Estrogen is a critical hormone in the human body that regulates the growth, development and homeostasis of many tissues. Physiological responses to estrogen include the regulation of mammalian reproduction and breast function, central nervous and immune systems, skeletal physiology and vascular function. We have recently described novel functions of the seven transmembrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, GPR30. This receptor is activated by both agonists and antagonists of the classical estrogen receptors, ER1 and ER2. Until recently there were no known specific ligands for GPR30, making traditional pharmacological approaches to the study of this receptor difficult. Our recent studies however have combined both virtual and biomolecular screening to discover the first GPR30-selective agonist, G-1.
The specific aims of this application are: 1. Perform a combination of virtual and biomolecular screening to identify additional GPR30-specific ligands based on compounds presently known to bind and activate GPR30. Structure-activity analyses will be carried out to determine the critical molecular determinants for GPR30 binding selectivity and activity as compared to classical estrogen receptors. 2. Based on the biomolecular screening results and structure-activity analyses of Aim 1, rationally design and synthesize small libraries (up to 20 compounds per cycle) of novel G-1-based ligands. The goal of this aim is to separate agonism from antagonism within ligands, and to further evaluate the SAR of novel GPR30 ligands through targeted synthetic chemistry. 3. Characterize the biological functions of the compounds identified and synthesized in Aims 1 and 2. A collection of functional bioassays will be employed to characterize the biological effects of the compounds displaying activity. These assays will include intracellular signaling assays such as calcium mobilization, ERK and EGFR phosphorylation and PI3K activation;more complex cellular assays such as transcriptional activation, cell migration and proliferation;and in vivo studies using mouse models. Understanding the pharmacological profile and structure-activity relationships for ligand binding to GPR30 will be critical to the discovery of novel drugs that target this receptor for the purposes of revealing the underlying physiology of the receptor and developing therapeutic approaches for the improved treatment of estrogen-dependent cancers.

Public Health Relevance

Estrogen plays an important role in normal and disease biology. We have characterized a novel membrane estrogen receptor that likely plays a role in estrogen biology. The goal of this work is to develop novel compounds that can specifically target this new receptor to either activate or inhibit its activity without affecting other estrogen receptors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA127731-04
Application #
8076884
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section (DMP)
Program Officer
Lees, Robert G
Project Start
2008-08-05
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2011-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$300,749
Indirect Cost
Name
University of New Mexico
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
868853094
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87131
Prossnitz, Eric R (2018) GPER modulators: Opportunity Nox on the heels of a class Akt. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 176:73-81
Prossnitz, Eric R (2018) New developments in the rapid actions of steroids and their receptors. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 176:1-3
Sharma, Geetanjali; Mauvais-Jarvis, Franck; Prossnitz, Eric R (2018) Roles of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPER in metabolic regulation. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 176:31-37
Fredette, Natalie C; Meyer, Matthias R; Prossnitz, Eric R (2018) Role of GPER in estrogen-dependent nitric oxide formation and vasodilation. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 176:65-72
Castleman, Moriah J; Pokhrel, Srijana; Triplett, Kathleen D et al. (2018) Innate Sex Bias of Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infection Is Driven by ?-Hemolysin. J Immunol 200:657-668
Barton, Matthias; Filardo, Edward J; Lolait, Stephen J et al. (2018) Twenty years of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPER: Historical and personal perspectives. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 176:4-15
Barton, Matthias; Prossnitz, Eric R (2017) Rapid vasodilation to raloxifene: role of oestrogen receptors and off-target effects. Br J Pharmacol 174:4201-4202
Sharma, Geetanjali; Prossnitz, Eric R (2017) G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) and Sex-Specific Metabolic Homeostasis. Adv Exp Med Biol 1043:427-453
Meyer, Matthias R; Rosemann, Thomas; Barton, Matthias et al. (2017) GPER Mediates Functional Endothelial Aging in Renal Arteries. Pharmacology 100:188-193
Meyer, Matthias R; Fredette, Natalie C; Sharma, Geetanjali et al. (2016) GPER is required for the age-dependent upregulation of the myocardial endothelin system. Life Sci 159:61-65

Showing the most recent 10 out of 60 publications