James Foster - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by James Foster
The FASEB Journal, 2018
Characterizing palmitoylation on the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) Department: Biome... more Characterizing palmitoylation on the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) Department: Biomedical Sciences Degree: Doctor of Philosophy In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my dissertation work, or in his absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this dissertation or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my dissertation.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), May 10, 2023
In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive contro... more In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive control. During neuronal transmission, the synaptic concentration of serotonin is tightly controlled in a spatial and temporal manner by the serotonin transporter (SERT). Dysregulation of serotonergic signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of major-depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and autism-spectrum disorders, which makes SERT a primary target for prescription therapeutics, most notably selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Spalmitoylation is an increasingly recognized dynamic post-translational modification, regulating protein kinetics, trafficking, and localization patterns upon physiologic/cellular stimuli. In this study, we reveal that human SERTs are a target for palmitoylation, and using the irreversible palmitoyl acyl-transferase inhibitor, 2-bromopalmitate (2BP) we have identified several associated functions. Using a lower dose of 2BP in shorter time frames, inhibition of palmitoylation was associated with reductions in SERT Vmax, without changes in Km or surface expression. With higher doses of 2BP for longer time intervals, inhibition of palmitoylation was consistent with the loss of cell surface and total SERT protein, suggesting palmitoylation is an important mechanism in regulating SERT trafficking and maintenance of SERT protein through biogenic or anti-degradative processes. Additionally, we have identified that treatment with the SSRI escitalopram decreases SERT palmitoylation analogous to 2BP, reducing SERT surface expression and transport capacity. Ultimately, these results reveal palmitoylation is a major regulatory mechanism for SERT kinetics and trafficking and may be the mechanism responsible for escitalopram-induced internalization and loss of total SERT protein.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Mar 27, 2024
SummaryAberrant dopamine (DA) signaling is implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BPD), a... more SummaryAberrant dopamine (DA) signaling is implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), substance use disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Treatment of these disorders remains inadequate. We established that the human DA transporter (DAT) coding variant (DAT Val559), identified in individuals with ADHD, ASD, or BPD, exhibits anomalous DA efflux (ADE) that is blocked by therapeutic amphetamines and methylphenidate. As the latter agents have high abuse liability, we exploited DAT Val559 knock-in mice to identify non-addictive agents that can normalize DAT Val559 functional and behavioral effectsex vivo andin vivo. Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) are expressed by DA neurons and modulate DA release and clearance, suggesting that targeting KORs might offset the effects of DAT Val559. We establish that enhanced DAT Thr53 phosphorylation and increased DAT surface trafficking associated with DAT Val559 expression are mimicked b...
ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2019
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2018
Scientific reports, Jan 6, 2018
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the progressive loss of dopamin... more Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons (DNs), with currently available therapeutics, such as L-Dopa, only able to relieve some symptoms. Stem cell replacement is an attractive therapeutic option for PD patients, and DNs derived by differentiating patient specific stem cells under defined in-vitro conditions may present a viable opportunity to replace dying neurons. We adopted a previously published approach to differentiate Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) into DN using a 12-day protocol involving FGF-2, bFGF, SHH ligand and BDNF. While MSC-derived DNs have been characterized for neuronal markers and electrophysiological properties, we investigated store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) mechanisms of these DNs under normal conditions, and upon exposure to environmental neurotoxin, 1-methyl, 4-phenyl pyridinium ion (MPP). Overall, we show that MSC-derived DNs are functional with regard to SOCE mechanisms, and MPP expos...
Biochemical pharmacology, Oct 19, 2017
Dopamine transporter (DAT) blockers like cocaine and many other abused and therapeutic drugs bind... more Dopamine transporter (DAT) blockers like cocaine and many other abused and therapeutic drugs bind and stabilize an inactive form of the transporter inhibiting reuptake of extracellular dopamine (DA). The resulting increases in DA lead to the ability of these drugs to induce psychomotor alterations and addiction, but paradoxical findings in animal models indicate that not all DAT antagonists induce cocaine-like behavioral outcomes. How this occurs is not known, but one possibility is that uptake inhibitors may bind at multiple locations or in different poses to stabilize distinct conformational transporter states associated with differential neurochemical endpoints. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the pharmacological inhibition of DAT is therefore key for understanding the requisite interactions for behavioral modulation and addiction. Previously, we leveraged complementary computational docking, mutagenesis, peptide mapping, and substituted cysteine accessibility st...
