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352 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 352
Cholenic acid derivative UniPR1331 impairs tumor angiogenesis via blockade of VEGF/VEGFR2 in addition to Eph/ephrin

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones, is crucial for tumor growth and metastatization, and is considered a promising therapeutic target. Unfortunately, drugs … therapeutic target. Unfortunately, drugs directed against a specific proangiogenic growth factor or receptor turned out to be of limited benefit for oncology patients, likely due to the high biochemical redundancy of the neovascularization process. In this scenario, multitarget compounds that are able to simultaneously tackle different proangiogenic pathways are eagerly awaited. UniPR1331 is a 3β-hydroxy-Δ 5 -cholenic acid derivative, which is already known to inhibit Eph–ephrin interaction. Here, we employed an analysis pipeline consisting of molecular modeling and simulation, surface plasmon resonance spectrometry, biochemical assays, and endothelial cell models to demonstrate that UniPR1331 directly interacts with the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) too. The binding of UniPR1331 to VEGFR2 prevents its interaction with the natural ligand vascular endothelial growth factor and subsequent autophosphorylation, signal transduction, and in vitro proangiogenic activation of endothelial cells. In vivo, UniPR1331 inhibits tumor cell-driven angiogenesis in zebrafish. Taken together, these data shed light on the pleiotropic pharmacological effect of UniPR1331, and point to Δ 5 -cholenic acid as a promising molecular scaffold for the development of multitarget antiangiogenic compounds.

Authors: Marco Rusnati, Giulia Paiardi, Chiara Tobia, Chiara Urbinati, Alessio Lodola, Pasqualina D’Ursi, Miriam Corrado, Riccardo Castelli, Rebecca C. Wade, Massimiliano Tognolini, Paola Chiodelli

Date Published: 1st Jul 2022

Publication Type: Journal

Development and Biological Characterization of a Novel Selective TrkA Agonist with Neuroprotective Properties against Amyloid Toxicity

Abstract (Expand)

Neurotrophins are growth factors that exert important neuroprotective effects by preventing neuronal death and synaptic loss. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) acts through the activation of its high-affinity, …high-affinity, pro-survival TrkA and low-affinity, pro-apoptotic p75NTR receptors. NGF has been shown to slow or prevent neurodegenerative signals in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progression. However, its low bioavailability and its blood–brain-barrier impermeability limit the use of NGF as a potential therapeutic agent against AD. Based on our previous findings on synthetic dehydroepiandrosterone derivatives, we identified a novel NGF mimetic, named ENT-A013, which selectively activates TrkA and exerts neuroprotective, anti-amyloid-β actions. We now report the chemical synthesis, in silico modelling, metabolic stability, CYP-mediated reaction phenotyping and biological characterization of ENT-A013 under physiological and neurodegenerative conditions. We show that ENT-A013 selectively activates the TrkA receptor and its downstream kinases Akt and Erk1/2 in PC12 cells, protecting these cells from serum deprivation-induced cell death. Moreover, ENT-A013 promotes survival of primary Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons upon NGF withdrawal and protects hippocampal neurons against Amyloid β-induced apoptosis and synaptic loss. Furthermore, this neurotrophin mimetic partially restores LTP impairment. In conclusion, ENT-A013 represents a promising new lead molecule for developing therapeutics against neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease, selectively targeting TrkA-mediated pro-survival signals.

Authors: Thanasis Rogdakis, Despoina Charou, Alessia Latorrata, Eleni Papadimitriou, Alexandros Tsengenes, Christina Athanasiou, Marianna Papadopoulou, Constantina Chalikiopoulou, Theodora Katsila, Isbaal Ramos, Kyriakos C. Prousis, Rebecca C. Wade, Kyriaki Sidiropoulou, Theodora Calogeropoulou, Achille Gravanis, Ioannis Charalampopoulos

Date Published: 1st Mar 2022

Publication Type: Journal

The Non-phosphorylating Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase GapN Is a Potential New Drug Target in Streptococcus pyogenes

Abstract (Expand)

The strict human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes causes infections of varying severity, ranging from self-limiting suppurative infections to life-threatening diseases like necrotizing fasciitis or …to life-threatening diseases like necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Here, we show that the non-phosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase GapN is an essential enzyme for S. pyogenes . GapN converts glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate into 3-phosphoglycerate coupled to the reduction of NADP to NADPH. The knock-down of gapN by antisense peptide nucleic acids (asPNA) significantly reduces viable bacterial counts of S. pyogenes laboratory and macrolide-resistant clinical strains in vitro . As S. pyogenes lacks the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway, GapN appears to be the major NADPH source for the bacterium. Accordingly, other streptococci that carry a complete pentose phosphate pathway are not prone to asPNA-based gapN knock-down. Determination of the crystal structure of the S. pyogenes GapN apo-enzyme revealed an unusual cis-peptide in proximity to the catalytic binding site. Furthermore, using a structural modeling approach, we correctly predicted competitive inhibition of S. pyogenes GapN by erythrose 4-phosphate, indicating that our structural model can be used for in silico screening of specific GapN inhibitors. In conclusion, the data provided here reveal that GapN is a potential target for antimicrobial substances that selectively kill S. pyogenes and other streptococci that lack the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway.

