Development of sub-nanomolar dipeptidic ligands of neuropeptide FF receptors.

Based on our earlier reported neuropeptide FF receptors antagonist (RF9), we carried out an extensive structural exploration of the N-terminus part of the amidated dipeptide Arg-Phe-NH(2) in order to establish a structure-activity relationships (SAR) study towards both NPFF receptor subtypes. This SAR led to the discovery of dipeptides (12, 35) with subnanomolar affinities towards NPFF1 receptor subtype, similar to endogenous ligand NPVF. More particularly, compound 12 exhibited a potent in vivo preventive effect on opioid-induced hyperalgesia at low dose. The significant selectivity of 12 toward NPFF1-R indicates that this receptor subtype may play a critical role in the anti-opioid activity of NPFF-like peptides.

Molecular characterization of Ph1 as a major chromosome pairing locus in polyploid wheat.

The foundation of western civilization owes much to the high fertility of bread wheat, which results from the stability of its polyploid genome. Despite possessing multiple sets of related chromosomes, hexaploid (bread) and tetraploid (pasta) wheat both behave as diploids at meiosis. Correct pairing of homologous chromosomes is controlled by the Ph1 locus. In wheat hybrids, Ph1 prevents pairing between related chromosomes. Lack of Ph1 activity in diploid relatives of wheat suggests that Ph1 arose on polyploidization. Absence of phenotypic variation, apart from dosage effects, and the failure of ethylmethane sulphonate treatment to yield mutants, indicates that Ph1 has a complex structure. Here we have localized Ph1 to a 2.5-megabase interstitial region of wheat chromosome 5B containing a structure consisting of a segment of subtelomeric heterochromatin that inserted into a cluster of cdc2-related genes after polyploidization. The correlation of the presence of this structure with Ph1 activity in related species, and the involvement of heterochromatin with Ph1 (ref. 6) and cdc2 genes with meiosis, makes the structure a good candidate for the Ph1 locus.

Development of consistently crossable wheat genotypes for alien wheat gene transfer through fine-mapping of the Kr1 locus.

Breeders can force sexual hybridisation between wheat and related grass species to produce interspecific hybrids containing a dihaploid set of wheat and related chromosomes. This facilitates the introgression of desirable genes into wheat from the secondary gene pool. However, most elite European wheat varieties carry genes that suppress crossability, making the transfer of novel traits from exotic germplasm into elite wheat varieties difficult or impossible. Previous studies have identified at least five crossability loci in wheat. Here, the crossability locus with the largest effect, Kr1 on chromosome arm 5BL, was fine-mapped by developing a series of recombinant substitution lines in which the genome of the normally non-crossable wheat variety 'Hobbit sib' carries a recombinant 5BL chromosome arm containing segments from the crossable variety 'Chinese Spring'. These recombinant lines were scored for their ability to cross with rye over four seasons. Analysis revealed at least two regions on 5BL affecting crossability, including the Kr1 locus. However, the ability to set seed is highly dependent on prevailing environmental conditions. Typically, even crossable wheat lines exhibit little or no seed set when crossed with rye in winter, but show up to 90% seed set from similar crosses made in summer. By recombining different combinations of the two regions affecting crossability, wheat lines that consistently exhibit up to 50% seed set, whether crossed in the UK winter or summer conditions, were generated, thus creating a very important tool for increasing the efficiency of alien wheat transfer programmes.