The Journal of biological chemistry, Jan 24, 2014
The dopamine transporter (DAT) functions as a key regulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission via... more The dopamine transporter (DAT) functions as a key regulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission via re-uptake of synaptic dopamine (DA). Cocaine binding to DAT blocks this activity and elevates extracellular DA, leading to psychomotor stimulation and addiction, but the mechanisms by which cocaine interacts with DAT and inhibits transport remain incompletely understood. Here, we addressed these questions using computational and biochemical methodologies to localize the binding and adduction sites of the photoactivatable irreversible cocaine analog 3β-(p-chlorophenyl)tropane-2β-carboxylic acid, 4'-azido-3'-iodophenylethyl ester ([(125)I]RTI 82). Comparative modeling and small molecule docking indicated that the tropane pharmacophore of RTI 82 was positioned in the central DA active site with an orientation that juxtaposed the aryliodoazide group for cross-linking to rat DAT Phe-319. This prediction was verified by focused methionine substitution of residues flanking this site fo...
Neuroscience, 2010
We investigated the functional relationship between the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A (syn 1A) and th... more We investigated the functional relationship between the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A (syn 1A) and the dopamine transporter (DAT) by treating rat striatal tissue with Botulinum Neurotoxin C (BoNT/C) and co-transfecting syn 1A with DAT in non-neuronal cells, followed by analysis of DAT activity, phosphorylation, and regulation. Treatment of striatal slices with BoNT/C resulted in elevated dopamine (DA) transport V max and reduced DAT phosphorylation, while heterologous co-expression of syn 1A led to reduction in DAT surface expression and transport V max. Syn 1A was present in DAT immunoprecipitation complexes, supporting a direct or indirect interaction between the proteins. Phorbol ester regulation of DA transport activity was retained in BoNT/Ctreated synaptosomes and syn 1A transfected cells, demonstrating that PKC and syn 1A effects occur through independent processes. These findings reveal a novel mechanism for regulation of DAT activity and phosphorylation, and suggest the potential for syn 1A to impact DA neurotransmission through effects on reuptake.
![Research paper thumbnail of Localization of Cocaine Analog [125I]RTI 82 Irreversible Binding to Transmembrane Domain 6 of the Dopamine Transporter](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/118084795/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2007
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2005
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2011
In contrast to tropane-based compounds such as benztropine and cocaine, non-tropane-based photoaf... more In contrast to tropane-based compounds such as benztropine and cocaine, non-tropane-based photoaffinity ligands for the dopamine transporter (DAT) are relatively unexplored. Towards addressing this knowledge gap, ligands were synthesized in which the piperidine nitrogen of 3and 4-iodomethylphenidate was substituted with a benzyl group bearing a photoreactive azide. Analog (±)-3a demonstrated modest DAT affinity and a radioiodinated version was shown to bind covalently to rat striatal DAT and hDAT expressed in cultured cells. Co-incubation of (±)-3a with nonradioactive D-(+)-methylphenidate or (−)-2-β-carbomethoxy-3-β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (β-CFT, WIN-35,428, a cocaine analog) blocked DAT labeling. Compound (±)-3a represents the first successful example of a DAT photoaffinity ligand based on the methylphenidate scaffold. Such ligands are expected to assist in mapping non-tropane ligand-binding pockets within plasma membrane monoamine transporters.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2009
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012
Background: Dopamine transporter (DAT) activity is regulated by PKC. Results: We identify Ser-7 a... more Background: Dopamine transporter (DAT) activity is regulated by PKC. Results: We identify Ser-7 as a PKC phosphorylation site on DAT and show that phosphorylation conditions and Ser-7 mutation alter cocaine analog binding characteristics. Conclusion: Ser-7 phosphorylation affects cocaine analog binding by altering DAT conformational equilibrium. Significance: Ser-7 phosphorylation of DAT may impact recognition and action of cocaine.
