Insights into the structure and function of the human organic anion transporter 1 in lipid bilayer membranes

The human SLC22A6/OAT1 plays an important role in the elimination of a broad range of endogenous substances and xenobiotics thus attracting attention from the pharmacological community. Furthermore, OAT1 is also involved in key physiological events such as the remote inter-organ communication. Despite its significance, the knowledge about hOAT1 structure and the transport mechanism at the atomic level remains fragmented owing to the lack of resolved structures. By means of protein-threading modeling refined by μs-scaled Molecular Dynamics simulations, the present study provides the first robust model of hOAT1 in outward-facing conformation. Taking advantage of the AlphaFold 2 predicted structure of hOAT1 in inward-facing conformation, we here provide the essential structural and functional features comparing both states. The intracellular motifs conserved among Major Facilitator Superfamily members create a so-called “charge-relay system” that works as molecular switches modulating the conformation. The principal element of the event points at interactions of charged residues that appear crucial for the transporter dynamics and function. Moreover, hOAT1 model was embedded in different lipid bilayer membranes highlighting the crucial structural dependence on lipid-protein interactions. MD simulations supported the pivotal role of phosphatidylethanolamine components to the protein conformation stability. The present model is made available to decipher the impact of any observed polymorphism and mutation on drug transport as well as to understand substrate binding modes

Etude in silico des intéractions des xénobiotiques avec les bicouches lipidiques et les transporteurs membranaires ABC, le cas d’ABCC4/MRP4

Understanding the biological mechanisms of action of membrane proteins requires the comprehension of the interactions of xenobiotics with these proteins and with lipid membranes. Experimental methods are often demanding and only partially respond to xenobiotic-membrane-protein interactions. In silico molecular modeling is a serious alternative to tackle these issues. Molecular dynamics (MD) and biased dynamics simulations have opened many perspectives by providing an atomistic description of these intermolecular interactions. Using MD simulations, we built a model of the human ABC ABCC4/MRP4 transporter. We explored the influence of cholesterol on this protein as well as the impact of a polymorphism known to shut down the transport activity of this protein. We also studied the interaction of xenobiotics with this human transporter. The transport cycle of the ABC transporters was investigated in an attempt to better understand how it works.Interactions between lipid membranes and xenobiotics were explored by examining their ability to incorporate lipid membranes. Lipid mixtures with cholesterol showed a significant impact on the human protein ABCC4/MRP4 and on the xenobiotics studied. The importance of regions, domains constituting the ABCC4/MRP4 protein as well as the importance of specific residues has been clearly demonstrated. We also observed intermediates in the transport cycle of an ABC transporter in conjunction with structural changes occurring during this cycle.L’appréhension des mécanismes d’action biologiques des protéines membranaires nécessite de comprendre les interactions des xénobiotiques avec ces protéines et avec les membranes lipidiques. Les méthodes expérimentales sont parfois coûteuses et ne permettent d’obtenir que des informations partielles sur les interactions xénobiotiques-membrane-protéine. La modélisation moléculaire est une sérieuse alternative. Les simulations de dynamique moléculaire et de dynamique biaisées ont ouvert de nombreuses perspectives en permettant de décrire ces interactions moléculaires à l’échelle atomique. Grâce à des simulations de dynamique moléculaire, nous avons été capables de construire un modèle de transporteur humain ABC : ABCC4/MRP4. Cette protéine a été choisie pour sa présence dans le rein, notamment, et son importance clinique. Nous avons évalué l’influence du cholestérol sur cette protéine. L’étude de domaines spécifiques et l’impact d’un polymorphisme a été reliée à l’activité de transport de cette protéine. Nous avons également étudié l’interaction de xénobiotiques avec ce transporteur humain. Le cycle de transport des transporteurs ABC a été examiné afin de comprendre leur fonctionnement. L’incorporation de cholestérol a montré un impact significatif sur la protéine humaine ABCC4/MRP4 et sur les xénobiotiques étudiés. L’importance de domaines constituant la protéine ABCC4/MRP4 ainsi que l’importance de résidus individuels a clairement été prouvée. Nous avons également pu observer des intermédiaires du cycle de transport d’un transporteur ABC conjointement avec des changements structuraux

