Structure-activity relationships of pentacycloundecylamines at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor

Prompted by our interest in neuroprotective agents with multiple mechanisms of action, we assessed the structure-activity relationship of a series of pentacycloundecylamine derivatives previously shown to have both L-type calcium channel blocking activity and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonistic activity. We utilized a functional assay to measure NMDAR channel block using (45)Ca(2+) influx into synaptoneurosomes. The cage amine 8-benzylamino-8,11-oxapentacyclo[5.4.0.0(2,6). 0(3,10).0(5,9)]undecane (NPG1-01) proved to be the most potent experimental compound with an IC(50) of 2.98microM, while 8-amino-pentacyclo[5.4.0.0(2,6).0(3,10).0(5,9)]undecane had the next most potent IC(50) of 4.06microM. Increasing the polycyclic cage size of NGP1-01 from a pentacycloundecane to a tridecane cage structure, but retaining the N-benzyl moiety decreased potency 10-fold, indicating a limitation on the volume of the cage that can be accommodated in the channel binding site. In the presence of NGP1-01, NMDA/glycine-induced maximal (45)Ca(2+) influx was attenuated by 34% with an insignificant effect on agonist potency. These results are consistent with uncompetitive antagonism for this group of compounds. Radioligand binding studies with [(3)H]MK-801 or [(3)H]TCP showed little or no displacement of these ligands by pentacycloundecylamines, suggesting that the latter compounds bind to a unique site in the NMDAR channel. The pentacycloundecylamines tested represent a novel group of NMDAR antagonists that have potential as therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.     

Prediction and simulation of motion in pairs of transmembrane alpha-helices

MOTIVATION: Motion in transmembrane (TM) proteins plays an essential role in a variety of biological phenomena. Thus, developing an automated method for predicting and simulating motion in this class of proteins should result in an increased level of understanding of crucial physiological mechanisms. We have developed an algorithm for predicting and simulating motion in TM proteins of the alpha-helix bundle type. Our method employs probabilistic motion-planning techniques to suggest possible collision-free motion paths. The resulting paths are ranked according to the quality of the van der Waals interactions between the TM helices. Our algorithm considers a wide range of degrees of freedom (dofs) involved in the motion, including external and internal moves. However, in order to handle the vast dimensionality of the problem, we employ some constraints on these dofs in a way that is unlikely to rule out the native motion of the protein. Our algorithm simulates the motion, including all the dofs, and automatically produces a movie that demonstrates it. RESULTS: Overexpression of the RTK ErbB2 was implicated in causing a variety of human cancers. Recently, a molecular mechanism for rotation-coupled activation of the receptor was suggested. We applied our algorithm to investigate the TM domain of this protein, and compared our results with this mechanism. A motion pathway that was similar to the proposed mechanism ranked first, and motions with partial overlap to this pathway followed in rank order. In addition, we conducted a negative-control computational-experiment using Glycophorin A. Our results confirmed the immobility of this TM protein, resulting in degenerate paths comprising native-like conformations.     

Nek1 shares structural and functional similarities with NIMA kinase

The Aspergillus NIMA serine/threonine kinase plays a pivotal role in controlling entrance into mitosis. A major function attributed to NIMA is the induction of chromatin condensation. We show here that the founder murine NIMA-related kinase, Nek1, is larger than previously reported, and that the full-length protein conserves the structural hallmarks of NIMA. Even though Nek1 bears two classical nuclear localization signals (NLS), the endogenous protein localizes to the cytoplasm. Ectopic overexpression of various Nek1 constructs suggests that the C-terminus of Nek1 bears cytoplasmic localization signal(s). Overexpression of nuclear constructs of Nek1 resulted in abnormal chromatin condensation, with the DNA mainly confined to the periphery of the nucleus. Advanced condensation phenotype was associated with nuclear pore complex dispersal. The condensation was not accompanied by up-regulation of mitotic or apoptotic markers. A similar phenotype has been described following NIMA overexpression, strengthening the notion that the mammalian Nek1 kinase has functional similarity to NIMA.     