Journal of chemical neuroanatomy, Jan 20, 2017
The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a key role in several biological processes including rew... more The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a key role in several biological processes including reward, mood, motor activity and attention. Synaptic DA homeostasis is controlled by the dopamine transporter (DAT) which transports extracellular DA into the presynaptic neuron after release and regulates its availability to receptors. Many neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Parkinson disease and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with imbalances in DA homeostasis that may be related to DAT dysfunction. DAT is also a target of psychostimulant and therapeutic drugs that inhibit DA reuptake and lead to elevated dopaminergic neurotransmission. We have recently demonstrated the acute and chronic modulation of DA reuptake activity and DAT stability through S-palmitoylation, the linkage of a 16-carbon palmitate group to cysteine via a thioester bond. This review summarizes the properties and regulation of DAT palmitoylation and describes how it s...
Trends in pharmacological sciences, 2013
The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of DA neurotransmi... more The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of DA neurotransmission by driving reuptake of extracellular transmitter into presynaptic neurons. Many diseases such as depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease (PD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with abnormal DA levels, implicating DAT as a factor in their etiology. Medications used to treat these disorders and many addictive drugs target DAT and enhance dopaminergic signaling by suppressing transmitter reuptake. We now understand that the transport and binding properties of DAT are regulated by complex and overlapping mechanisms that provide neurons with the ability to modulate DA clearance in response to physiological demands. These processes are controlled by endogenous signaling pathways and affected by exogenous transporter ligands, demonstrating their importance for normal neurotransmission, drug abuse, and disease treatments. Increasing evidence ...
Neurochemistry International, 2014
Ligand-induced changes in the conformation of extracellular loop (EL) 2 in the rat (r) dopamine t... more Ligand-induced changes in the conformation of extracellular loop (EL) 2 in the rat (r) dopamine transporter (DAT) were examined using limited proteolysis with endoproteinase Asp-N and detection of cleavage products by epitope-specific immunoblotting. The principle N-terminal fragment produced by Asp-N was a 19 kDa peptide likely derived by proteolysis of EL2 residue D174, which is present just past the extracellular end of TM3. Production of this fragment was significantly decreased by binding of cocaine and other uptake blockers, but was not affected by substrates or Zn 2+ , indicating the presence of a conformational change at D174 that may be related to the mechanism of transport inhibition. DA transport activity and cocaine analog binding were decreased by Asp-N treatment, suggesting a requirement for EL2 integrity in these DAT functions. In a previous study we demonstrated that ligand-induced protease resistance also occurred at R218 on the C-terminal side of rDAT EL2. Here using substituted cysteine accessibility analysis of human (h) DAT we confirm cocaine-induced alterations in reactivity of the homologous R219 and identify conformational sensitivity of V221. Focused molecular modeling of D174 and R218 based on currently available Aquifex aeolicus leucine transporter crystal structures places these residues within 2.9 Å of one another, suggesting their proximity as a structural basis for their similar conformational sensitivities and indicating their potential to form a salt bridge. These findings extend our understanding of DAT EL2 and its role in transport and binding functions.
