Abstracts from the 8th International Conference on cGMP Generators, Effectors and Therapeutic Implications

This work was supported by a restricted research grant of Bayer AG

Phosphodiesterases and Compartmentation of cAMP and cGMP Signaling in Regulation of Cardiac Contractility in Normal and Failing Hearts

Cardiac contractility is regulated by several neural, hormonal, paracrine, and autocrine factors. Amongst these, signaling through β-adrenergic and serotonin receptors generates the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP), whereas activation of natriuretic peptide receptors and soluble guanylyl cyclases generates cyclic GMP (cGMP). Both cyclic nucleotides regulate cardiac contractility through several mechanisms. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are enzymes that degrade cAMP and cGMP and therefore determine the dynamics of their downstream effects. In addition, the intracellular localization of the different PDEs may contribute to regulation of compartmented signaling of cAMP and cGMP. In this review, we will focus on the role of PDEs in regulating contractility and evaluate changes in heart failure

The inotropic effect of the active metabolite of levosimendan, OR-1896, is mediated through inhibition of PDE3 in rat ventricular myocardium

Aims We recently published that the positive inotropic response (PIR) to levosimendan can be fully accounted for by phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition in both failing human heart and normal rat heart. To determine if the PIR of the active metabolite OR-1896, an important mediator of the long-term clinical effects of levosimendan, also results from PDE3 inhibition, we compared the effects of OR-1896, a representative Ca2+ sensitizer EMD57033 (EMD), levosimendan and other PDE inhibitors. Methods Contractile force was measured in rat ventricular strips. PDE assay was conducted on rat ventricular homogenate. cAMP was measured using RII_epac FRET-based sensors. Results OR-1896 evoked a maximum PIR of 33±10% above basal at 1 μM. This response was amplified in the presence of the PDE4 inhibitor rolipram (89±14%) and absent in the presence of the PDE3 inhibitors cilostamide (0.5±5.3%) or milrinone (3.2±4.4%). The PIR was accompanied by a lusitropic response, and both were reversed by muscarinic receptor stimulation with carbachol and absent in the presence of β-AR blockade with timolol. OR-1896 inhibited PDE activity and increased cAMP levels at concentrations giving PIRs. OR-1896 did not sensitize the concentration-response relationship to extracellular Ca2+. Levosimendan, OR-1896 and EMD all increased the sensitivity to β-AR stimulation. The combination of either EMD and levosimendan or EMD and OR-1896 further sensitized the response, indicating at least two different mechanisms responsible for the sensitization. Only EMD sensitized the α1-AR response. Conclusion The observed PIR to OR-1896 in rat ventricular strips is mediated through PDE3 inhibition, enhancing cAMP-mediated effects. These results further reinforce our previous finding that Ca2+ sensitization does not play a significant role in the inotropic (and lusitropic) effect of levosimendan, nor of its main metabolite OR-1896

Identification of essential residues for binding and activation in the human 5-HT7(a) receptor by molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis

The human 5-HT7 receptor is expressed in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues and is a potential drug target in behavioral and psychiatric disorders.We examined molecular determinants of ligand binding and G protein activation by the human 5-HT7(a) receptor. The role of several key residues in the 7th transmembrane domain and helix 8 were elucidated combining in silico and experimental mutagenesis. Several single and two double point mutations of the 5-HT7(a) wild type receptor were made (W7.33V, E7.35T, E7.35R, E7.35D, E7.35A, R7.36V, Y7.43A, Y7.43F, Y7.43T, R8.52D, D8.53K; E7.35T-R7.36V, R8.52D-D8.53K), and their effects upon ligand binding were assessed by radioligand binding using a potent agonist (5-CT) and a potent antagonist (SB269970). In addition, the ability of the mutated 5-HT7(a) receptors to activate G protein after 5-HT-stimulation was determined through activation of adenylyl cyclase. In silico investigation on mutated receptors substantiated the predicted importance of TM7 and showed critical roles of residues E7.35, W7.33, R7.36 and Y7.43 in agonist and antagonist binding and conformational changes of receptor structure affecting adenylyl cyclase activation. Experimental data showed that mutants E7.35T and E7.35R were incapable of ligand binding and adenylyl cyclase activation, consistent with a requirement for a negatively charged residue at this position. The mutant R8.52D was unable to activate adenylyl cyclase, despite unaffected ligand binding, consistent with the R8.52 residue playing an important role in the receptor-G protein interface. The mutants Y7.43A and Y7.43T displayed reduced agonist binding and AC agonist potency, not seen in Y7.43F, consistent with a requirement for an aromatic residue at this position. Knowledge of the molecular interactions important in h5-HT7 receptor ligand binding and G protein activation will aid the design of selective h5-HT7 receptor ligands for potential pharmacological use

