated from Chinese traditional medical herbs, has numerous pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the roles in white fat browning and energy metabolism. In the present study, we investigated whether and how ACA would improve energy metabolism in vivo and in vitro. ACA (20 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to the mice with obesity induced by HFD for 14 consecutive days (in vivo); differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with ACA (20 µmol/L and 40 µmol/L) for 24 h (in vitro). The metabolic profile, lipid accumulation, fat-browning and mitochondrial contents, and so on were respectively detected. The results in vivo showed that ACA significantly reduced the body weight and visceral adipose tissue weight, alleviated the energy metabolism disorder, and enhanced the browning-related protein expressions in adipose tissue of rats. Besides, the data in vitro revealed that ACA significantly reduced the lipid accumulation, induced the expressions of the browning-related proteins and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), and increased the mitochondrium contents, especially enhanced the energy metabolism of adipocytes; however, treatment with beta-adrenergic receptor blocker (propranolol, Pro) or adenyl cyclase (AC) inhibitor (SQ22536, SQ) abrogated the ACA-mediated effects. The data demonstrate that ACA alleviates the energy metabolism disorder through the pro-browning effects mediated by the AC-cAMP pathway. The findings would provide the experimental foundation for ACA to prevent and treat obesity and related metabolism disorders.

Complementary mRNA expression of enzymes producing nitric oxide and prostaglandin in ductus arteriosus with respect to their role in maintaining patency.

mRNA expression of molecules related to the activity of nitric oxide or prostaglandin E2, the critical regulators maintaining the ductus arteriosus patency, was examined in rat ductus arteriosus at preterm (days 18.5 and 19.5 of pregnancy) and near term (days 20.5 and 21.5). The endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA level increased transiently at preterm and then decreased at near term. The cyclooxygenase 2 mRNA increased gradually from near-term to the term complementary to the reduced endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA. These results suggest that the role shift between nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in maintaining ductus arteriosus patency at preterm and near term may be due to complementary expression changes of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 at the transcriptional level.

Exploring Molecular Approaches in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Drug Targets from Clinical and Pre-Clinical Findings.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease (MND) characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons (corticospinal tract) in the motor cortex, basal ganglia, brain stem, and spinal cord. The patient experiences the sign and symptoms between 55 to 75 years of age, which include impaired motor movement, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, grip loss, muscle atrophy, spasticity, and sometimes associated with memory and cognitive impairments. Median survival is 3 to 5 years after diagnosis and 5 to 10% of the patients live for more than 10 years. The limited intervention of pharmacologically active compounds, that are used clinically, is majorly associated with the narrow therapeutic index. Pre-clinically established experimental models, where neurotoxin methyl mercury mimics the ALS like behavioural and neurochemical alterations in rodents associated with neuronal mitochondrial dysfunctions and downregulation of adenyl cyclase mediated cAMP/CREB, is the main pathological hallmark for the progression of ALS in central as well in the peripheral nervous system. Despite the considerable investigation into neuroprotection, it still constrains treatment choices to strong care and organization of ALS complications. Therefore, this current review specially targeted the investigation of clinical and pre-clinical features available for ALS to understand the pathogenic mechanisms and to explore the pharmacological interventions associated with the up-regulation of intracellular adenyl cyclase/cAMP/ CREB and activation of mitochondrial-ETC coenzyme-Q10 as a future drug target in the amelioration of ALS mediated motor neuronal dysfunctions.

Neuroprotective Methodologies in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis Current Status of Clinical and Pre-clinical Findings.