Biochemistry, 2009
Phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on N-terminal serines and unidentified threonin... more Phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on N-terminal serines and unidentified threonines occurs concomitantly with PKC-and substrate-induced alterations in transporter activity, subcellular distribution, and dopamine efflux, but the residues phosphorylated and identities of protein kinases and phosphatases involved are not known. As one approach to investigating these issues we recombinantly expressed the N-terminal tail of rat DAT (NDAT) and examined its phosphorylation and dephosphorylation properties in vitro. We found that NDAT could be phosphorylated to significant levels by PKCα, PKA, PKG, and CaMKII, which catalyzed serine phosphorylation, and ERK1, JNK, and p38, which catalyzed threonine phosphorylation. We identified Thr53, present in a membrane proximal proline-directed kinase motif as the NDAT site phosphorylated in vitro by ERK1, JNK and p38, and confirmed by peptide mapping and mutagenesis that Thr53 is phosphorylated in vivo. Dephosphorylation studies showed that protein phosphatase 1 catalyzed near-complete in vitro dephosphorylation of PKCα-phosphorylated NDAT, similar to its in vivo and in vitro effects on native DAT. These findings demonstrate the ability of multiple enzymes to directly recognize the DAT N-terminal domain and for kinases to act at multiple distinct sites. The strong correspondence between NDAT and rDAT phosphorylation characteristics suggests the potential for the enzymes that are active on NDAT in vitro to act on DAT in vivo and indicates the usefulness of NDAT for guiding future DAT phosphorylation analyses. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a plasma membrane phosphoprotein expressed in dopaminergic neurons that clears synaptic dopamine (DA) by Na +-Cl − dependent reuptake. This activity controls the availability of extracellular DA for binding to receptors and thus regulates the dynamics of dopaminergic neurotransmission (1). Processes controlled by DA include motor activity, emotion, and reward, and agents such as cocaine that inhibit DAT cause elevations in DA levels that lead to motor stimulation and addiction (2). DA levels are also increased by amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH), which are carried by DAT and induce DA efflux by the process of reverse transport (3,4). It is thought that dopaminergic disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and Parkinson's disease may be linked to dysregulation of DAT activity and resulting imbalances in DA clearance (5-9). Various properties of DAT are acutely regulated by protein kinases, protein phosphatases, and substrate pretreatments (10-12), indicating the ability of DAT to rapidly respond to physiological demands. Regulation of DA transport occurs in response to modulation of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), and protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (PP1/2A) (13-16), and PKC activity is required for substrate induced transport down-regulation (17-19). Kinase-and substrate-induced DA transport down
Neurochemistry international, 2018
The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a critical role in dopamine (DA) homeostasis by clearing tra... more The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a critical role in dopamine (DA) homeostasis by clearing transmitter from the extraneuronal space after vesicular release. DAT serves as a site of action for a variety of addictive and therapeutic reuptake inhibitors, and transport dysfunction is associated with transmitter imbalances in disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, bipolar disorder, and Parkinson disease. In this review, we describe some of the model systems that have been used for in vitro analyses of DAT structure, function and regulation, and discuss a potential relationship between transporter kinetic values and membrane cholesterol.
The FASEB Journal, 2018
Characterizing palmitoylation on the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) Department: Biome... more Characterizing palmitoylation on the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) Department: Biomedical Sciences Degree: Doctor of Philosophy In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota, I agree that the library of this University shall make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for extensive copying for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my dissertation work, or in his absence, by the Chairperson of the department or the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. It is understood that any copying or publication or other use of this dissertation or part thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of North Dakota in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my dissertation.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), May 10, 2023
In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive contro... more In the central nervous system, serotonergic signaling modulates sleep, mood, and cognitive control. During neuronal transmission, the synaptic concentration of serotonin is tightly controlled in a spatial and temporal manner by the serotonin transporter (SERT). Dysregulation of serotonergic signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of major-depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and autism-spectrum disorders, which makes SERT a primary target for prescription therapeutics, most notably selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Spalmitoylation is an increasingly recognized dynamic post-translational modification, regulating protein kinetics, trafficking, and localization patterns upon physiologic/cellular stimuli. In this study, we reveal that human SERTs are a target for palmitoylation, and using the irreversible palmitoyl acyl-transferase inhibitor, 2-bromopalmitate (2BP) we have identified several associated functions. Using a lower dose of 2BP in shorter time frames, inhibition of palmitoylation was associated with reductions in SERT Vmax, without changes in Km or surface expression. With higher doses of 2BP for longer time intervals, inhibition of palmitoylation was consistent with the loss of cell surface and total SERT protein, suggesting palmitoylation is an important mechanism in regulating SERT trafficking and maintenance of SERT protein through biogenic or anti-degradative processes. Additionally, we have identified that treatment with the SSRI escitalopram decreases SERT palmitoylation analogous to 2BP, reducing SERT surface expression and transport capacity. Ultimately, these results reveal palmitoylation is a major regulatory mechanism for SERT kinetics and trafficking and may be the mechanism responsible for escitalopram-induced internalization and loss of total SERT protein.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Mar 27, 2024
SummaryAberrant dopamine (DA) signaling is implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BPD), a... more SummaryAberrant dopamine (DA) signaling is implicated in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BPD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), substance use disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Treatment of these disorders remains inadequate. We established that the human DA transporter (DAT) coding variant (DAT Val559), identified in individuals with ADHD, ASD, or BPD, exhibits anomalous DA efflux (ADE) that is blocked by therapeutic amphetamines and methylphenidate. As the latter agents have high abuse liability, we exploited DAT Val559 knock-in mice to identify non-addictive agents that can normalize DAT Val559 functional and behavioral effectsex vivo andin vivo. Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) are expressed by DA neurons and modulate DA release and clearance, suggesting that targeting KORs might offset the effects of DAT Val559. We establish that enhanced DAT Thr53 phosphorylation and increased DAT surface trafficking associated with DAT Val559 expression are mimicked b...
ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 2019
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2018
Scientific reports, Jan 6, 2018
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the progressive loss of dopamin... more Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons (DNs), with currently available therapeutics, such as L-Dopa, only able to relieve some symptoms. Stem cell replacement is an attractive therapeutic option for PD patients, and DNs derived by differentiating patient specific stem cells under defined in-vitro conditions may present a viable opportunity to replace dying neurons. We adopted a previously published approach to differentiate Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) into DN using a 12-day protocol involving FGF-2, bFGF, SHH ligand and BDNF. While MSC-derived DNs have been characterized for neuronal markers and electrophysiological properties, we investigated store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) mechanisms of these DNs under normal conditions, and upon exposure to environmental neurotoxin, 1-methyl, 4-phenyl pyridinium ion (MPP). Overall, we show that MSC-derived DNs are functional with regard to SOCE mechanisms, and MPP expos...
Biochemical pharmacology, Oct 19, 2017
Dopamine transporter (DAT) blockers like cocaine and many other abused and therapeutic drugs bind... more Dopamine transporter (DAT) blockers like cocaine and many other abused and therapeutic drugs bind and stabilize an inactive form of the transporter inhibiting reuptake of extracellular dopamine (DA). The resulting increases in DA lead to the ability of these drugs to induce psychomotor alterations and addiction, but paradoxical findings in animal models indicate that not all DAT antagonists induce cocaine-like behavioral outcomes. How this occurs is not known, but one possibility is that uptake inhibitors may bind at multiple locations or in different poses to stabilize distinct conformational transporter states associated with differential neurochemical endpoints. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the pharmacological inhibition of DAT is therefore key for understanding the requisite interactions for behavioral modulation and addiction. Previously, we leveraged complementary computational docking, mutagenesis, peptide mapping, and substituted cysteine accessibility st...
The Journal of biological chemistry, Jan 24, 2014
The dopamine transporter (DAT) functions as a key regulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission via... more The dopamine transporter (DAT) functions as a key regulator of dopaminergic neurotransmission via re-uptake of synaptic dopamine (DA). Cocaine binding to DAT blocks this activity and elevates extracellular DA, leading to psychomotor stimulation and addiction, but the mechanisms by which cocaine interacts with DAT and inhibits transport remain incompletely understood. Here, we addressed these questions using computational and biochemical methodologies to localize the binding and adduction sites of the photoactivatable irreversible cocaine analog 3β-(p-chlorophenyl)tropane-2β-carboxylic acid, 4'-azido-3'-iodophenylethyl ester ([(125)I]RTI 82). Comparative modeling and small molecule docking indicated that the tropane pharmacophore of RTI 82 was positioned in the central DA active site with an orientation that juxtaposed the aryliodoazide group for cross-linking to rat DAT Phe-319. This prediction was verified by focused methionine substitution of residues flanking this site fo...
Neuroscience, 2010
We investigated the functional relationship between the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A (syn 1A) and th... more We investigated the functional relationship between the SNARE protein syntaxin 1A (syn 1A) and the dopamine transporter (DAT) by treating rat striatal tissue with Botulinum Neurotoxin C (BoNT/C) and co-transfecting syn 1A with DAT in non-neuronal cells, followed by analysis of DAT activity, phosphorylation, and regulation. Treatment of striatal slices with BoNT/C resulted in elevated dopamine (DA) transport V max and reduced DAT phosphorylation, while heterologous co-expression of syn 1A led to reduction in DAT surface expression and transport V max. Syn 1A was present in DAT immunoprecipitation complexes, supporting a direct or indirect interaction between the proteins. Phorbol ester regulation of DA transport activity was retained in BoNT/Ctreated synaptosomes and syn 1A transfected cells, demonstrating that PKC and syn 1A effects occur through independent processes. These findings reveal a novel mechanism for regulation of DAT activity and phosphorylation, and suggest the potential for syn 1A to impact DA neurotransmission through effects on reuptake.
