Dopamine D Agonists: First Potential Treatment for Late-Stage Parkinson's Disease.

Current pharmacotherapy has limited efficacy and/or intolerable side effects in late-stage Parkinson's disease (LsPD) patients whose daily life depends primarily on caregivers and palliative care. Clinical metrics inadequately gauge efficacy in LsPD patients. We explored if a D dopamine agonist would have efficacy in LsPD using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover phase Ia/b study comparing the D agonist PF-06412562 to levodopa/carbidopa in six LsPD patients.

Pore properties of Orai1 calcium channel dimers and their activation by the STIM1 ER calcium sensor.

Store-operated Ca entry signals are mediated by plasma membrane Orai channels activated through intermembrane coupling with Ca-sensing STIM proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The nature of this elaborate Orai-gating mechanism has remained enigmatic. Based on the Orai structure, mammalian Orai1 channels are hexamers comprising three dimeric subunit pairs.

Cross-linking of Orai1 channels by STIM proteins.

The transmembrane docking of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca-sensing STIM proteins with plasma membrane (PM) Orai Ca channels is a critical but poorly understood step in Ca signal generation. STIM1 protein dimers unfold to expose a discrete STIM-Orai activating region (SOAR1) that tethers and activates Orai1 channels within discrete ER-PM junctions. We reveal that each monomer within the SOAR dimer interacts independently with single Orai1 subunits to mediate cross-linking between Orai1 channels.

The STIM-Orai Pathway: Conformational Coupling Between STIM and Orai in the Activation of Store-Operated Ca Entry.

Store-operated Ca entry fulfills a crucial role in controlling Ca signals in almost all cells. The Ca-sensing stromal interaction molecule (STIM) proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo complex conformational changes in response to depleted ER luminal Ca, allowing them to unfold and become trapped in ER-plasma membrane (PM) junctions. Dimers of STIM proteins trap and gate the plasma membrane Orai Ca channels within these junctions to generate discrete zones of high Ca and regulate sensitive Ca-dependent intracellular signaling pathways.

The STIM-Orai coupling interface and gating of the Orai1 channel.

In virtually all cells, store-operated Ca entry signals are vital in controlling a spectrum of functions. The signals are mediated by STIM proteins in the ER and Orai channels in the PM which undergo a dynamic coupling process within discrete ER-PM junctional regions. This coupling is initiated by depletion of ER stored Ca triggering STIM proteins to undergo an intricate activation process.

The STIM1-binding site nexus remotely controls Orai1 channel gating.

The ubiquitously expressed Orai Ca channels are gated through a unique process of intermembrane coupling with the Ca-sensing STIM proteins. Despite the significance of Orai1-mediated Ca signals, how gating of Orai1 is triggered by STIM1 remains unknown. A widely held gating model invokes STIM1 binding directly to Orai1 pore-forming helix.

The Orai1 Store-operated Calcium Channel Functions as a Hexamer.

Orai channels mediate store-operated Ca signals crucial in regulating transcription in many cell types, and implicated in numerous immunological and inflammatory disorders. Despite their central importance, controversy surrounds the basic subunit structure of Orai channels, with several biochemical and biophysical studies suggesting a tetrameric structure yet crystallographic evidence indicating a hexamer. We systematically investigated the subunit configuration of the functional Orai1 channel, generating a series of tdTomato-tagged concatenated Orai1 channel constructs (dimers to hexamers) expressed in CRISPR-derived ORAI1 knock-out HEK cells, stably expressing STIM1-YFP.

STIM1 dimers undergo unimolecular coupling to activate Orai1 channels.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) sensor, STIM1, becomes activated when ER-stored Ca(2+) is depleted and translocates into ER-plasma membrane junctions where it tethers and activates Orai1 Ca(2+) entry channels. The dimeric STIM1 protein contains a small STIM-Orai-activating region (SOAR)--the minimal sequence sufficient to activate Orai1 channels. Since SOAR itself is a dimer, we constructed SOAR concatemer-dimers and introduced mutations at F394, which is critical for Orai1 coupling and activation.

⁶⁸Ge content quality control of ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga-generator eluates and ⁶⁸Ga radiopharmaceuticals--a protocol for determining the ⁶⁸Ge content using thin-layer chromatography.