Multiple sclerosis is an idiopathic and autoimmune associated motor neuron disorder that affects myelinated neurons in specific brain regions of young people, especially females. MS is characterized by oligodendrocytes destruction further responsible for demyelination, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial abnormalities, oxidative stress and neurotransmitter deficits associated with motor and cognitive dysfunctions, vertigo and muscle weakness. The limited intervention of pharmacologically active compounds like interferon-ß, mitoxantrone, fingolimod and monoclonal antibodies used clinically are majorly associated with adverse drug reactions. Pre-clinically, gliotoxin ethidium bromide mimics the behavioral and neurochemical alterations in multiple sclerosis- like in experimental animals associated with the down-regulation of adenyl cyclase/cAMP/CREB, which is further responsible for a variety of neuropathogenic factors. Despite the considerable investigation of neuroprotection in curing multiple sclerosis, some complications still remain. The available medications only provide symptomatic relief but do not stop the disease progression. In this way, the development of unused beneficial methods tends to be ignored. The limitations of the current steady treatment may be because of their activity at one of the many neurotransmitters included or their failure to up direct signaling flag bearers detailed to have a vital part in neuronal sensitivity, biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and its discharge, development, and separation of the neuron, synaptic versatility and cognitive working. Therefore, the current review strictly focused on the exploration of various clinical and pre-clinical features available for multiple sclerosis to understand the pathogenic mechanisms and to introduce pharmacological interventions associated with the upregulation of intracellular adenyl cyclase/cAMP/CREB activation to ameliorate multiple sclerosis-like features.

G protein-regulated endocytic trafficking of adenylyl cyclase type 9.

GPCRs are increasingly recognized to initiate signaling via heterotrimeric G proteins as they move through the endocytic network, but little is known about how relevant G protein effectors are localized. Here we report selective trafficking of adenylyl cyclase type 9 (AC9) from the plasma membrane to endosomes while adenylyl cyclase type 1 (AC1) remains in the plasma membrane, and stimulation of AC9 trafficking by ligand-induced activation of Gs-coupled GPCRs. AC9 transits a similar, dynamin-dependent early endocytic pathway as ligand-activated GPCRs. However, unlike GPCR traffic control which requires ß-arrestin but not Gs, AC9 traffic control requires Gs but not ß-arrestin. We also show that AC9, but not AC1, mediates cAMP production stimulated by endogenous receptor activation in endosomes. These results reveal dynamic and isoform-specific trafficking of adenylyl cyclase in the endocytic network, and a discrete role of a heterotrimeric G protein in regulating the subcellular distribution of a relevant effector.

Cells sense changes in their chemical environment using proteins called receptors. These proteins often sit on the cell surface, detecting molecules outside the cell and relaying messages across the membrane to the cell interior. The largest family of receptors is formed of 'G protein-coupled receptors' (or GPCRs for short), so named because they relay messages through so-called G proteins, which then send information into the cell by interacting with other proteins called effectors. Next, the receptors leave the cell surface, travelling into the cell in compartments called endosomes. Researchers used to think that this switched the receptors off, stopping the signaling process, but it is now clear that this is not the case. Some receptors continue to signal from inside the cell, though the details of how this works are unclear. For signals to pass from a GPCR to a G protein to an effector, all three proteins need to be in the same place. This is certainly happening at the cell surface, but whether all three types of proteins come together inside endosomes is less clear. One way to find out is to look closely at the location of effector proteins when GPCRs are receiving signals. One well-studied effector of GPCR signaling is called adenylyl cyclase, a protein that makes a signal molecule called cAMP. Some G proteins switch adenylyl cyclase on, increasing cAMP production, while others switch it off. To find out how GPCRs send signals from inside endosomes, Lazar et al tracked adenylyl cyclase proteins inside human cells. This revealed that a type of adenylyl cyclase, known as adenylyl cyclase 9, follows receptors as they travel into the cell. Under the influence of active G proteins, activated adenylyl cyclase 9 left the cell surface and entered the endosomes. Once inside the cell, adenylyl cyclase 9 generated the signal molecule cAMP, allowing the receptors to send messages from inside the cell. Other types of adenylyl cyclase behaved differently. Adenylyl cyclase 1, for example, remained on the cell surface even after its receptors had left, and did not signal from inside the cell at all. Which cell behaviors are triggered from the membrane, and which are triggered from inside the cell is an important question in drug design. Understanding where effector proteins are active is a step towards finding the answers. This could help research into diseases of the heart, the liver and the lungs, all of which use adenylyl cyclase 9 to send signals.

Molecular Modeling of the Catalytic Domain of CyaA Deepened the Knowledge of Its Functional Dynamics.

