Molecular dynamics-based identification of binding pathways and two distinct high-affinity sites for succinate in succinate receptor 1/GPR91.

SUCNR1 is an auto- and paracrine sensor of the metabolic stress signal succinate. Using unsupervised molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (170.400 ns) and mutagenesis across human, mouse, and rat SUCNR1, we characterize how a five-arginine motif around the extracellular pole of TM-VI determines the initial capture of succinate in the extracellular vestibule (ECV) to either stay or move down to the orthosteric site. Metadynamics demonstrate low-energy succinate binding in both sites, with an energy barrier corresponding to an intermediate stage during which succinate, with an associated water cluster, unlocks the hydrogen-bond-stabilized conformationally constrained extracellular loop (ECL)-2b. Importantly, simultaneous binding of two succinate molecules through either a "sequential" or "bypassing" mode is a frequent endpoint. The mono-carboxylate NF-56-EJ40 antagonist enters SUCNR1 between TM-I and -II and does not unlock ECL-2b. It is proposed that occupancy of both high-affinity sites is required for selective activation of SUCNR1 by high local succinate concentrations.

Optimization of First-in-Class Dual-Acting FFAR1/FFAR4 Allosteric Modulators with Novel Mode of Action.

The free fatty acid receptors FFAR1 and FFAR4 are considered promising therapeutic targets for management of metabolic and inflammatory diseases. However, there is a need for entirely novel chemical scaffolds, since many of the highly similar lipophilic chemotypes in development have been abandoned by the pharmaceutical industry, due to toxic effects on hepatocytes and ß-cells. Our group has recently reported the discovery of a 1,3,5-triazine-2-amine-based compound that acts as an allosteric agonist on FFAR1. Here, we present the synthesis and investigation of the structure-activity relationship of an extensive set of analogues of which many display dual-acting agonist properties for both FFAR1 and FFAR4. In several rounds of optimization, we discovered multiple analogues with single-digit nanomolar potency on FFAR1. Pending additional optimization for metabolic stability, the compounds in this study present novel ways of providing beneficial glycemic control while avoiding the notorious toxicity challenges associated with previously identified chemotypes.

Optimization and in-vitro/in-vivo evaluation of doxorubicin-loaded chitosan-alginate nanoparticles using a melanoma mouse model.

The present study evaluates the potential of encapsulated doxorubicin to reduce both the viability of melanoma cells and the tumor growth in a mouse melanoma model. The prepared doxorubicin loaded chitosan/alginate nanoparticles possessed mean diameter around 300 nm and negative zeta-potential. Classical molecular dynamic simulations revealed that the high encapsulation efficiency (above 90%) was mainly due to electrostatic interaction between doxorubicin and sodium alginate, although dipole-dipole and hydrophobic interactions might also contribute. The in vitro dissolution tests showed slower doxorubicin release in slightly alkaline medium (pH = 7.4) and faster release in acid one (pH = 5.5), indicating that higher concentration of doxorubicin might reach the acidic tumor tissue. The free and the encapsulated doxorubicin decreased the viability of melanoma cell lines (B16-F10 and B16-OVA) in a similar degree. However, the cytotoxic effect of the encapsulated doxorubicin still occurred in the more resistant B16-F10 cells even after removing the extracellular drug. The experiments on a syngeneic melanoma mouse model revealed that free and encapsulated doxorubicin elicited the control of the tumor growth (dose of 3 mg/kg). Thus, the encapsulation of doxorubicin into chitosan/alginate nanoparticles could be considered advantageous because of the better intracellular accumulation and longer cytotoxic effect on the investigated melanoma cells.