(68)Ge breakthrough from a (68)Ge/(68)Ga-generator appears to be one of the most critical parameters for the routine clinical application of this generator and (68)Ga-radiopharmaceuticals. We report a TLC-based (thin-layer chromatography) protocol which allows the (68)Ge breakthrough of a generator to be determined within 1 h post-initial elution. The protocol can also be adapted to allow the (68)Ge content of a (68)Ga-radiopharmaceutical preparation to be determined prior to in vivo application.

Quantitative online isolation of ⁶⁸Ge from ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga generator eluates for purification and immediate quality control of breakthrough.

The breakthrough of ⁶⁸Ge from a ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga-generator is one of the most sensitive parameters in the context of the clinical application of ⁶⁸Ga-radiopharmaceuticals. The difficulty in its determination lies in the "spectroscopic invisibility" of ⁶⁸Ge within an excess of ⁶⁸Ga. The introduced method for determining the ⁶⁸Ge content of the ⁶⁸Ge/⁶⁸Ga-generator eluate involves the quantitative separation of ⁶⁸Ga from ⁶⁸Ge, using a cation-exchanger.

44Sc-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 in comparison to 68Ga-DOTA-BN[2-14]NH2 in pre-clinical investigation. Is 44Sc a potential radionuclide for PET?

Aim: In the present study we demonstrate the in vitro and in vivo comparison of the (44)Sc and (68)Ga labeled DOTA-BN[2-14]NH(2). (44)Sc is a positron emitter with a half life of 3.92 h.

Measurement of protein synthesis: in vitro comparison of (68)Ga-DOTA-puromycin, [ (3)H]tyrosine, and 2-fluoro-[ (3)H]tyrosine.

Aim: Puromycin has played an important role in our understanding of the eukaryotic ribosome and protein synthesis. It has been known for more than 40 years that this antibiotic is a universal protein synthesis inhibitor that acts as a structural analog of an aminoacyl-transfer RNA (aa-tRNA) in eukaryotic ribosomes. Due to the role of enzymes and their synthesis in situations of need (DNA damage, e.

Imaging of protein synthesis: in vitro and in vivo evaluation of (44)Sc-DOTA-puromycin.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether (44)Sc-labeled puromycin can be utilized for imaging of protein synthesis in vivo.

Methods: For micro-positron emission tomographic (μPET) studies, 20-25 MBq of [(44)Sc]-DOTA-puromycin was administered to tumor-bearing rats, and animals were scanned for 1 h dynamically. Results were further validated by dissecting organs and tissues of the animals after the measurement and in vitro blocking experiments using puromycin or cycloheximide to block protein synthesis.

Radiolabeling of DOTATOC with the long-lived positron emitter 44Sc.

The positron-emitting radionuclide (44)Sc with a half-life of 3.97 h and a β(+) branching of 94.3% is of potential interest for clinical PET.

Improved column-based radiochemical processing of the generator produced 68Ga.

An improved chemical strategy for processing of the generator produced (68)Ga was developed based on processing of the original (68)Ge/(68)Ga generator eluate on a micro-column. Direct pre-concentration and purification of the eluted (68)Ga is performed on a cation-exchange resin in hydrochloric acid/acetone media. A supplementary step based on a second micro-column filled with a second resin allows direct re-adsorption of (68)Ga eluted from the cation exchanger.

Plasma and CNS pharmacokinetics of O4-benzylfolic acid (O4BF) and metabolite in a non-human primate model.

Purpose: O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repairs DNA damage from alkylating agents by transferring the alkyl adducts from the O(6)-position of guanine in DNA to AGT. The folate analog O(4)-benzylfolic acid (O(4)BF) is an inhibitor of AGT with reported selectivity of the alpha-folate receptor in tumors. We studied plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics and CSF penetration of O(4)BF in a non-human primate model.

A triazacyclononane-based bifunctional phosphinate ligand for the preparation of multimeric 68Ga tracers for positron emission tomography.

For application in positron emission tomography (PET), PrP9, a N,N',N''-trisubstituted triazacyclononane with methyl(2-carboxyethyl)phosphinic acid pendant arms, was developed as (68)Ga(3+) complexing agent. The synthesis is short and inexpensive. Ga(III) and Fe(III) complexes of PrP9 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Post-elution processing of (44)Ti/(44)Sc generator-derived (44)Sc for clinical application.

