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Identification of N-Terminally Diversified GLP-1R Agonists Using Saturation Mutagenesis and Chemical Design.

ABSTRACT: The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a class B G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and diabetes drug target expressed mainly in pancreatic β-cells that, when activated by its agonist glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) after a meal, stimulates insulin secretion and β-cell survival and proliferation. The N-terminal region of GLP-1 interacts with membrane-proximal residues of GLP-1R, stabilizing its active conformation to trigger intracellular signaling. The best-studied agonist peptides, GLP-1 and exendin-4, share sequence homology at their N-terminal region; however, modifications that can be tolerated here are not fully understood. In this work, a functional screen of GLP-1 variants with randomized N-terminal domains reveals new GLP-1R agonists and uncovers a pattern whereby a negative charge is preferred at the third position in various sequence contexts. We further tested this sequence-structure-activity principle by synthesizing peptide analogues where this position was mutated to both canonical and noncanonical amino acids. We discovered a highly active GLP-1 analogue in which the native glutamate residue three positions from the N-terminus was replaced with the sulfo-containing amino acid cysteic acid (GLP-1-CYA). The receptor binding and downstream signaling properties elicited by GLP-1-CYA were similar to the wild type GLP-1 peptide. Computational modeling identified a likely mode of interaction of the negatively charged side chain in GLP-1-CYA with an arginine on GLP-1R. This work highlights a strategy of combinatorial peptide screening coupled with chemical exploration that could be used to generate novel agonists for other receptors with peptide ligands.

SUBMITTER: Longwell CK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8068314 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectiveLong-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ra's), like liraglutide and semaglutide, are viable treatments of diabetes and obesity. Liraglutide directly activates hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons while indirectly inhibiting Neuropeptide Y/Agouti-related peptide (NPY/AgRP) neurons ex vivo. While temporal control of GLP-1R agonist concentration as well as accessibility to tissues/cells can be achieved with relative ease ex vivo, in vivo this is dependent upon the pharmacokinetics of these agonists and relative penetration into structures of interest. Thus, whether liraglutide or semaglutide modifies the activity of POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons in vivo as well as mechanisms required for any changes in cellular activity remains undefined.MethodsIn order to resolve this issue, we utilized neuron-specific transgenic mouse models to identify changes in the activity of POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons after injection of either liraglutide or semaglutide (intraperitoneal - I.P. and subcutaneous - S.C.). POMC and NPY/AgRP neurons were targeted for patch clamp electrophysiology as well as in-vivo fiber photometry.ResultWe found that liraglutide and semaglutide directly activates and increases excitatory tone to POMC neurons in a time-dependent manner. This increased activity of POMC neurons required GLP-1Rs in POMC neurons as well as a downstream mixed cation channel comprised of TRPC5 subunits. We also observed an indirect upregulation of excitatory input to POMC neurons originating from glutamatergic cells that also required TRPC5 subunits. Conversely, GLP-1Ra's decreased excitatory input to and indirectly inhibited NPY/AgRP neurons through activation of K-ATP and TRPC5 channels in GABAergic neurons. Notably, the temporal activation of POMC and inhibition of NPY/AgRP neuronal activity after liraglutide or semaglutide was administered (either intraperitoneal (I.P.) or subcutaneous (S.C.) injection was dependent upon the nutritional state of the animals (fed vs food deprived). We also found these effects were enhanced in response to exercise.ConclusionsOur results support a mechanism of liraglutide and semaglutide in vivo to activate POMC while inhibiting NPY/AgRP neurons, which depends upon metabolic state and mirrors the pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds in vivo.

Project description:AimElevated kidney uptake in insulinoma patients remains a major limitation of radiometallated exendin-derived ligands of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R). Based on the previously published potent GLP-1R-activating undecapeptide 1, short-chained GLP-1R ligands were developed to investigate whether kidney uptake can be reduced by means of direct 18F-labeling (nuclide-based accelerated renal excretion) or the reduction of the overall ligand charge (ligand-based reduced kidney uptake).Materials & methodsGLP-1R ligands were prepared according to optimized standard protocols via solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) or, when not practicable, via fragment coupling in solution. Synthesis of (2'-Et, 4'-OMe)4, 4'-L-biphenylalanine ((2'-Et, 4'-OMe)BIP), required for the preparation of 1, was accomplished by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. In vitro experiments were performed using stably transfected GLP-1R+ HEK293-hGLP-1R cells.ResultsIn contrast to the three reference ligands glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1, IC50 = 23.2 ± 12.2 nM), [Nle14, Tyr(3-I)40]exendin-4 (IC50 = 7.63 ± 2.78 nM) and [Nle14, Tyr40]exendin-4 (IC50 = 9.87 ± 1.82 nM), the investigated GLP-1R-targeting small peptides (9-15 amino acids), including lead peptide 1, exhibited only medium to low affinities (IC50 > 189 nM). Only SiFA-tagged undecapeptide 5 (IC50 = 189 ± 35 nM) revealed a higher affinity than 1 (IC50 = 669 ± 242 nM).ConclusionThe investigated small peptides, including lead peptide 1, could not compete with favorable in vitro characteristics of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), [Nle14, Tyr(3-I)40]exendin-4 and [Nle14, Tyr40]exendin-4. The auspicious EC50 values of 1 provided by the literature could not be transferred to competitive binding experiments. Therefore, the use of 1 as a basic scaffold for the design of further GLP-1R-targeting radioligands cannot be recommended. Further investigations might include the scaffold of 5, although substantial optimizations concerning affinity and lipophilicity would be required. In sum, GLP-1R-targeting radioligands with reduced kidney uptake could not be obtained in this work, which emphasizes the need for further ligands addressing this particular issue.

Project description:There is increasing concern about the development of pancreatitis in patients with diabetes mellitus who received long-term glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog treatment. Its pathogenesis is unknown. The effects of GLP-1 agonists on pancreatic endocrine cells are well studied; however, there is little information on effects on other pancreatic tissues that might be involved in inflammatory processes. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) can have an important role in pancreatitis, secreting various inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, as well as collagen. In this study, we investigated GLP-1R occurrence in normal pancreas, acute pancreatitis (AP)/chronic pancreatitis (CP), and the effects of GLP-1 analog on normal PSCs, their ability to stimulate inflammatory mediator secretion or proliferation. GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression/localization in normal pancreas and pancreatitis (AP/CP) tissues were evaluated with histological/immunohistochemical analysis. PSCs were isolated from male Wistar rats. GLP-1R expression and effects of GLP-1 analog on activated PSCs was examined with real-time PCR, MTS assays and western blotting. In normal pancreas, pancreatic ? cells expressed GLP-1R, with only low expression in acinar cells, whereas in AP or CP, acinar cells, ductal cells and activated PSCs expressed GLP-1R. With activation of normal PSCs, GLP-1R is markedly increased, as is multiple other incretin-related receptors. The GLP-1 analog, liraglutide, did not induce inflammatory genes expression in activated PSCs, but induced proliferation. Liraglutide activated multiple signaling cascades in PSCs, and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway mediated the PSCs proliferation. GLP-1Rs are expressed in normal pancreas and there is marked enhanced expression in AP/CP. GLP-1-agonist induced cell proliferation of activated PSCs without increasing release of inflammatory mediators. These results suggest chronic treatment with GLP-1R agonists could lead to proliferation/chronic activation of PSCs, which may lead to important effects in the pancreas.

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Identification of N-Terminally Diversified GLP-1R Agonists Using Saturation Mutagenesis and Chemical Design.

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