The rate of smoking in patients with schizophrenia is higher than that in the general population. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are involved in the sensorimotor gating deficits in schizophrenia. We have revealed that nicotine ameliorates the disruption of the PPI, a model of sensorimotor gating, which is induced by apomorphine, a dopamine receptor agonist, but is not effective for the disruption of the PPI induced by phencyclidine, a glutamine NMDA receptor antagonist, in rats. Furthermore, the ameliorating effect of nicotine is antagonized by methyllycaconitine, a selective alpha7 nAChR antagonist. The effect of nocitine was also investigated in the stereotyped behavior induced by apomorphine, however, nicotine was found to have no significant effect. Considering these results, the ameliorating effect of the disruption of the PPI via alpha7 nAChR is therefore thought to be involved in dopaminergic systems. The dopaminergic systems involved in alpha7 nAChR may be different from the systems involved in stereotypy. In addition, this review describes the effects of the alpha7 nicotinic receptor agonists.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/yakushi.129.197 | DOI Listing |
Pept Sci (Hoboken)
November 2024
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States of America.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove a uniquely fervent pursuit to explore the potential of peptide, antibody, protein, and small-molecule based antiviral agents against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The interaction between the SARS-CoV2 spike protein with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor that mediates viral cell entry was a particularly interesting target given its well described protein-protein interaction (PPI). This PPI is mediated by an α-helical portion of ACE2 binding to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and thought to be susceptible to blockade through molecular mimicry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Soc Mass Spectrom
January 2025
Technical University of Darmstadt, Clemens-Schöpf Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Peter-Grünberg-Straße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
Molecular glues (MGs) and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are used to modulate protein-protein interactions (PPIs), via induced proximity between compounds that have little or no affinity for each other naturally. They promote either reversible inhibition or selective degradation of a target protein, including ones deemed undruggable by traditional therapeutics. Though native MS (nMS) is capable of analyzing multiprotein complexes, the behavior of these artificially induced compounds in the gas phase is still not fully understood, and the number of publications over the past few years is still rather limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
January 2025
GuiZhou Institute of Subtropical Crops, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, China.
Background: Fracture disrupts the integrity and continuity of the bone, leading to symptoms such as pain, tenderness, swelling, and bruising. Rhizoma Musae is a medicinal material frequently utilized in the Miao ethnic region of Guizhou Province, China. However, its specific mechanism of action in treating fractures remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Chem
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
MTDH-SND1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) plays an important role in the initiation and development of tumors, and it is a target for the treatment of breast cancer. In this study, we identified and synthesized a series of novel small-molecule inhibitors of MTDH-SND1 PPI. The representative compound showed potent activity against MTDH-SND1 PPI with an IC of 487 ± 99 nM and tight binding to the SND1-purified protein with a value of 279 ± 17 nM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComb Chem High Throughput Screen
January 2025
Department of Emergency, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.
Background: The prevalence of depression in COVID-19 patients is notably high, disrupting daily life routines and compounding the burden of other chronic health conditions. In addition, to elucidate the connection between COVID-19 and depression, we conducted an analysis of commonly differentially expressed genes [co-DEGs], uncovering potential biomarkers and therapeutic avenues specific to COVID-19-related depression.
Methods: We obtained gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus [GEO] database with strategic keyword searches ["COVID-19", "depression," and "SARS"].
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