The (44)Ti/(44)Sc (T(1/2)(44)Ti=60a) generator provides cyclotron-independent access to positron-emitting (44)Sc (T(1/2)=3.97d) for PET imaging. This work aims to post-elution processing of initial (44)Sc generator eluates in order to reduce its volume, HCl concentration and remove the oxalate anions.

In vivo selection of hematopoietic progenitor cells and temozolomide dose intensification in rhesus macaques through lentiviral transduction with a drug resistance gene.

Major limitations to gene therapy using HSCs are low gene transfer efficiency and the inability of most therapeutic genes to confer a selective advantage on the gene-corrected cells. One approach to enrich for gene-modified cells in vivo is to include in the retroviral vector a drug resistance gene, such as the P140K mutant of the DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT*). We transplanted 5 rhesus macaques with CD34+ cells transduced with lentiviral vectors encoding MGMT* and a fluorescent marker, with or without homeobox B4 (HOXB4), a potent stem cell self-renewal gene.

Effect of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase on genotoxicity of epihalohydrins.

The effect of O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) on the toxicity and mutagenicity of epihalohydrins was studied. AGT is a DNA repair protein that protects cells from agents that produce genotoxic O(6)-alkylguanine lesions by transferring the alkyl group to an internal cysteine residue (Cys(145) in human AGT) in a single-step. This cysteine acceptor site is highly reactive and epihalohydrins reacted readily with AGT at this site with a halide order of reactivity of Br > Cl > F.

Degradation of BRCA2 in alkyltransferase-mediated DNA repair and its clinical implications.

Germ-line mutations in BRCA2 have been linked to early-onset familial breast cancer. BRCA2 is known to play a key role in repairing double-strand breaks. Here, we describe the involvement of BRCA2 in O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase (AGT)-mediated repair of O6-methylguanine adducts.

Substitution of aminomethyl at the meta-position enhances the inactivation of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase by O6-benzylguanine.

O(6)-Benzylguanine is an irreversible inactivator of O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase currently in clinical trials to overcome alkyltransferase-mediated resistance to certain cancer chemotherapeutic alkylating agents. In order to produce more soluble alkyltransferase inhibitors, we have synthesized three aminomethyl-substituted O(6)-benzylguanines and the three methyl analogs and found that the substitution of aminomethyl at the meta-position greatly enhances inactivation of alkyltransferase, whereas para-substitution has little effect and ortho-substitution virtually eliminates activity. Molecular modeling of their interactions with alkyltransferase provided a molecular explanation for these results.

Alkyltransferase-mediated toxicity of 1,3-butadiene diepoxide.

Human O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) expression increases mutations and cytotoxicity following exposure to 1,3-butadiene diepoxide (BDO), and hAGT-DNA cross-links are formed in the presence of BDO. We have used hAGT mutants to investigate the mechanism of cross-link formation and genotoxicity. Formation of a hAGT-DNA conjugate in vitro was observed with C145S and C145A mutant proteins but was considerably diminished with the C145A/C150S double mutant confirming that cross-linking primarily involves either of these two cysteine residues, which are located in the active site pocket of the protein.

Differential inactivation of polymorphic variants of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase.

The human DNA repair protein O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (hAGT) is an important source of resistance to some therapeutic alkylating agents and attempts to circumvent this resistance by the use of hAGT inhibitors have reached clinical trials. Several human polymorphisms in the MGMT gene that encodes hAGT have been described including L84F and the linked double alteration I143V/K178R. We have investigated the inactivation of these variants and the much rarer variant W65C by O(6)-benzylguanine, which is currently in clinical trials, and a number of other second generation hAGT inhibitors that contain folate derivatives (O(4)-benzylfolic acid, the 3' and 5' folate esters of O(6)-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and the folic acid gamma ester of O(6)-(p-hydroxymethyl)benzylguanine).

Inactivation of O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase by folate esters of O(6)-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and of O(6)-[4-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]guanine.

O6-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (alkyltransferase) provides an important source of resistance to some cancer chemotherapeutic alkylating agents. Folate ester derivatives of O6-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine and of O6-[4-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]guanine were synthesized and tested for their ability to inactivate human alkyltransferase. Inactivation of alkyltransferase by the gamma-folate ester of O6-[4-(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]guanine was similar to that of the parent base.