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2007
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2005
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2011
In contrast to tropane-based compounds such as benztropine and cocaine, non-tropane-based photoaf... more In contrast to tropane-based compounds such as benztropine and cocaine, non-tropane-based photoaffinity ligands for the dopamine transporter (DAT) are relatively unexplored. Towards addressing this knowledge gap, ligands were synthesized in which the piperidine nitrogen of 3and 4-iodomethylphenidate was substituted with a benzyl group bearing a photoreactive azide. Analog (±)-3a demonstrated modest DAT affinity and a radioiodinated version was shown to bind covalently to rat striatal DAT and hDAT expressed in cultured cells. Co-incubation of (±)-3a with nonradioactive D-(+)-methylphenidate or (−)-2-β-carbomethoxy-3-β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (β-CFT, WIN-35,428, a cocaine analog) blocked DAT labeling. Compound (±)-3a represents the first successful example of a DAT photoaffinity ligand based on the methylphenidate scaffold. Such ligands are expected to assist in mapping non-tropane ligand-binding pockets within plasma membrane monoamine transporters.
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2009
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012
Background: Dopamine transporter (DAT) activity is regulated by PKC. Results: We identify Ser-7 a... more Background: Dopamine transporter (DAT) activity is regulated by PKC. Results: We identify Ser-7 as a PKC phosphorylation site on DAT and show that phosphorylation conditions and Ser-7 mutation alter cocaine analog binding characteristics. Conclusion: Ser-7 phosphorylation affects cocaine analog binding by altering DAT conformational equilibrium. Significance: Ser-7 phosphorylation of DAT may impact recognition and action of cocaine.
Journal of chemical neuroanatomy, Jan 20, 2017
The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a key role in several biological processes including rew... more The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a key role in several biological processes including reward, mood, motor activity and attention. Synaptic DA homeostasis is controlled by the dopamine transporter (DAT) which transports extracellular DA into the presynaptic neuron after release and regulates its availability to receptors. Many neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Parkinson disease and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with imbalances in DA homeostasis that may be related to DAT dysfunction. DAT is also a target of psychostimulant and therapeutic drugs that inhibit DA reuptake and lead to elevated dopaminergic neurotransmission. We have recently demonstrated the acute and chronic modulation of DA reuptake activity and DAT stability through S-palmitoylation, the linkage of a 16-carbon palmitate group to cysteine via a thioester bond. This review summarizes the properties and regulation of DAT palmitoylation and describes how it s...
Trends in pharmacological sciences, 2013
The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of DA neurotransmi... more The dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) controls the spatial and temporal dynamics of DA neurotransmission by driving reuptake of extracellular transmitter into presynaptic neurons. Many diseases such as depression, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease (PD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with abnormal DA levels, implicating DAT as a factor in their etiology. Medications used to treat these disorders and many addictive drugs target DAT and enhance dopaminergic signaling by suppressing transmitter reuptake. We now understand that the transport and binding properties of DAT are regulated by complex and overlapping mechanisms that provide neurons with the ability to modulate DA clearance in response to physiological demands. These processes are controlled by endogenous signaling pathways and affected by exogenous transporter ligands, demonstrating their importance for normal neurotransmission, drug abuse, and disease treatments. Increasing evidence ...