Authors: Philip Eisenberg, Leon Albert, Jonathan Teuffel, Eric Zitzow, Claudia Michaelis, Jane Jarick, Clemens Sehlke, Lisa Große, Nicole Bader, Ariane Nunes-Alves, Bernd Kreikemeyer, Hermann Schindelin, Rebecca C. Wade, Tomas Fiedler

Date Published: 15th Feb 2022

Publication Type: Journal

The binding of heparin to spike glycoprotein inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection by three mechanisms

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: Giulia Paiardi, Stefan Richter, Pasqua Oreste, Chiara Urbinati, Marco Rusnati, Rebecca C. Wade

Date Published: 1st Feb 2022

Publication Type: Journal

Multiscale Approach for Computing Gated Ligand Binding from Molecular Dynamics and Brownian Dynamics Simulations

Abstract

Not specified

Authors: S. Kashif Sadiq, Abraham Muñiz Chicharro, Patrick Friedrich, Rebecca C. Wade

Date Published: 14th Dec 2021

Publication Type: Journal

An electron transfer competent structural ensemble of membrane-bound cytochrome P450 1A1 and cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Cytochrome P450 (CYP) heme monooxygenases require two electrons for their catalytic cycle. For mammalian microsomal CYPs, key enzymes for xenobiotic metabolism and steroidogenesis and important …roidogenesis and important drug targets and biocatalysts, the electrons are transferred by NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR). No structure of a mammalian CYP–CPR complex has been solved experimentally, hindering understanding of the determinants of electron transfer (ET), which is often rate-limiting for CYP reactions. Here, we investigated the interactions between membrane-bound CYP 1A1, an antitumor drug target, and CPR by a multiresolution computational approach. We find that upon binding to CPR, the CYP 1A1 catalytic domain becomes less embedded in the membrane and reorients, indicating that CPR may affect ligand passage to the CYP active site. Despite the constraints imposed by membrane binding, we identify several arrangements of CPR around CYP 1A1 that are compatible with ET. In the complexes, the interactions of the CPR FMN domain with the proximal side of CYP 1A1 are supplemented by more transient interactions of the CPR NADP domain with the distal side of CYP 1A1. Computed ET rates and pathways agree well with available experimental data and suggest why the CYP–CPR ET rates are low compared to those of soluble bacterial CYPs.

Authors: Goutam Mukherjee, Prajwal P. Nandekar, Rebecca C. Wade

Date Published: 1st Dec 2021

Publication Type: Journal

Putative second hit rare genetic variants in families with seemingly GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease

Abstract (Expand)

Abstract Rare variants in the beta-glucocerebrosidase gene ( GBA1 ) are common genetic risk factors for alpha synucleinopathy, which often manifests clinically as GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease …hich often manifests clinically as GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease (GBA-PD). Clinically, GBA-PD closely mimics idiopathic PD, but it may present at a younger age and often aggregates in families. Most carriers of GBA variants are, however, asymptomatic. Moreover, symptomatic PD patients without GBA variant have been reported in families with seemingly GBA-PD. These observations obscure the link between GBA variants and PD pathogenesis and point towards a role for unidentified additional genetic and/or environmental risk factors or second hits in GBA-PD. In this study, we explored whether rare genetic variants may be additional risk factors for PD in two families segregating the PD-associated GBA1 variants c.115+1G>A (ClinVar ID: 93445) and p.L444P (ClinVar ID: 4288). Our analysis identified rare genetic variants of the HSP70 co-chaperone DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 6 (DNAJB6) and lysosomal protein prosaposin (PSAP) as additional factors possibly influencing PD risk in the two families. In comparison to the wild-type proteins, variant DNAJB6 and PSAP proteins show altered functions in the context of cellular alpha-synuclein homeostasis when expressed in reporter cells. Furthermore, the segregation pattern of the rare variants in the genes encoding DNAJB6 and PSAP indicated a possible association with PD in the respective families. The occurrence of second hits or additional PD cosegregating rare variants has important implications for genetic counseling in PD families with GBA1 variant carriers and for the selection of PD patients for GBA targeted treatments.

Authors: Muhammad Aslam, Nirosiya Kandasamy, Anwar Ullah, Nagarajan Paramasivam, Mehmet Ali Öztürk, Saima Naureen, Abida Arshad, Mazhar Badshah, Kafaitullah Khan, Muhammad Wajid, Rashda Abbasi, Muhammad Ilyas, Roland Eils, Matthias Schlesner, Rebecca C. Wade, Nafees Ahmad, Jakob von Engelhardt

Date Published: 1st Dec 2021

Publication Type: Journal

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