Identification of essential residues for binding and activation in the human 5-HT7(a) serotonin receptor by molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis

The human 5-HT7 receptor is expressed in both the central nervous system and peripheral tissues and is a potential drug target in behavioral and psychiatric disorders. We examined molecular determinants of ligand binding and G protein activation by the human 5-HT7(a) receptor. The role of several key residues in the 7th transmembrane domain (TMD) and helix 8 were elucidated combining in silico and experimental mutagenesis. Several single and two double point mutations of the 5-HT7(a) wild type receptor were made (W7.33V, E7.35T, E7.35R, E7.35D, E7.35A, R7.36V, Y7.43A, Y7.43F, Y7.43T, R8.52D, D8.53K; E7.35T-R7.36V, R8.52D-D8.53K), and their effects upon ligand binding were assessed by radioligand binding using a potent agonist (5-CT) and a potent antagonist (SB269970). In addition, the ability of the mutated 5-HT7(a) receptors to activate G protein after 5-HT-stimulation was determined through activation of adenylyl cyclase. In silico investigation on mutated receptors substantiated the predicted importance of TM7 and showed critical roles of residues E7.35, W7.33, R7.36 and Y7.43 in agonist and antagonist binding and conformational changes of receptor structure affecting adenylyl cyclase activation. Experimental data showed that mutants E7.35T and E7.35R were incapable of ligand binding and adenylyl cyclase activation, consistent with a requirement for a negatively charged residue at this position. The mutant R8.52D was unable to activate adenylyl cyclase, despite unaffected ligand binding, consistent with the R8.52 residue playing an important role in the receptor-G protein interface. The mutants Y7.43A and Y7.43T displayed reduced agonist binding and AC agonist potency, not seen in Y7.43F, consistent with a requirement for an aromatic residue at this position. Knowledge of the molecular interactions important in h5-HT7 receptor ligand binding and G protein activation will aid the design of selective h5-HT7 receptor ligands for potential pharmacological use

An inactive receptor-G protein complex maintains the dynamic range of agonist-induced signaling

Agonist binding promotes activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and association of active receptors with G protein heterotrimers. The resulting active-state ternary complex is the basis for conventional stimulus-response coupling. Although GPCRs can also associate with G proteins before agonist binding, the impact of such preassociated complexes on agonist-induced signaling is poorly understood. Here we show that preassociation of 5-HT 7 serotonin receptors with G s heterotrimers is necessary for agonist-induced signaling. 5-HT 7 receptors in their inactive state associate with G s , as these complexes are stabilized by inverse agonists and receptor mutations that favor the inactive state. Inactive-state 5-HT 7 –G s complexes dissociate in response to agonists, allowing the formation of conventional agonist–5-HT 7 –G s ternary complexes and subsequent G s activation. Inactive-state 5-HT 7 –G s complexes are required for the full dynamic range of agonist-induced signaling, as 5-HT 7 receptors spontaneously activate G s variants that cannot form inactive-state complexes. Therefore, agonist-induced signaling in this system involves two distinct receptor-G protein complexes, a conventional ternary complex that activates G proteins and an inverse-coupled binary complex that maintains the inactive state when agonist is not present

