Functional bacterial amyloids play a crucial role in the formation of biofilms, which mediate chronic infections and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This study focuses on the FapC amyloid fibrillar protein from Pseudomonas, a major contributor to biofilm formation. We investigate the initial steps of FapC amyloid formation and the impact of the chaperone-like protein FapA on this process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent therapies for gastroparesis metoclopramide and domperidone carry risks of extrapyramidal symptoms and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Trazpiroben, a novel, potent dopamine D/D receptor antagonist, has low brain permeation and very low affinity for human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel inhibition, potentially improving on safety profiles of existing therapies. Trazpiroben demonstrated the following receptor affinities: high for D and D, moderate for D, and minimal for D and D It demonstrated moderate affinity for adrenergic 1B ( ) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) 2A receptors and low potential for off-target adverse events (AEs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterodimeric kinesin family member KIF3AC is a mammalian kinesin-2 that is highly expressed in the central nervous system and has been implicated in intracellular transport. KIF3AC is unusual in that the motility characteristics of KIF3C when expressed as a homodimer are exceeding slow, whereas homodimeric KIF3AA, as well as KIF3AC, have much faster ATPase kinetics and single molecule velocities. Heterodimeric KIF3AC and homodimeric KIF3AA and KIF3CC are processive, although the run length of KIF3AC exceeds that of KIF3AA and KIF3CC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Points: Skeletal muscle fatigue limits performance in various physical activities, with exercise intolerance being a key symptom in a broad spectrum of diseases. We investigated whether a small molecule fast skeletal troponin activator (FSTA), CK-2066260, can mitigate muscle fatigue by reducing the cytosolic free [Ca ] required to produce a given submaximal force and hence decreasing the energy requirement. Isolated intact single mouse muscle fibres and rat muscles in-situ treated with CK-2066260 showed improved muscle endurance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmacol Res Perspect
June 2018
Revefenacin (TD-4208) is a novel, long-acting, and lung-selective muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) antagonist in development as a nebulized inhalation solution for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. This study evaluated the pharmacology of revefenacin at human recombinant mAChRs and in airway tissues from rats, guinea pigs, and humans. At human recombinant mAChRs, revefenacin displayed high affinity (pK = 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKey Points: We report that the small molecule CK-2066260 selectively slows the off-rate of Ca from fast skeletal muscle troponin, leading to increased myofibrillar Ca sensitivity in fast skeletal muscle. Rodents dosed with CK-2066260 show increased hindlimb muscle force and power in response to submaximal rates of nerve stimulation in situ. CK-2066260 has no effect on free cytosolic [Ca ] during contractions of isolated muscle fibres.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeart failure-mediated skeletal myopathy, which is characterized by muscle atrophy and muscle metabolism dysfunction, often manifests as dyspnea and limb muscle fatigue. We have previously demonstrated that increasing Ca(2+) sensitivity of the sarcomere by a small-molecule fast skeletal troponin activator improves skeletal muscle force and exercise performance in healthy rats and models of neuromuscular disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel fast skeletal troponin activator, CK-2127107 (2-aminoalkyl-5-N-heteroarylpyrimidine), on skeletal muscle function and exercise performance in rats exhibiting heart failure-mediated skeletal myopathy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThrough application of our multivalent approach to drug discovery we previously reported the first discovery of dual pharmacology MABA bronchodilators, exemplified by 1. Herein we describe the subsequent lead optimization of both muscarinic antagonist and β2 agonist activities, through modification of the linker motif, to achieve 24 h duration of action in a guinea pig bronchoprotection model. Concomitantly we targeted high lung selectivities, low systemic exposures and identified crystalline forms suitable for inhalation devices.