Etude in silico des intéractions des xénobiotiques avec les bicouches lipidiques et les transporteurs membranaires ABC, le cas d’ABCC4/MRP4

Understanding the biological mechanisms of action of membrane proteins requires the comprehension of the interactions of xenobiotics with these proteins and with lipid membranes. Experimental methods are often demanding and only partially respond to xenobiotic-membrane-protein interactions. In silico molecular modeling is a serious alternative to tackle these issues. Molecular dynamics (MD) and biased dynamics simulations have opened many perspectives by providing an atomistic description of these intermolecular interactions. Using MD simulations, we built a model of the human ABC ABCC4/MRP4 transporter. We explored the influence of cholesterol on this protein as well as the impact of a polymorphism known to shut down the transport activity of this protein. We also studied the interaction of xenobiotics with this human transporter. The transport cycle of the ABC transporters was investigated in an attempt to better understand how it works.Interactions between lipid membranes and xenobiotics were explored by examining their ability to incorporate lipid membranes. Lipid mixtures with cholesterol showed a significant impact on the human protein ABCC4/MRP4 and on the xenobiotics studied. The importance of regions, domains constituting the ABCC4/MRP4 protein as well as the importance of specific residues has been clearly demonstrated. We also observed intermediates in the transport cycle of an ABC transporter in conjunction with structural changes occurring during this cycle.L’appréhension des mécanismes d’action biologiques des protéines membranaires nécessite de comprendre les interactions des xénobiotiques avec ces protéines et avec les membranes lipidiques. Les méthodes expérimentales sont parfois coûteuses et ne permettent d’obtenir que des informations partielles sur les interactions xénobiotiques-membrane-protéine. La modélisation moléculaire est une sérieuse alternative. Les simulations de dynamique moléculaire et de dynamique biaisées ont ouvert de nombreuses perspectives en permettant de décrire ces interactions moléculaires à l’échelle atomique. Grâce à des simulations de dynamique moléculaire, nous avons été capables de construire un modèle de transporteur humain ABC : ABCC4/MRP4. Cette protéine a été choisie pour sa présence dans le rein, notamment, et son importance clinique. Nous avons évalué l’influence du cholestérol sur cette protéine. L’étude de domaines spécifiques et l’impact d’un polymorphisme a été reliée à l’activité de transport de cette protéine. Nous avons également étudié l’interaction de xénobiotiques avec ce transporteur humain. Le cycle de transport des transporteurs ABC a été examiné afin de comprendre leur fonctionnement. L’incorporation de cholestérol a montré un impact significatif sur la protéine humaine ABCC4/MRP4 et sur les xénobiotiques étudiés. L’importance de domaines constituant la protéine ABCC4/MRP4 ainsi que l’importance de résidus individuels a clairement été prouvée. Nous avons également pu observer des intermédiaires du cycle de transport d’un transporteur ABC conjointement avec des changements structuraux

MemCross: Accelerated Weight Histogram method to assess membrane permeability

Passive permeation events across biological membranes are determining steps in the pharmacokinetics of xenobiotics. To reach an accurate and rapid prediction of membrane permeation coefficients of drugs is a complex challenge, which can efficiently support drug discovery. Such predictions are indeed highly valuable as they may guide the selection of potential leads with optimum bioavailabilities prior to synthesis. Theoretical models exist to predict these coefficients. Many of them are based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which allow calculation of permeation coefficients through the evaluation of both the potential of mean force (PMF) and the diffusivity profiles. However, these simulations still require intensive computational efforts, and novel methodologies should be developed and benchmarked. Free energy perturbation (FEP) method was recently shown to estimate PMF with a significantly reduced computational cost compared to the adaptive biasing force method. This benchmarking was achieved with small molecules, namely short-chain alcohols. Here, we show that to estimate the PMF of bulkier, drug-like xenobiotics, conformational sampling is a critical issue. To reach a sufficient sampling with FEP calculations requires a relatively long time-scale, which can lower the benefits related to the computational gain. In the present work, the Accelerated Weight Histogram (AWH) method was employed for the first time in all-atom membrane models. The AWH-based protocol, named MemCross, appears affordable to estimate PMF profiles of a series of drug-like xenobiotics, compared to other enhanced sampling methods. The continuous exploration of the crossing pathway by MemCross also allows modelling subdiffusion by computing fractional diffusivity profiles. The method is also versatile as its input parameters are largely insensitive to the molecule properties. It also ensures a detailed description of the molecule orientations along the permeation pathway, picturing all intermolecular interactions at an atomic resolution. Here, MemCross was applied on a series of 12 xenobiotics, including four weak acids, and a coherent structure-activity relationship was established

