Daniel Davoust

Structure–activity relationships and structural conformation of a novel urotensin II-related peptide

Urotensin II (UII) has been described as the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide and recognized as the endogenous ligand of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR14. Recently, a UII-related peptide (URP) has been isolated from the rat brain and its sequence has been established as H-Ala-Cys-Phe-Trp-Lys-Tyr-Cys-Val-OH. In order to study the structure-function relationships of URP, we have synthesized a series of URP analogs and measured their binding affinity on hGPR14-transfected cells and their contractile activity in a rat aortic ring bioassay. Alanine substitution of each residue of URP significantly reduced the binding affinity and the contractile activity of the peptides, except for the Ala8-substituted analog that retained biological activity. Most importantly, D-scan of URP revealed that [D-Trp4]URP abrogated and [D-Tyr6]URP partially suppressed the UII-evoked contractile response. [Orn5]URP, which had very low agonistic efficacy, was the most potent antagonist in this series. The solution structure of URP has been determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics. URP exhibited a single conformation characterized by an inverse gamma-turn comprising residues Trp-Lys-Tyr which plays a crucial role in the biological activity of URP. These pharmacological and structural data should prove useful for the rational design of non-peptide ligands as potential GPR14 agonists and antagonists.

Structure–activity relationships of urotensin II and URP

Urotensin II (U-II) and urotensin II-related peptide (URP) are the endogenous ligands for the orphan G-protein-coupled receptor GPR14 now renamed UT. At the periphery, U-II and/or URP exert a wide range of biological effects on cardiovascular tissues, airway smooth muscles, kidney and endocrine glands, while central administration of U-II elicits various behavioral and cardiovascular responses. There is also evidence that U-II and/or URP may be involved in a number of pathological conditions including heart failure, atherosclerosis, renal dysfunction and diabetes. Because of the potential involvement of the urotensinergic system in various physiopathological processes, there is need for the rational design of potent and selective ligands for the UT receptor. Structure-activity relationship studies have shown that the minimal sequence required to retain full biological activity is the conserved U-II(4-11) domain, in particular the Cys5 and Cys10 residues involved in the disulfide bridge, and the Phe6, Lys8 and Tyr9 residues. Free alpha-amino group and C-terminal COOH group are not necessary for the biological activity, and modifications of these radicals may even increase the stability of the analogs. Punctual substitution of native amino acids, notably Phe6 and Trp7, by particular residues generates analogs with antagonistic properties. These studies, which provide crucial information regarding the structural and conformational requirements for ligand-receptor interactions, will be of considerable importance for the design of novel UT ligands with increased selectivity, potency and stability, that may eventually lead to the development of innovative drugs.

Murisolin: A New Cytotoxic Mono-tetrahydrofuran-g-lactone from Annona muricata

Using cytotoxicity as a bioassay guide led to the isolation of a new active acetogenin from the seed of Annona muricata. Murisolin, 1 is the first example of a mono-tetrahydrofuran-γ-lactone acetogenin with only three hydroxyl groups. Its structure was characterised by mass spectrometry and 2D homonuclear and heteronuclear correlations nmr spectroscopy. The relative stereochemistry of four of its six chiral centers was established bh 1 H-nmr comparative spectral studies between the murisolin triacetate and some bistetrahydrofuran acetogenin acetates

La citréomontanine, nouvelle α-pyrone polyéthylénique isolée de Penicillium pedemontanum

Abstract Citreomontanin, a new polyene 2-pyrone was isolated from the mycelium of P. pedemontanum . Based upon spectral data, it was assigned the structure: (all- E )-4-methoxy-5-methyl-6-(7,9,11- trimethyl-1,3,5,7,9,11-tridecahexaenyl)-2 H -pyran-2-one.

Bioactive acetogenins from seeds of Annona cherimolia

Abstract Two new cytotoxic, nonadjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins, cherimolin-2 and almunequin, have been isolated from the bioactive methanolic extract o

Fungal macrolides: Structure determination and biosynthesis of achaetolide, a lactone from Achaetomium cristalliferum

Abstract The structure of a new ten-membered lactone, achaetolide, isolated from cultures of Achaetomium cristalliferum is deduced from its mass and NMR spectra and from the study ofsomederivatives. The 13 C NMR spectra of achaetolide enriched with [1- 13 C], [2- 13 C] and [1, 2- 13 C] acetate established its formation from eight intact acetate units via a precursor octaketide chain.

