Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10(8):817-824. doi:10.7150/ijbs.9625 This issue Cite

Research Paper

A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants

Hui Huang, Ya-Xiong Tao

Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States

Citation:
Huang H, Tao YX. A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants. Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10(8):817-824. doi:10.7150/ijbs.9625. https://www.ijbs.com/v10p0817.htm
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Abstract

Although mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene cause severe early-onset obesity, we still do not have effective approaches to correct the defects of these mutations. Several antagonists have been identified as pharmacoperones of the MC4R whereas no agonist of the MC4R has been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of a small molecule agonist of the MC4R, THIQ, on the cell surface expression and signaling of ten intracellularly retained MC4R mutants using different cell lines. We showed that THIQ increased the cell surface expression of three mutants (N62S, C84R, and C271Y) and two of them (N62S and C84R) had increased signaling in HEK293 cells. Interestingly, THIQ increased the signaling of two other mutants (P78L and P260Q) without increasing their cell surface expression in HEK293 cells. In neuronal cells, THIQ exhibited a more potent effect, correcting the cell surface expression and signaling of seven mutants (N62S, I69R, P78L, C84R, W174C, P260Q, and C271Y). Other mutants were not rescued by THIQ. We also showed that THIQ did not rescue MC4R mutants defective in ligand binding or signaling or one intracellularly retained mutant of the melanocortin-3 receptor. In summary, we demonstrated that a small molecule agonist acted as a pharmacoperone of the MC4R rescuing the cell surface expression and signaling of some intracellularly retained MC4R mutants.

Keywords: G protein-coupled receptor, Melanocortin-4 receptor, Obesity, Pharmacological chaperone/Pharmacoperone, THIQ


Citation styles

APA
Huang, H., Tao, Y.X. (2014). A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(8), 817-824. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.9625.

ACS
Huang, H.; Tao, Y.X. A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 2014, 10 (8), 817-824. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.9625.

NLM
Huang H, Tao YX. A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants. Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10(8):817-824. doi:10.7150/ijbs.9625. https://www.ijbs.com/v10p0817.htm

CSE
Huang H, Tao YX. 2014. A Small Molecule Agonist THIQ as a Novel Pharmacoperone for Intracellularly Retained Melanocortin-4 Receptor Mutants. Int J Biol Sci. 10(8):817-824.

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