TMEM97 and PGRMC1 do not mediate sigma-2 ligand-induced cell death

Abstract Sigma-2 receptors have been implicated in both tumor proliferation and neurodegenerative diseases. Recently the sigma-2 receptor was identified as transmembrane protein 97 (TMEM97). Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) was also recently reported to form a complex with TMEM97 and the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, and this trimeric complex is responsible for the rapid internalization of LDL. Sigma-2 receptor ligands with various structures have been shown to induce cell death in cancer cells. In the current study, we examined the role of TMEM97 and PGRMC1 in mediating sigma-2 ligand-induced cell death. Cell viability and caspase-3 assays were performed in control, TMEM97 knockout (KO), PGRMC1 KO, and TMEM97/PGRMC1 double KO cell lines treated with several sigma-2 ligands. The data showed that knockout of TMEM97, PGRMC1, or both did not affect the concentrations of sigma-2 ligands that induced 50% of cell death (EC50), suggesting that cytotoxic effects of these compounds are not mediated by TMEM97 or PGRMC1. Sigma-1 receptor ligands, (+)-pentazocine and NE-100, did not block sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity, suggesting that sigma-1 receptor was not responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. We also examined whether the alternative, residual binding site (RBS) of 1,3-Di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG) could be responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. Our data showed that the binding affinities (K i) of sigma-2 ligands on the DTG RBS did not correlate with the cytotoxicity potency (EC50) of these ligands, suggesting that the DTG RBS was not fully responsible for sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. In addition, we showed that knocking out TMEM97, PGRMC1, or both reduced the initial internalization rate of a sigma-2 fluorescent ligand, SW120. However, concentrations of internalized SW120 became identical later in the control and knockout cells. These data suggest that the initial internalization process of sigma-2 ligands does not appear to mediate the cell-killing effect of sigma-2 ligands. In summary, we have provided evidence that sigma-2 receptor/TMEM97 and PGRMC1 do not mediate sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity. Our work will facilitate elucidating mechanisms of sigma-2 ligand cytotoxicity

Characterization of Sigma-2 Receptor—Specific Binding Sites Using [3H]DTG and [125I]RHM-4

The sigma-2 receptor/transmembrane protein 97 (σ2R/TMRM97) is a promising biomarker of tumor proliferation and a target for cancer therapy. [3H]DTG has been used to evaluate σ2R/TMEM97 binding affinity in compound development studies. However, [3H]DTG has equal and moderate binding affinities to both sigma 1 receptor (σ1R) and σ2R/TMEM97. Furthermore, co-administration with the σ1R masking compound (+)-pentazocine may cause bias in σ2R/TMEM97 binding affinity screening experiments. We have developed a radioiodinated ligand, [125I]RHM-4, which has high affinity and selectivity for σ2R/TMEM97 versus σ1R. In this study, a head-to-head comparison between [3H]DTG and [125I]RHM-4 on the binding affinity and their effectiveness in σ2R/TMEM97 compound screening studies was performed. The goal of these studies was to determine if this radioiodinated ligand is a suitable replacement for [3H]DTG for screening new σ2R/TMEM97 compounds. Furthermore, to delineate the binding properties of [125I]RHM-4 to the σ2R/TMEM97, the structure of RHM-4 was split into two fragments. This resulted in the identification of two binding regions in the σ2R, the “DTG” binding site, which is responsible for binding to the σ2R/TMEM97, and the secondary binding site, which is responsible for high affinity and selectivity for the σ2R/TMEM97 versus the σ1R. The results of this study indicate that [125I]RHM-4 is an improved radioligand for in vitro binding studies of the σ2R/TMEM97 versus [3H]DTG

Interaction of ligands for pet with the dopamine d3 receptor : in silico and in vitro methods

[18F]Fallypride and [18F]Fluortriopride (FTP) are two different PET radiotracers that bind with sub-nanomolar affinity to the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R). In spite of their similar D3 affinities, the two PET ligands display very different properties for labeling the D3R in vivo: [18F]Fallypride is capable of binding to D3R under "baseline" conditions, whereas [18F]FTP requires the depletion of synaptic dopamine in order to image the receptor in vivo. These data suggest that [18F]Fallypride is able to compete with synaptic dopamine for binding to the D3R, whereas [18F]FTP is not. The goal of this study was to conduct a series of docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies to identify differences in the ability of each molecule to interact with the D3R that could explain these differences with respect to competition with synaptic dopamine. Competition studies measuring the ability of each ligand to compete with dopamine in the β-arrestin assay were also conducted. The results of the in silico studies indicate that FTP has a weaker interaction with the orthosteric binding site of the D3R versus that of Fallypride. The results of the in silico studies were also consistent with the IC50 values of each compound in the dopamine β-arrestin competition assays. The results of this study indicate that in silico methods may be able to predict the ability of a small molecule to compete with synaptic dopamine for binding to the D3R

Exploration of Diazaspiro Cores as Piperazine Bioisosteres in the Development of σ2 Receptor Ligands

A series of σ2R compounds containing benzimidazolone and diazacycloalkane cores was synthesized and evaluated in radioligand binding assays. Replacing the piperazine moiety in a lead compound with diazaspiroalkanes and the fused octahydropyrrolo[3,4-b] pyrrole ring system resulted in a loss in affinity for the σ2R. On the other hand, the bridged 2,5-diazabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 1,4-diazepine, and a 3-aminoazetidine analog possessed nanomolar affinities for the σ2R. Computational chemistry studies were also conducted with the recently published crystal structure of the σ2R/TMEM97 and revealed that hydrogen bond interactions with ASP29 and π-stacking interactions with TYR150 were largely responsible for the high binding affinity of small molecules to this protein

Structural Optimization of 2,5-Thiophene Amides as Highly Potent and Selective 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

Inhibition of 17β-HSD2 is an attractive mechanism for the treatment of osteoporosis. We report here the optimization of human 17β-HSD2 inhibitors in the 2,5-thiophene amide class by varying the size of the linker (n equals 0 and 2) between the amide moiety and the phenyl group. While none of the phenethylamides (n = 2) were active, most of the anilides (n = 0) turned out to moderately or strongly inhibit 17β-HSD2. The four most active compounds showed an IC(50) of around 60 nM and a very good selectivity toward 17β-HSD1, 17β-HSD4, 17β-HSD5, 11β-HSD1, 11β-HSD2 and the estrogen receptors α and β. The investigated compounds inhibited monkey 17β-HSD2 moderately, and one of them showed good inhibitory activity on mouse 17β-HSD2. SAR studies allowed a first characterization of the human 17β-HSD2 active site, which is predicted to be considerably larger than that of 17β-HSD1

Chalcones and Five-Membered Heterocyclic Isosteres Bind to Alpha Synuclein Fibrils in Vitro

A series of chalcone and heterocyclic isosteres, in which the enone moiety was replaced with an isoxazole and pyrazole ring system, was synthesized and their affinities for alpha synuclein (Asyn), amyloid beta (Aβ), and tau fibrils were measured in vitro. The compounds were found to have a modest affinity and selectivity for Asyn versus Aβ fibrils and low affinity for tau fibrils. Insertion of a double bond to increase the extendable surface area resulted in an increase in affinity and improvement in selectivity for Asyn versus Aβ and tau fibrils. The results of this study indicate that compound <b>11</b> is a secondary lead compound for structure–activity relationship studies aimed at identifying a suitable compound for positron emission tomography-imaging studies of insoluble Asyn aggregates in Parkinson’s disease