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International audience; Bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS-3), a G-protein-coupled orphan receptor, shares 47% and 55% homology with other known mammalian bombesin receptors. Despite the molecular characterization of BRS-3, its function remains unclear as a consequence of its low affinity for bombesin and the absence of an identified natural ligand. Although the other mammalian bombesin receptors are widely distributed in the gut and central nervous system, expression of BRS-3 in the gastrointestinal tract has not been previously described. We report the expression of BRS-3 mRNA and protein in the tunica muscularis of the rat gastrointestinal tract. The mRNA expression pattern was studied by reverse transcription followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To identify the cellular sites of expression of BRS-3, we performed immunocytochemistry by using a N-terminus-specific affinity-purified antiserum. BRS-3 was found to be widely expressed in the rat gastrointestinal tract at both the mRNA and protein levels. BRS-3-like immunoreactivity (BRS-3-LI) was localized in neurons of the myenteric and submucosal ganglia, being primarily concentrated near the neuronal plasma membrane, and in fibers distributed in the longitudinal and circular muscle layers. In addition, BRS-3-LI was observed in the cell bodies and processes of c-kit+ interstitial cells of Cajal. These data have functional applications for the effects mediated by the activation of BRS-3 on gut motility through distinct neuronal and non-neuronal pathways.

International audience; Access to cerebral tissue is essential to better understand the molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we present, for the first time, a new tool designed to obtain molecular and cellular cerebral imprints in the striatum of anesthetized monkeys. The imprint is obtained during a spatially controlled interaction of a chemically modified micro-silicon chip with the brain tissue. Scanning electron and immunofluorescence microscopies showed homogeneous capture of cerebral tissue. Nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-MS/MS) analysis of proteins harvested on the chip allowed the identification of 1158 different species of proteins. The gene expression profiles of mRNA extracted from the imprint tool showed great similarity to those obtained via the gold standard approach, which is based on post-mortem sections of the same nucleus. Functional analysis of the harvested molecules confirmed the spatially controlled capture of striatal proteins implicated in dopaminergic regulation. Finally, the behavioral monitoring and histological results establish the safety of obtaining repeated cerebral imprints in striatal regions. These results demonstrate the ability of our imprint tool to explore the molecular content of deep brain regions in vivo. They open the way to the molecular exploration of brain in animal models of neurological diseases and will provide complementary information to current data mainly restricted to post-mortem samples.

International audience; In metazoan oocytes the assembly of a microtubule-based spindle depends on the activity of a large number of accessory non-tubulin proteins, many of which remain unknown. In this work we isolated the microtubule-bound proteins from Xenopus eggs. Using mass spectrometry we identified 318 proteins, only 43 of which are known to bind microtubules. To integrate our results, we compiled for the first time a network of the meiotic microtubule-related interactome. The map reveals numerous interactions between spindle microtubules and the newly identified non-tubulin spindle components and highlights proteins absent from the mitotic spindle proteome. To validate newly identified spindle components, we expressed as GFP-fusions nine proteins identified by us and for first time demonstrated that Mgc68500, Loc398535, Nif3l1bp1/THOC7, LSM14A/RAP55A, TSGA14/CEP41, Mgc80361 and Mgc81475 are associated with spindles in egg extracts or in somatic cells. Furthermore, we showed that transfection of HeLa cells with siRNAs, corresponding to the human orthologue of Mgc81475 dramatically perturbs spindle formation in HeLa cells. These results show that our approach to the identification of the Xenopus microtubule-associated proteome yielded bona fide factors with a role in spindle assembly.

11 páginas, 4 figuras, 2 tablas -- PAGS nros. 189-199, The cytoskeletal proteins, FtsZ and tubulin, play a pivotal role in prokaryotic cell division and eukaryotic chromosome segregation, respectively. Selective inhibitors of the GTP-dependent polymerization of FtsZ could constitute a new class of antibiotics, while several inhibitors of tubulin are widely used in antiproliferative therapy. In this work, we set out to identify selective inhibitors of FtsZ based on the structure of its natural ligand, GTP. We found that GTP analogs with small hydrophobic substituents at C8 of the nucleobase efficiently inhibit FtsZ polymerization, whereas they have an opposite effect on the polymerization of tubulin. The inhibitory activity of the GTP analogs on FtsZ polymerization allowed us to crystallize FtsZ in complex with C8-morpholino-GTP, revealing the binding mode of a GTP derivative containing a nonmodified triphosphate chain, This work was supported in part by a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research “Vernieuwingsimpuls” grant (016.001.024, T.d.B.) and grants MEC BFU 2005-00505/BMC and CAM S-BIO-0214-2006 (J.M.A.). A.V.P. acknowledges support by the Avenir grant of Inserm, ACI BCMS of the French Research Ministry (project BCM0210), and equipment grants of the “La Ligue contre le Cancer” (Comité de l'Isère) and the “Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer” (project 7833). A.J. was funded by the program “Emergence 2004” of the Department de Rhône-Alpes