Detailed dissection of the chromosomal region containing the Ph1 locus in wheat Triticum aestivum: with deletion mutants and expression profiling.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Understanding Ph1, a dominant homoeologous chromosome pairing suppressor locus on the long arm of chromosome 5B in wheat Triticum aestivum L., is the core of the investigation in this article. The Ph1 locus restricts chromosome pairing and recombination at meiosis to true homologues. The importance of wheat as a crop and the need to exploit its wild relatives as donors for economically important traits in wheat breeding programmes is the main drive to uncover the mechanism of the Ph1 locus and regulate its activity. METHODS: Following the molecular genetic characterization of the Ph1 locus, five additional deletion mutants covering the region have been identified. In addition, more bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were sequenced and analysed to elucidate the complexity of this locus. A semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to compare the expression profiles of different genes in the 5B region containing the Ph1 locus with their homoeologues on 5A and 5D. PCR products were cloned and sequenced to identify the gene from which they were derived. KEY RESULTS: Deletion mutants and expression profiling of genes in the region containing the Ph1 locus on 5B has further restricted Ph1 to a cluster of cdk-like genes. Bioinformatic analysis of the cdk-like genes revealed their close homology to the checkpoint kinase Cdk2 from humans. Cdk2 is involved in the initiation of replication and is required in early meiosis. Expression profiling has revealed that the cdk-like gene cluster is unique within the region analysed on 5B in that these genes are transcribed. Deletion of the cdk-like locus on 5B results in activation of transcription of functional cdk-like copies on 5A and 5D. Thus the cdk locus on 5B is dominant to those on 5A and 5D in determining the overall activity, which will be dependent on a complex interplay between transcription from non-functional and functional cdk-like genes. CONCLUSIONS: The Ph1 locus has been defined to a cdk-like gene cluster related to Cdk2 in humans, a master checkpoint gene involved in the initiation of replication and required for early meiosis.

Aminoguanidine Hydrazone Derivatives as Nonpeptide NPFF1 Receptor Antagonists Reverse Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia.

Neuropeptide FF receptors (NPFF1R and NPFF2R) and their endogenous ligand neuropeptide FF have been shown previously to display antiopioid properties and to play a critical role in the adverse effects associated with chronic administrations of opiates including the development of opioid-induced hyperalgesia and analgesic tolerance. In this work, we sought to identify novel NPFF receptors ligands by focusing our interest in a series of heterocycles as rigidified nonpeptide NPFF receptor ligands, starting from already described aminoguanidine hydrazones (AGHs). Binding experiments and functional assays highlighted AGH 1n and its rigidified analogue 2-amino-dihydropyrimidine 22e for in vivo experiments. As shown earlier with the prototypical dipeptide antagonist RF9, both 1n and 22e reduced significantly the long lasting fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia in rodents. Altogether these data indicate that AGH rigidification maintains nanomolar affinities for both NPFF receptors, while improving antagonist character toward NPFF1R.

RF313, an orally bioavailable neuropeptide FF receptor antagonist, opposes effects of RF-amide-related peptide-3 and opioid-induced hyperalgesia in rodents.

Although opiates represent the most effective analgesics, their use in chronic treatments is associated with numerous side effects including the development of pain hypersensitivity and analgesic tolerance. We recently identified a novel orally active neuropeptide FF (NPFF) receptor antagonist, RF313, which efficiently prevents the development of fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia in rats. In this study, we investigated the properties of this compound into more details. We show that RF313 exhibited a pronounced selectivity for NPFF receptors, antagonist activity at NPFF1 receptor (NPFF1R) subtype both in vitro and in vivo and no major side effects when administered in mice up to 30 mg/kg. When co-administered with opiates in rats and mice, it improved their analgesic efficacy and prevented the development of long lasting opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Moreover, and in marked contrast with the dipeptidic NPFF receptor antagonist RF9, RF313 displayed negligible affinity and no agonist activity (up to 100 µM) toward the kisspeptin receptor. Finally, in male hamster, RF313 had no effect when administered alone but fully blocked the increase in LH induced by RFRP-3, while RF9 per se induced a significant increase in LH levels which is consistent with its ability to activate kisspeptin receptors. Altogether, our data indicate that RF313 represents an interesting compound for the development of therapeutic tools aiming at improving analgesic action of opiates and reducing adverse side effects associated with their chronic administration. Moreover, its lack of agonist activity at the kisspeptin receptor indicates that RF313 might be considered a better pharmacological tool, when compared to RF9, to examine the regulatory roles of RF-amide-related peptides and NPFF1R in reproduction.