KLHL1/MRP2 mediates neurite outgrowth in a glycogen synthase kinase 3beta-dependent manner

The actin-based cytoskeleton is essential for the generation and maintenance of cell polarity, cellular motility, and the formation of neural cell processes. MRP2 is an actin-binding protein of the kelch-related protein family. While MRP2 has been shown to be expressed specifically in brain, its function is still unknown. Here, we report that in neuronal growth factor (NGF)-induced PC12 cells, MRP2 was expressed along the neurite processes and colocalized with Talin at the growth cones. MRP2 mRNA and protein levels were up-regulated in PC12 cells following NGF stimulation. Moreover, treatment of PC12 cells with interfering RNAs for MRP2 and glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) resulted in the inhibition of neurite outgrowth. A significant decrease in MRP2 expression levels was observed following GSK3beta inhibition, which was correlated with the inhibited neurite outgrowth, while GSK3beta overexpression was found to increase MRP2 expression levels. MRP2 interacted with GSK3beta through its NH2 terminus containing the BTB domain, and these molecules colocalized along neurite processes and growth cones in differentiated PC12 cells and rat primary hippocampal neurons. Additionally, increased associations of MRP2 with GSK3beta and MRP2 with actin were observed in the NGF-treated PC12 cells. Thus, this study provides, for the first time, insights into the involvement of MRP2 in neurite outgrowth, which occurs in a GSK3beta-dependent manner.     

Receptor-type PTP-NP inhibition of Dynamin-1 GTPase activity is associated with neuronal depolarization

Dynamin-1 is a GTP-hydrolyzing protein and a key element in the clathrin-mediated endocytosis of secretory granules and neurovesicles at the plasma membrane. The unique receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-NP/Phogrin/IAR/IA-2, is associated with neuroendocrine secretory granules and is highly expressed in the brain. Here, we show by confocal microscopy and biochemical studies that PTP-NP rapidly associates with Dynamin-1 in a depolarization-dependent manner and regulates Dynamin-1 GTPase activity upon KCl depolarization of rat primary hippocampal neurons. Depolarization of primary neurons induced direct association of PTP-NP with Dynamin-1 within 30 s. This association resulted in significant inhibition of Dynamin-1 GTPase activity (approximately 75% inhibition). Mutation within the phosphatase domain of PTP-NP (PTP-NP(D947A)) abolished the direct interaction of PTP-NP with Dynamin-1 and failed to inhibit Dynamin-1 GTPase activity. To further confirm the endogenous interaction of Dynamin-1 with wild-type PTP-NP, Dynamin-1 was purified biochemically from rat brain and its interaction with purified PTP-NP was analyzed. Highly purified Dynamin-1 specifically associated with wild-type PTP-NP and not with mutated PTP-NP, resulting in significant inhibition (approximately 70%) of Dynamin-1 GTPase activity. This is the first report to suggest a novel function of this unique receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase as a potential regulator of Dynamin-1 GTPase activity upon neuronal depolarization.     

A new twist in TCR diversity revealed by a forbidden alphabeta TCR

We report crystal structures of a negatively selected T cell receptor (TCR) that recognizes two I-A^u-restricted myelin basic protein peptides and one of its peptide/major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) ligands. Unusual complementarity-determining region (CDR) structural features revealed by our analyses identify a previously unrecognized mechanism by which the highly variable CDR3 regions define ligand specificity. In addition to the pMHC contact residues contributed by CDR3, the CDR3 residues buried deep within the Vα/Vβ interface exert indirect effects on recognition by influencing the Vα/Vβ interdomain angle. This phenomenon represents an additional mechanism for increasing the potential diversity of the TCR repertoire. Both the direct and indirect effects exerted by CDR residues can impact global TCR/MHC docking. Analysis of the available TCR structures in light of these results highlights the significance of the Vα/Vβ interdomain angle in determining specificity and indicates that TCR/pMHC interface features do not distinguish autoimmune from non-autoimmune class II-restricted TCRs.     

A Heterogeneous Carbon Nitride–Nickel Photocatalyst for Efficient Low‐Temperature CO2 Methanation

The Sabatier reaction, i.e., the hydrogenation of CO₂ to methane (CH₄) using hydrogen (H₂), constitutes a potentially scalable method to store energy in a product with a high energy density. However, up to today, this reaction has been mainly thermally driven and conducted at high temperatures (typically 400–600 °C). Using light as a renewable energy source will allow for a more sustainable process by lowering the reaction temperature. Here, it is demonstrated that Ni nanoparticles support on graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) are a highly efficient and stable photocatalyst for the gas‐phase CO₂ methanation at low temperature (150 °C). Detailed mechanistic studies reveal a very low activation energy for the reaction and high activity under visible light, leading to a remarkable and continuous CH₄ production of 28 µmol g^?1 h^?1 of CH₄ for 24 h.