The pathogenic L392V mutation of presenilin 1 decreases the affinity to glycogen synthase kinase-3β

Determination of the effects of presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mutations, involved in autosomal dominant early-onset Alzheimers disease (ADEOAD), on the interaction between PSEN1 and binding proteins is essential to determine which interactions are involved in Alzheimers disease (AD) pathogenesis. The PSEN1 binding protein glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta) has been considered as a key protein in AD pathogenesis since GSK-3 beta phosphorylates tau and hyperphosphorylated tau is a main component of neurofibrillary tangles associated to AD. We show here, using surface plasmonic resonance, that the pathogenic L392V mutation, identified in a large French ADEOAD pedigree including 39 affected members, leads to a decreased affinity to GSK-3 beta. We conclude therefore that the increase of affinity of PSEN1 to GSK-3 beta reported in previous studies is not a common effect of pathogenic mutations associated to ADEOAD.

Characterization of a type of ?-bend ribbon spiral generated by the repeating (Xaa-Yaa-Aib-Pro) motif: The solution structure of harzianin HC IX, a 14-residue peptaibol forming voltage-dependent ion channels

The three-dimensional solution structure of harzianin HC IX, a peptaibol antibiotic isolated from the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, was determined using CD, homonuclear, and heteronuclear two-dimensional nmr spectroscopy combined with molecular modeling. This 14-residue peptide, Ac Aib1 Asn2 Leu3 Aib4 Pro5 Ala6 Ile7 Aib8 Pro9 Iva10 Leu11 Aib12 Pro13 Leuol14 (Aib, α-aminoisobutyric acid; Iva, isovaline; Leuol, leucinol), is a main representative of a short-sequence peptaibol class characterized by an acetylated N-terminus, a C-terminal amino alcohol, and the presence of three Aib-L-Pro motifs at positions 4–5, 8–9, and 12–13, separated by two dipeptide units. In spite of a lower number of residues, compared to the 18/20-residue peptaibols such as alamethicin, harzianin HC IX exhibits remarkable membrane-perturbing properties. It interacts with phospholipid bilayers, increasing their permeability and forming voltage-gated ion channels through a mechanism slightly differing from that proposed for alamethicin. Sequence-specific 1H- and 13C-nmr assignments and conformational nmr parameters (3JNHCαH coupling constants, quantitative nuclear Overhauser enhancement data, temperature coefficients of amide and carbonyl groups, NH–ND exchange rates) were obtained in methanol solution. Sixty structures were calculated based on 98 interproton distance restraints and 6 Φ dihedral angle restraints, using high temperature restrained molecular dynamics and energy minimization. Thirty-seven out of the sixty generated structures were consistent with the nmr data and were convergent. The peptide backbone consists in a ribbon of overlapping β-turns twisted into a continuous spiral from Asn2 to Leuol14 and forming a 26 A long helix-like structure. This structure is slightly amphipathic, with the three Aib–Pro motifs aligned on the less hydrophobic face of the spiral where the Asn2 side chain is also present, while the more hydrophobic bulky side chains of leucines, isoleucine, isovaline, and leucinol are located on the concave side. The repetitive (Xaa–Yaa–Aib–Pro) tetrapeptide subunit, making up the peptide sequence, is characterized by four sets of (Φ,Ψ) torsional angles, with the following mean values: Φi = −90°, Ψi = −27°; Φi+1 = −98°, Ψi+1 = −17°; Φi+2 = −49°, Ψi+2 = −50°; Φi+3 = −78°, Ψi+3 = +3°. We term this particular structure, specifically occurring in the case of (Xaa–Yaa–Aib–Pro)n sequences, the (Xaa–Yaa–Aib–Pro)-β-bend ribbon spiral. It is stabilized by 4 1 intramolecular hydrogen bonds and differs from both the canonical 310-helix made of a succession of type III β-turns and from the β-bend ribbon spiral that has been described in the case of (Aib–Pro)n peptide segments.

Structural studies on 26RFa, a novel human RFamide-related peptide with orexigenic activity.

A novel hypothalamic neuropeptide of the RFamide family, comprising 26 amino acids residues and thus termed 26RFa, has been recently characterized in human, and was found to be the endogenous ligand for the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR103. Intracerebroventricular injection of 26RFa provokes a robust increase in food intake in rodents. In the present study, we have investigated the solution conformation of 26RFa by using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy in different media. In water, 26RFa exhibits mainly a random coil conformation although the presence of a nascent helix was detected between residues 6 and 15. In methanol, 26RFa adopts a well-defined conformation consisting of an amphipathic alpha-helical structure (Pro4-Arg17), flanked by two N- and C-terminal disordered regions. The strong conservation, from amphibians to mammals, of the amino acid sequence corresponding to the amphipathic helix and to the C-terminal flexible octapeptide of 26RFa, suggests that these two domains are crucial for the interaction of the peptide with its receptor.

An insect antifeedant limonoid from seed of khaya ivorensis

Abstract A novel limonoid which is an insect antifeedant has been isolated from a methanolic extract of seeds of Khaya ivorensis . Its structure was determined on the basis of one and two-dimensional NMR. spectroscopy and chemical evidence.