Neurochemistry International, 2014
Ligand-induced changes in the conformation of extracellular loop (EL) 2 in the rat (r) dopamine t... more Ligand-induced changes in the conformation of extracellular loop (EL) 2 in the rat (r) dopamine transporter (DAT) were examined using limited proteolysis with endoproteinase Asp-N and detection of cleavage products by epitope-specific immunoblotting. The principle N-terminal fragment produced by Asp-N was a 19 kDa peptide likely derived by proteolysis of EL2 residue D174, which is present just past the extracellular end of TM3. Production of this fragment was significantly decreased by binding of cocaine and other uptake blockers, but was not affected by substrates or Zn 2+ , indicating the presence of a conformational change at D174 that may be related to the mechanism of transport inhibition. DA transport activity and cocaine analog binding were decreased by Asp-N treatment, suggesting a requirement for EL2 integrity in these DAT functions. In a previous study we demonstrated that ligand-induced protease resistance also occurred at R218 on the C-terminal side of rDAT EL2. Here using substituted cysteine accessibility analysis of human (h) DAT we confirm cocaine-induced alterations in reactivity of the homologous R219 and identify conformational sensitivity of V221. Focused molecular modeling of D174 and R218 based on currently available Aquifex aeolicus leucine transporter crystal structures places these residues within 2.9 Å of one another, suggesting their proximity as a structural basis for their similar conformational sensitivities and indicating their potential to form a salt bridge. These findings extend our understanding of DAT EL2 and its role in transport and binding functions.
Biochemistry, 2009
Phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on N-terminal serines and unidentified threonin... more Phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) on N-terminal serines and unidentified threonines occurs concomitantly with PKC-and substrate-induced alterations in transporter activity, subcellular distribution, and dopamine efflux, but the residues phosphorylated and identities of protein kinases and phosphatases involved are not known. As one approach to investigating these issues we recombinantly expressed the N-terminal tail of rat DAT (NDAT) and examined its phosphorylation and dephosphorylation properties in vitro. We found that NDAT could be phosphorylated to significant levels by PKCα, PKA, PKG, and CaMKII, which catalyzed serine phosphorylation, and ERK1, JNK, and p38, which catalyzed threonine phosphorylation. We identified Thr53, present in a membrane proximal proline-directed kinase motif as the NDAT site phosphorylated in vitro by ERK1, JNK and p38, and confirmed by peptide mapping and mutagenesis that Thr53 is phosphorylated in vivo. Dephosphorylation studies showed that protein phosphatase 1 catalyzed near-complete in vitro dephosphorylation of PKCα-phosphorylated NDAT, similar to its in vivo and in vitro effects on native DAT. These findings demonstrate the ability of multiple enzymes to directly recognize the DAT N-terminal domain and for kinases to act at multiple distinct sites. The strong correspondence between NDAT and rDAT phosphorylation characteristics suggests the potential for the enzymes that are active on NDAT in vitro to act on DAT in vivo and indicates the usefulness of NDAT for guiding future DAT phosphorylation analyses. The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a plasma membrane phosphoprotein expressed in dopaminergic neurons that clears synaptic dopamine (DA) by Na +-Cl − dependent reuptake. This activity controls the availability of extracellular DA for binding to receptors and thus regulates the dynamics of dopaminergic neurotransmission (1). Processes controlled by DA include motor activity, emotion, and reward, and agents such as cocaine that inhibit DAT cause elevations in DA levels that lead to motor stimulation and addiction (2). DA levels are also increased by amphetamine (AMPH) and methamphetamine (METH), which are carried by DAT and induce DA efflux by the process of reverse transport (3,4). It is thought that dopaminergic disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and Parkinson's disease may be linked to dysregulation of DAT activity and resulting imbalances in DA clearance (5-9). Various properties of DAT are acutely regulated by protein kinases, protein phosphatases, and substrate pretreatments (10-12), indicating the ability of DAT to rapidly respond to physiological demands. Regulation of DA transport occurs in response to modulation of protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular-signal regulated protein kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (Akt), and protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (PP1/2A) (13-16), and PKC activity is required for substrate induced transport down-regulation (17-19). Kinase-and substrate-induced DA transport down
Neurochemistry international, 2018
The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a critical role in dopamine (DA) homeostasis by clearing tra... more The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a critical role in dopamine (DA) homeostasis by clearing transmitter from the extraneuronal space after vesicular release. DAT serves as a site of action for a variety of addictive and therapeutic reuptake inhibitors, and transport dysfunction is associated with transmitter imbalances in disorders such as schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, bipolar disorder, and Parkinson disease. In this review, we describe some of the model systems that have been used for in vitro analyses of DAT structure, function and regulation, and discuss a potential relationship between transporter kinetic values and membrane cholesterol.