Downregulation of 5-HT7 serotonin receptors by the atypical antipsychotics clozapine and olanzapine: role of motifs in the C-terminal domain and interaction with GASP-1

The human 5-HT7 serotonin receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), activates adenylyl cyclase constitutively and upon agonist activation. Biased ligands differentially activate 5-HT7 serotonin receptor desensitization, internalization and degradation in addition to G protein activation. We have previously found that the atypical antipsychotics clozapine and olanzapine inhibited G protein Lysosome activation and, surprisingly, induced both internalization and lysosomal degradation of 5-HT7 receptors. Here, we aimed to determine the mechanism of clozapine- and olanzapine-mediated degradation of 5-HT7 receptors. In the C-terminus of the 5-HT7 receptor, we identified two YXX Phi motifs, LR residues, and a palmitoylated cysteine anchor as potential sites involved in receptor trafficking to lysosomes followed by receptor degradation. Mutating either of these sites inhibited clozapine- and olanzapine-mediated degradation of 5-HT7 receptors and also interfered with G protein activation. In addition, we tested whether receptor degradation was mediated by the GPCR-associated sorting protein-1 (GASP-1). We show that GASP-1 binds the 5-HT7 receptor and regulates the clozapine-mediated degradation. Mutations of the identified motifs and residues, located in or close to Helix-VIII of the 5-HT7 receptor, modified antipsychotic-stimulated binding of proteins (such as GASP-1), possibly by altering the flexibility of Helix-VIII, and also interfered with G protein activation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that binding of clozapine or olanzapine to the 5-HT7 receptor leads to antagonist-mediated lysosomal degradation by exposing key residues in the C-terminal tail that interact with GASP-1

Compartmentation of cGMP Signaling in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Cardiomyocytes during Prolonged Culture

The therapeutic benefit of stimulating the cGMP pathway as a form of treatment to combat heart failure, as well as other fibrotic pathologies, has become well established. However, the development and signal compartmentation of this crucial pathway has so far been overlooked. We studied how the three main cGMP pathways, namely, nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP, natriuretic peptide (NP)-cGMP, and β3-adrenoreceptor (AR)-cGMP, mature over time in culture during cardiomyocyte differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-CMs). After introducing a cGMP sensor for Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) microscopy, we used selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition to reveal cGMP signal compartmentation in hPSC-CMs at various times of culture. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin was employed to remove cholesterol and thus to destroy caveolae in these cells, where physical cGMP signaling compartmentalization is known to occur in adult cardiomyocytes. We identified PDE3 as regulator of both the NO-cGMP and NP-cGMP pathway in the early stages of culture. At the late stage, the role of the NO-cGMP pathway diminished, and it was predominantly regulated by PDE1, PDE2, and PDE5. The NP-cGMP pathway shows unrestricted locally and unregulated cGMP signaling. Lastly, we observed that maturation of the β3-AR-cGMP pathway in prolonged cultures of hPSC-CMs depends on the accumulation of caveolae. Overall, this study highlighted the importance of structural development for the necessary compartmentation of the cGMP pathway in maturing hPSC-CMs

FRET-based cyclic GMP biosensors measure low cGMP concentrations in cardiomyocytes and neurons

Several FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)-based biosensors for intracellular detection of cyclic nucleotides have been designed in the past decade. However, few such biosensors are available for cGMP, and even fewer that detect low nanomolar cGMP concentrations. Our aim was to develop a FRET-based cGMP biosensor with high affinity for cGMP as a tool for intracellular signaling studies. We used the carboxyl-terminal cyclic nucleotide binding domain of Plasmodium falciparum cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) flanked by different FRET pairs to generate two cGMP biosensors (Yellow PfPKG and Red PfPKG). Here, we report that these cGMP biosensors display high affinity for cGMP (EC50 of 23 ± 3 nM) and detect cGMP produced through soluble guanylyl cyclase and guanylyl cyclase A in stellate ganglion neurons and guanylyl cyclase B in cardiomyocytes. These biosensors are therefore optimal tools for real-time measurements of low concentrations of cGMP in living cells