Although CyaA has been studied for over three decades and revealed itself to be a very good prototype for developing various biotechnological applications, only a little is known about its functional dynamics and about the conformational landscape of this protein. Molecular dynamics simulations helped to clarify the view on these points in the following way. First, the model of interaction between AC and calmodulin (CaM) has evolved from an interaction centered on the surface between C-CaM hydrophobic patch and the α helix H of AC, to a more balanced view, in which the C-terminal tail of AC along with the C-CaM Calcium loops play an important role. This role has been confirmed by the reduction of the affinity of AC for calmodulin in the presence of R338, D360 and N347 mutations. In addition, enhanced sampling studies have permitted to propose a representation of the conformational space for the isolated AC. It remains to refine this representation using structural low resolution information measured on the inactive state of AC. Finally, due to a virtual screening study on another adenyl cyclase from Bacillus anthracis, weak inhibitors of AC have been discovered.

Adenyl cyclase activator forskolin protects against Huntington's disease-like neurodegenerative disorders.

Long term suppression of succinate dehydrogenase by selective inhibitor 3-nitropropionic acid has been used in rodents to model Huntington's disease where mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damages are primary pathological hallmarks for neuronal damage. Improvements in learning and memory abilities, recovery of energy levels, and reduction of excitotoxicity damage can be achieved through activation of Adenyl cyclase enzyme by a specific phytochemical forskolin. In this study, intraperitoneal administration of 10 mg/kg 3-nitropropionic acid for 15 days in rats notably reduced body weight, worsened motor cocordination (grip strength, beam crossing task, locomotor activity), resulted in learning and memory deficits, greatly increased acetylcholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase, nitrite, and malondialdehyde levels, obviously decreased adenosine triphosphate, succinate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and reduced glutathione levels in the striatum, cortex and hippocampus. Intragastric administration of forskolin at 10, 20, 30 mg/kg dose-dependently reversed these behavioral, biochemical and pathological changes caused by 3-nitropropionic acid. These results suggest that forskolin exhibits neuroprotective effects on 3-nitropropionic acid-induced Huntington's disease-like neurodegeneration.

Hypocapnic hypothesis of Leigh disease.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is a neurogenetic disorder of children caused by mutations in at least 75 genes which impair mitochondrial bioenergetics. The changes have typical localization in basal ganglia and brainstem, and typical histological picture of spongiform appearance, vascular proliferation and gliosis. ATP deprivation, free radicals and lactate accumulation are suspected to be the causes. Hypocapnic hypothesis proposed in the paper questions the energy deprivation as the mechanism of LS. We assume that the primary harmful factor is hypocapnia (decrease in pCO2) and respiratory alkalosis (increase in pH) due to hyperventilation, permanent or in response to stress. Inside mitochondria, the pH signal of high pH/low bicarbonate ion (HCO-3) is transmitted by soluble adenyl cyclase (sAC) through cAMP dependent manner. The process can initiate brain lesions (necrosis, apoptosis, hypervascularity) in OXPHOS deficient cells residing at the LS area of the brain. The major message of the article is that it is not the ATP depletion but intracellular alkalization (and/or hyperoxia?) which seem to be the cause of LS. The paper includes suggestions concerning the methodology for further research on the LS mechanism and for therapeutic strategy.

Loss of presenilin function is associated with a selective gain of APP function.

Presenilin 1 (PS1) is an essential γ-secretase component, the enzyme responsible for amyloid precursor protein (APP) intramembraneous cleavage. Mutations in PS1 lead to dominant-inheritance of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Although expression of FAD-linked PS1 mutations enhances toxic Aß production, the importance of other APP metabolites and γ-secretase substrates in the etiology of the disease has not been confirmed. We report that neurons expressing FAD-linked PS1 variants or functionally deficient PS1 exhibit enhanced axodendritic outgrowth due to increased levels of APP intracellular C-terminal fragment (APP-CTF). APP expression is required for exuberant neurite outgrowth and hippocampal axonal sprouting observed in knock-in mice expressing FAD-linked PS1 mutation. APP-CTF accumulation initiates CREB signaling cascade through an association of APP-CTF with Gαs protein. We demonstrate that pathological PS1 loss-of-function impinges on neurite formation through a selective APP gain-of-function that could impact on axodendritic connectivity and contribute to aberrant axonal sprouting observed in AD patients.