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-like peptides mediate their effects via two receptor subtypes, CRF1and CRF2; these receptors have functional implication in the motility of the stomach and colon in rats. We evaluated expression and functions of CRF1and CRF2receptors in the rat small intestine (i.e., duodenum and ileum). CRF1–2-like immunoreactivity (CRF1–2-LI) was localized in fibers and neurons of the myenteric and submucosal ganglia. CRF1–2-LI was found in nerve fibers of the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, in the mucosa, and in mucosal cells. Quantitative RT-PCR showed a stronger expression of CRF2than CRF1in the ileum, whereas CRF1expression was higher than CRF2expression in the duodenum. Functional studies showed that CRF-like peptides increased duodenal phasic contractions and reduced ileal contractions. CRF1antagonists (CP-154,526 and SSR125543Q) blocked CRF-like peptide-induced activation of duodenal motility but did not block CRF-like peptide-induced inhibition of ileal motility. In contrast, a CRF2inhibitor (astressin2-B) blocked the effects of CRF-like peptides on ileal muscle contractions but did not influence CRF-like peptide-induced activation of duodenal motility. These results demonstrate the presence of CRF1–2in the intestine and demonstrate that, in vitro, CRF-like peptides stimulate the contractile activity of the duodenum through CRF1receptor while inhibiting phasic contractions of the ileum through CRF2receptor. These results strongly suggest that CRF-like peptides play a major role in the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the neural control of small intestinal motility through CRF receptors.

We aimed to characterize neuronal and corticotrophin-releasing (CRF) pathways in a model of somato-visceral pain in rats. Male rats received an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of either vehicle (controls) or acetic acid (AA) and were sacrificed 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 h later. Coronal frozen sections of the brain were cut and mRNAs encoding the rat c-fos, CRF(1), CRF(2 alpha,beta) receptors were assayed by in situ hybridisation histochemistry. Localization of these transcripts within CRF-immunoreactive (i.r.) neurons of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus was also determined. AA i.p. induced c-fos mRNA expression in brain nuclei involved in the autonomic, behavioural and neuroendocrine response to pain. Some of these nuclei are involved in the control of digestive motility, as represented by the PVN, locus coeruleus and nucleus tractus solitarius. CRF pathways, in particular in the PVN, are activated in this model. Indeed, a robust signal of c-fos and CRF(1) transcripts was observed in the PVN and numerous CRF-i.r. neurons expressed c-fos or CRF(1) transcripts in the PVN of AA-treated animals. In contrast, no expression of CRF(2) transcripts was observed in the PVN either in basal conditions or after AA i.p. These data argue for an activation of CRF pathways within the PVN in this model of somato-visceral pain. The use of CRF antagonists, particularly of the CRF(1) type, should have an interest in somato-visceral pain pathology.

In this work we describe ET-D5, a synthetic small molecule serine-threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor with proven in vivo anti-mitotic and anti-vascular properties. The potential anti-cancer properties of serine-threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors have been identified since ancient times (extract from blister beetle mylabris was used in China for cancer treatment as early as in 1264), and several, mostly natural, inhibitors were evaluated in clinical trials. Their development was, however, discontinued due to the toxic effects of these non-selective (PP2A>>PP1) serine-threonine protein phosphatase inhibitors. ET-D5 is a remarkably specific (PP1 versus PP2A) inhibitor with potent anti-mitotic and anti-vascular activities. In vitro, ET-D5 display high efficacy against a wide range of human cancer cells (GI50 values determined were in low nM range for certain cell lines). In addition, ET-D5 disrupts the in vitro preformed capillary tubes (endothelial cells HMEC-1). In vivo experiments confirmed these activities in numerous animal models of human cancer, such as cancer of lung, brain, thyroid, kidney and ovaries. ET-D5 presents interesting pharmacological properties, good toxicology profile and is also active when administered per os. Contrary to many vascular-disrupting agents (VDA) which target tubulin, ET-D5 exerts its activity by selectively inhibiting in vivo protein-phosphatase I (PP1). We confirmed this activity in classical pharmacodynamics experiments, showing PP1 inhibition in xenografted tumors after oral administration of ET-D5. Based on all these results, ET-D5 is scheduled to enter clinical trials in early 2015. Citation Format: Aurelie Juhem, Delphine Lecercle, Julie Deverchère, Arnaud Gazel, Jean-Claude Florent, Andrei Popov. ET-D5, first-in-class synthetic selective Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibitor with anti-proliferative and anti-vascular activity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 757. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-757