Genetic analysis of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 splice variants in human colorectal cell lines.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor family. In colon, this transcription factor is involved in differentiation of absorptive cells. PPARgamma participates also in colon carcinogenesis and cancer progression. Two isoforms, namely PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2, have been described. Recently, new PPARgamma1 transcripts whose translation raises PPARgamma1 protein have been characterised. They differ from each other by combination of untranslated exons localised in the 5' UTR of the PPARG gene. Here, we studied whether such a diversity of PPARgamma transcripts occurs in human colon cell models. Based on bioinformatic analysis, putative untranslated exons were identified in the human PPARG gene. By RT-PCR analysis, we have demonstrated that several of these untranslated exons are included in PPARgamma transcripts from colon-derived cell lines or in those derived from other tissue. Using HT-29 cells, changes in PPARgamma1 mRNA levels were observed after treatment with PPARgamma agonists such as pioglitazone and troglitazone. These modifications correlated with particular PPARgamma transcripts excluding the untranslated exon A2. HT-29 cells treatment with actinomycin D or cycloheximide showed that the presence of PPARgamma mRNA including exon A2 was dependent on de novo protein synthesis. We concluded that diverse PPARgamma1 mRNA exist in colorectal cells. Levels of PPARgamma1 transcript varied according to the phenotype of colon cell model used. We suggest that regulation of PPARgamma1 mRNA levels could be dependent in part on the composition of untranslated exon(s) in the 5' UTR of PPARgamma1 mRNA.

Development of Dipeptidic hGPR54 Agonists.

A series of dipeptides were designed as potential agonists of the human KiSS1-derived peptide receptor (hGPR54). While the sequence Arg-Trp-NH2 was the most efficient in terms of affinity, we established a convergent synthetic strategy to optimize the N terminus. Using two successive Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions on a solid-supported peptide, we were able to introduce various alkynes at the N terminus to afford compounds with sub-micromolar affinities for hGPR54. However, functional assays indicated the benzoylated dipeptide Bz-Arg-Trp-NH2 as the most promising compound in terms of agonistic properties. Interestingly, this compound appeared much more stable than the endogenous neuropeptide kisspeptin, both in serum and in liver microsomes of rats. This compound was also found to be able to induce a significant in vivo increase in testosterone levels in male rats.

Effects of systematic N-terminus deletions and benzoylations of endogenous RF-amide peptides on NPFF1R, NPFF2R, GPR10, GPR54 and GPR103.

Mammalian RF-amide peptides including RF-amide-related peptides-1 and -3, neuropeptides AF and FF, Prolactin releasing peptides, Kisspeptins and RFa peptides are currently considered endogenous peptides for the GPCRs NPFF1R, NPFF2R, GPR10, GPR54 and GPR103, respectively. While NPFF1R and NPFF2R displayed high affinity for all the RF-amide peptides, GPR10, GPR54 and GPR103 only bind their cognate ligands. Through a systematic and sequential N-terminus deletion and benzoylation of either RF-amide neuropeptide (RFRP-3, NPFF, Kp-10, PrRP20, and 26RFa), we report the corresponding impact on affinity and activity towards all the RF-amide receptors (NPFF1R, NPFF2R, GPR10, GPR54 and GPR103). Our results highlight the difficulty to develop selective peptide ligands for GPR10, GPR54 or GPR103 without a modification of the C-terminus RF-amide signature, but open the door to the design of new RF-amide peptides acting as agonist for one receptor and antagonist for another one.

Development of a peptidomimetic antagonist of neuropeptide FF receptors for the prevention of opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

Through the development of a new class of unnatural ornithine derivatives as bioisosteres of arginine, we have designed an orally active peptidomimetic antagonist of neuropeptide FF receptors (NPFFR). Systemic low-dose administration of this compound to rats blocked opioid-induced hyperalgesia, without any apparent side-effects. Interestingly, we also observed that this compound potentiated opioid-induced analgesia. This unnatural ornithine derivative provides a novel therapeutic approach for both improving analgesia and reducing hyperalgesia induced by opioids in patients being treated for chronic pain.