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective of the present studies was to characterize the pharmacologic properties of GSK-961081 [TD-5959; (R)-1-(3-((2-chloro-4-(((2-hydroxy-2-(8-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-5-yl)ethyl)amino)methyl)-5-methoxyphenyl)amino)-3-oxopropyl) piperidin-4-yl [1,1'-biphenyl]-2-ylcarbamate], a novel first-in-class inhaled bifunctional compound possessing both muscarinic antagonist (MA) and β2-adrenoceptor agonist (BA) properties (MABA). In competition radioligand binding studies at human recombinant receptors, GSK-961081 displayed high affinity for hM2 (Ki = 1.4 nM), hM3 muscarinic receptors (Ki = 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss resulting in muscle atrophy, declining muscle function, and eventual paralysis. Patients typically die from respiratory failure 3 to 5 years from the onset of symptoms. Tirasemtiv is a fast skeletal troponin activator that sensitizes the sarcomere to calcium; this mechanism of action amplifies the response of muscle to neuromuscular input producing greater force when nerve input is reduced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNebulin--a giant sarcomeric protein--plays a pivotal role in skeletal muscle contractility by specifying thin filament length and function. Although mutations in the gene encoding nebulin (NEB) are a frequent cause of nemaline myopathy, the most common non-dystrophic congenital myopathy, the mechanisms by which mutations in NEB cause muscle weakness remain largely unknown. To better understand these mechanisms, we have generated a mouse model in which Neb exon 55 is deleted (Neb(ΔExon55)) to replicate a founder mutation seen frequently in patients with nemaline myopathy with Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nemaline myopathy-the most common non-dystrophic congenital myopathy-is caused by mutations in thin filament genes, of which the nebulin gene is the most frequently affected one. The nebulin gene codes for the giant sarcomeric protein nebulin, which plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle contractile performance. Muscle weakness is a hallmark feature of nemaline myopathy patients with nebulin mutations, and is caused by changes in contractile protein function, including a lower calcium-sensitivity of force generation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Tirasemtiv is a novel small molecule activator of the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex that produces sensitization of the sarcomere to calcium. Tirasemtiv is currently in Phase II clinical trials for neuromuscular disease.
Methods: We conducted a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled preclinical study of the effect of tirasemtiv on forearm grip strength, endurance, respiratory physiology, and muscle pathology in adequate sample sizes of the Lama2(dy-2J) mouse model of congenital muscular dystrophy.
The effect of the fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, CK-2066260, on calcium-induced force development was studied in skinned fast skeletal muscle fibers from wildtype (WT) and nebulin deficient (NEB KO) mice. Nebulin is a sarcomeric protein that when absent (NEB KO mouse) or present at low levels (nemaline myopathy (NM) patients with NEB mutations) causes muscle weakness. We studied the effect of fast skeletal troponin activation on WT muscle and tested whether it might be a therapeutic mechanism to increase muscle strength in nebulin deficient muscle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe sought to design dual pharmacology bronchodilators targeting both the M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine and beta-2 adrenergic (β(2)) receptors by applying our multivalent approach to drug discovery. Herein, we describe our initial discovery and the SAR of the first such compounds with matched potencies at both receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExisting antimuscarinic drugs for overactive bladder have high affinity for M(3)/M(1) muscarinic receptors and consequently produce M(3)/M(1)-mediated adverse effects including dry mouth, constipation, mydriasis and somnolence. TD-6301 is a M(2/4) muscarinic receptor-selective antagonist developed for the treatment of overactive bladder. The present studies characterize the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of this molecule in comparison to other marketed antimuscarinics agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTHRX-160209 is a potent antagonist at the M(2) muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor subtype that was designed using a multivalent strategy, simultaneously targeting the orthosteric site and a nearby site known to bind allosteric ligands. In this report, we describe three characteristics of THRX-160209 binding that are consistent with a multivalent interaction: 1) an apparent affinity of the multivalent ligand for the M2 receptor subtype (apparent pK(I) = 9.51 +/- 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Investig Drugs
January 2004
Antimuscarinic drugs have been the mainstay in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) for over two decades. An ideal antimuscarinic medicine is one that can normalize bladder function without interfering with parasympathetic regulation of other organs. Currently, extended-release formulations of tolterodine (tolterodine-ER) and oxybutynin (oxybutynin-ER and oxybutynin-TDS) serve as the cornerstone in the pharmacotherapy of OAB.
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