Gliomas are brain tumors associated with important mortality. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent of primary brain tumors. Despite an optimal therapeutic management consists that includes surgery, radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy, the median survival is 15 months. This, is mainly due to the presence of infiltrative tumor cells that hamper total surgical excision, and leads to relapse with the emergence of drug resistance. This highlights the importance of seeking new therapeutic strategies.Of these, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are very promising. Their targeted actions limit the toxicity to healthy tissue. However, these new therapies are desperately short of monitoring. The appearance of serious side effects is a present challenge to their use. In consequences, these targeted therapies, even effective, have to be controlled via companion’s biomarkers that would provide better monitoring of the molecule. Bevacizumab is a good illustration for the existence of interindividual pharmacokinetic variability (11 to 50 days). In addition to its effect on the therapy efficiency, this intevariability must be also considered for side effects (phlebitis, hemorrhage) that lead to failure of treatment. However, these side effects could be limited by a simple monitoring of serum concentration of bevacizumab.Moreover, in the specific case of GBM, the action to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) requires the development of new strategies to promote a better bio-distribution of molecules in the brain tumor. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of a mechanical bypass of BBB in experimental brain tumors by a localized administration directly in the tumor. In this preclinical study, a significant improvement in median survival of animals treated with convection-enhanced delivery (CED) versus intraperitoneal administration was demonstrated.Finally, in order to offer an innovative technique of companion’s biomarkers screening, we have implemented an isotope labeling in vivo in order to study the dynamics of the proteome in tumor response to treatment. This strategy has already been released and is being transferred in humans in the study of the metabolism of GBM., Es gliomes sont des tumeurs cérébrales associées à une mortalité élevée. Le glioblastome multiforme (GBM) est la forme la plus fréquente des tumeurs cérébrales primaires. Malgré une prise en charge thérapeutique optimale constituée d'une chirurgie, d'une radiochimiothérapie concomitante et d'une chimiothérapie adjuvante, la survie médiane est de 15 mois. Ceci s'explique surtout par le potentiel infiltratif de ces tumeurs. Il est donc difficile de réaliser une exérèse chirurgicale totale, ce qui entraine une récidive quasi-systématique avec l'apparition de chimiorésistance. Ces phénomènes de résistances associés à une importante toxicité des molécules cytotoxiques mettent en évidence l'importance de rechercher de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. Parmi ces dernières, les anticorps monoclonaux thérapeutiques sont très prometteurs, leurs actions ciblées limitent la toxicité au niveau du tissu sain. Cependant ces nouvelles thérapies manquent cruellement de suivi. L'apparition d'effets secondaires graves remet en cause leur intérêt. C'est pourquoi ces nouvelles thérapies, bien qu'efficaces, doivent être contrôlées par l'intermédiaire de biomarqueurs compagnons ce qui permettrait une meilleure efficience de la molécule. Le bevacizumab en est un bon exemple, de par une pharmacocinétique interindividuelle variable (de 11 à 50 jours) et une absence d'adaptation de la posologie on constate l'apparition d'effets secondaires (phlébite, hémorragie) qui entrainent l'arrêt du traitement. Or, ces effets secondaires pourraient être limités par un simple suivi de la concentration sérique de bevacizumab. De plus, dans le cas particulier des GBM, la présence de la barrière hémato-encéphalique (BHE) nécessite de développer de nouvelles stratégies pour favoriser une meilleure biodistrubution de molécules au niveau de la tumeur cérébrale. De ce fait, nous avons étudié l'efficacité d'un contournement de la BHE mécanique par une administration localisée directement dans la tumeur. Et dans cette étude préclinique, une amélioration significative de la médiane de survie des animaux ayant eu un traitement par CED (Convection Enhanced Delivery) par rapport à une administration intrapéritonéale. Enfin, dans le but de proposer une technique innovante de criblage de biomarqueurs compagnons, nous avons mis en place une stratégie innovante de marquage isotopique in vivo afin d'étudier la dynamique du protéome tumoral en réponse au traitement. Cette stratégie, déjà validée, est en cours de transfert chez l'homme dans l'étude du métabolisme des GBM.