Our continuing investigation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the acetylcholine binding protein (AChBP) reflect a long standing and continuous commitment to the study of proteins that affect the intensity and duration of acetylcholine action, a critical neurotransmitter affecting cognition in the CNS and peripheral autonomic and motor function. Our studies, supported by this grant over the past 37 years, have evolved from considerations of structure and function of AChE and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and, more recently, from AChE to a related a/b-hydrolase fold protein, neuroligin. In turn, they have spun off separate drug development endeavors directed novel nicotinic receptor ligands for depression, schizophrenia, pain alleviation and nicotine addiction and AChE inhibitor antidotes. Our fundamental studies with the extracellular domain of the three proteins are now based on structure at atomic resolution, that of static crystal structures, but also extend to an analysis of conformational dynamics and assignments of energetic contributions through structural modification and mutant cycle analysis. Conformation and dynamics are examined through fluorescence spectroscopy, decay of fluorescence anisotropy and H/D exchange. Our nicotinic receptor studies focus on an interfacial site between subunits that can be examined by physical methods through the soluble receptor surrogate, AChBP. Crystal structures of the complexes selected from a wide array of ligands with AChBP enable a detailed analysis of the structural determinants of specificity. We propose to expand to presumed non-competitive sites on this molecule, in particular the vestibule leading into the channel constriction and the non-a subunit interfaces that do not bind agonist. With AChE, we propose to continue our analysis of complexes formed by freeze-frame, click chemistry to compare complexes dictated by kinetics of association and by achieving thermodynamic equilibrium. We also will examine the inductive role of the oxyanion hole, the nucleophile rendering catalytic triad and the hydrogen bonding network between the proximal serine hydroxyls at the base of the gorge. Studies with the heterophilic adhesion protein, neuroligin (NL), capitalize on its homologous structure to AChE, both being members of the a/b-hydrolase-fold family, wherein their common globular domains and unique recognition features help direct the study of NL by low angle scattering and high resolution techniques. This approach is helping to uncover the molecular determinants associated with the interaction of NL with its synaptic partner proteins at its structurally unique binding site. Moreover, the common structural fold between AChE and NL allows comparisons in how mutations affect biosynthesis and trafficking of these two molecules. The shared familial structural features enable us to understand how gene mutations, some of which are associated with autism spectrum disorders, affect the biosynthesis and folding in this protein family.

Public Health Relevance

Our proposed research is directed to understanding the structure and function of three proteins, acetylcholinesterase, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and neuroligin, that are related to each other in terms of structural homology and coordination of neurotransmitter function. Since these proteins are found at synapses in the nervous system and mediate signaling events and synaptic architecture, they are important potential drug targets and indicators of genetic predisposition to certain disorders in the nervous system. Our structural and functional studies, using X ray crystallography and solution-based spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques, offer new avenues into understanding the roles of these three proteins in physiological function and therapeutic outcomes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM018360-40
Application #
8204561
Study Section
Biophysics of Neural Systems Study Section (BPNS)
Program Officer
Dunsmore, Sarah
Project Start
1975-01-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
40
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$712,921
Indirect Cost
$251,484
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Molgó, Jordi; Marchot, Pascale; Aráoz, Rómulo et al. (2017) Cyclic imine toxins from dinoflagellates: a growing family of potent antagonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. J Neurochem 142 Suppl 2:41-51
Bourne, Yves; Sharpless, K Barry; Taylor, Palmer et al. (2016) Steric and Dynamic Parameters Influencing In Situ Cycloadditions to Form Triazole Inhibitors with Crystalline Acetylcholinesterase. J Am Chem Soc 138:1611-21
Jaikhan, Pattaporn; Boonyarat, Chantana; Arunrungvichian, Kuntarat et al. (2016) Design and Synthesis of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Antagonists and their Effect on Cognitive Impairment. Chem Biol Drug Des 87:39-56
Mangas, I; Taylor, P; Vilanova, E et al. (2016) Resolving pathways of interaction of mipafox and a sarin analog with human acetylcholinesterase by kinetics, mass spectrometry and molecular modeling approaches. Arch Toxicol 90:603-16
Arunrungvichian, Kuntarat; Boonyarat, Chantana; Fokin, Valery V et al. (2015) Cognitive improvements in a mouse model with substituted 1,2,3-triazole agonists for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:1331-40
Bourne, Yves; Sulzenbacher, Gerlind; Radi?, Zoran et al. (2015) Marine Macrocyclic Imines, Pinnatoxins A and G: Structural Determinants and Functional Properties to Distinguish Neuronal ?7 from Muscle ?1(2)??? nAChRs. Structure 23:1106-15
Schmidt, Hayden R; Radi?, Zoran; Taylor, Palmer et al. (2015) Quaternary and tertiary aldoxime antidotes for organophosphate exposure in a zebrafish model system. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 284:197-203
Arunrungvichian, Kuntarat; Fokin, Valery V; Vajragupta, Opa et al. (2015) Selectivity optimization of substituted 1,2,3-triazoles as ?7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. ACS Chem Neurosci 6:1317-30
Wu, Meilin; Puddifoot, Clare A; Taylor, Palmer et al. (2015) Mechanisms of inhibition and potentiation of ?4?2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by members of the Ly6 protein family. J Biol Chem 290:24509-18
Kaczanowska, Katarzyna; Harel, Michal; Radi?, Zoran et al. (2014) Structural basis for cooperative interactions of substituted 2-aminopyrimidines with the acetylcholine binding protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:10749-54

Showing the most recent 10 out of 42 publications