Role of adenylyl cyclase in reduced ß-adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation during maturation

Beta-adrenergic receptor (βAR)-dependent blood vessel relaxation is impaired in older animals and G protein activation has been suggested as the causative mechanism. Here, we investigated the role of βAR subtypes (β1AR, β2AR, and β3AR) and cAMP in maturation-dependent vasorelaxation impairment. Aortic rings from 15 Sprague-Dawley male rats (3 or 9 weeks old) were harvested and left intact or denuded of the endothelium. Vascular relaxation in aortic rings from younger and older groups was compared in the presence of βAR subtype agonists and antagonists along with cAMP and cGMP antagonists. Isolated aortic rings were used to evaluate relaxation responses, protein expression was evaluated by western blot or real time PCR, and metabolites were measured by ELISA. Expression of βAR subtypes and adenylyl cyclase was assessed, and cAMP activity was measured in vascular tissue from both groups. Isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent relaxation in aortic rings with and without endothelium from 9-week-old rats was impaired compared with younger rats. The β1AR antagonist CGP20712A (10-7 M) did not affect isoproterenol or BRL744-dependent relaxation in arteries from either group. The β2AR antagonist ICI-118,551 (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol-dependent aortic relaxation in both groups. The β3AR antagonist SR59230A (10-7 M) inhibited isoproterenol- and BRL744-dependent aortic ring relaxation in younger but not in older rats. All βAR subtypes were expressed in both groups, although β3AR expression was lower in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase (SQ 22536) or protein kinase A (H89) inhibitors prevented isoproterenol-induced relaxation in younger but not in older rats. Production of cAMP was reduced in the older group. Adenylyl cyclase III and RyR3 protein expression was higher in the younger group. In conclusion, altered expression of β3AR and adenylyl cyclase III may be responsible for reduced cAMP production in the older group.

Temperature-accelerated molecular dynamics gives insights into globular conformations sampled in the free state of the AC catalytic domain.

The catalytic domain of the adenyl cyclase (AC) toxin from Bordetella pertussis is activated by interaction with calmodulin (CaM), resulting in cAMP overproduction in the infected cell. In the X-ray crystallographic structure of the complex between AC and the C terminal lobe of CaM, the toxin displays a markedly elongated shape. As for the structure of the isolated protein, experimental results support the hypothesis that more globular conformations are sampled, but information at atomic resolution is still lacking. Here, we use temperature-accelerated molecular dynamics (TAMD) simulations to generate putative all-atom models of globular conformations sampled by CaM-free AC. As collective variables, we use centers of mass coordinates of groups of residues selected from the analysis of standard molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Results show that TAMD allows extended conformational sampling and generates AC conformations that are more globular than in the complexed state. These structures are then refined via energy minimization and further unrestrained MD simulations to optimize inter-domain packing interactions, thus resulting in the identification of a set of hydrogen bonds present in the globular conformations.

Role of PKC-ζ in NADPH oxidase-PKCα-Giα axis dependent inhibition of ß-adrenergic response by U46619 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Treatment of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (BPASMCs) with U46619 attenuated isoproterenol caused stimulation of adenyl cyclase activity and cAMP production. Pretreatment with SQ29548 (Tp receptor antagonist), apocynin (NADPH oxidase inhibitor) and Go6976 (PKC-α inhibitor) eliminated U46619 caused attenuation of isoproterenol stimulated adenyl cyclase activity. Pretreatment with SQ29548 and apocynin prevented U46619 induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, PKC-α activity and Giα phosphorylation. However, pretreatment with CZI, a PKC-ζ inhibitor, markedly, but not completely, inhibited U46619 induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, PKC-α activity, Giα phosphorylation and also significantly eliminated U46619 caused attenuation of isoproterenol stimulated adenyl cyclase activity. Pretreatment with Go6976 inhibited U46619 induced increase in Giα phosphorylation, but not PKC-ζ activity and NADPH oxidase activity. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin eliminated U46619 caused attenuation of isoproterenol stimulated adenyl cyclase activity without any discernible change in PKC-ζ, NADPH oxidase and PKC-α activities. Transfection of the cells with Tp, PKC-ζ and PKC-α siRNA duplexes corroborate the findings observed with their respective pharmacological inhibitors on the responses produced by U46619. Taken together, we suggest involvement of PKC-ζ in U46619 caused attenuation of isoproterenol stimulated ß-adrenergic response, which is regulated by NADPH oxidase-PKCα-Giα axis in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.