A Novel Nitrone-Trolox Conjugate Inhibits Membrane Lipid Oxidation Through Synergistic Antioxidant Effects

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Rigid cyclic fluorinated detergents: fine-tuning the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance controls self-assembling and biochemical properties

International audienceWe report herein the synthesis of three detergents bearing a perfluorinated cyclohexyl group connected through a short, hydrogenated spacer (i.e., propyl, butyl, or pentyl) to a β-maltoside polar head that are, respectively, called FCymal-3, FCymal-4, and FCymal-5. Increasing the length of the spacer decreased the critical micellar concentration (CMC), as demonstrated by surface tension (SFT) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), from 5 mM for FCymal-3 to 0.7 mM for FCymal-5. The morphology of the micelles was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), indicating heterogeneous rod-like shapes. While micelles of FCymal-3 and -4 have similar hydrodynamic diameters of ∼10 nm, those of FCymal-5 were twice as large. We also investigated the ability of the detergents to solubilize lipid membranes made of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). Molecular modeling indicated that the FCymal detergents generate disorder in lipid bilayers, with FCymal-3 being inserted more deeply into bilayers than FCymal-4 and -5. This was experimentally confirmed using POPC vesicles that were completely solubilized within 2 h with FCymal-3, whereas FCymal-5 required >8 h. A similar trend was noticed for the direct extraction of membrane proteins from E. coli membranes, with FCymal-3 being more potent than FCymal-5. An opposite trend was observed in terms of stabilization of the two model membrane proteins bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and SpNOX. In all three FCymal detergents, bR was stable for at least 2 months with no signs of aggregation. However, while the structural integrity of bR was fully preserved in FCymal-4 and -5, minor bleaching was observed in FCymal-3. Similarly, SpNOX exhibited the least activity in FCymal-3 and the highest activity in FCymal-5. By combining solubilizing and stabilizing potency, FCymal detergents push forward our expectations of the usefulness of fluorinated detergents for handling and investigating membrane proteins

Local low dose curcumin treatment improves functional recovery and remyelination in a rat model of sciatic nerve crush through inhibition of oxidative stress

International audienceTraumatic injuries to peripheral nerves are frequent, however, specific pharmacological treatments are currently lacking. Curcumin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties but high oral doses are required for therapeutic use, particularly due to its low bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of local and continuous treatment using low curcumin doses on functional recovery and nerve regeneration after rat sciatic nerve crush (SNC). Curcumin was administered by osmotic pumps with a catheter delivering the drug at the injury site (0.2 mg/day for 4 weeks). Functionally, early improvements in mechanical sensitivity, finger spacing of the injured paw, skilful walking and grip strength were observed in curcumin-treated animals. The curcumin treatment increased expression of compact myelin proteins (MPZ and PMP22), myelin sheath thickness and, correspondingly, increased motor and sensitive nerve conduction velocity. Microscopic analysis of gastrocnemius muscle indicated a curcumin-induced decrease in neurogenic lesions. Curcumin treatment reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (which were notably produced by macrophages), lipid peroxidation and increased expression of transcription factor Nrf2. In silico analyses indicated that curcumin combines all the characteristics required to be an efficient lipid peroxidation inhibitor at the heart of biological membranes, hence protecting their degradation due to ROS. This antioxidant capacity is likely to contribute to the beneficial effects of curcumin after SNC injury. These results demonstrate that, when administrated locally, low doses of curcumin represent a promising therapy for peripheral nerve regeneration