Pharmacological Chaperones for GCase that Switch Conformation with pH Enhance Enzyme Levels in Gaucher Animal Models. (12th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santana, Andrés G.; Robinson, Kyle; Vickers, Chelsea; Deen, Matthew C.; Chen, Hong‐Ming; Zhou, Stephen; Dai, Ben; Fuller, Maria; Boraston, Alisdair B.; Vocadlo, David J.; Clarke, Lorne A.; Withers, Stephen G.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 134:Number 38(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-12
• Subjects: Gaucher Disease -- Glycosidase -- Inhibitors -- Pharmacological Chaperones -- Sulfones -- pH-Dependent Response; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202207974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations which destabilize the native folded form of GCase, triggering degradation and ultimately resulting in low enzyme activity. Pharmacological chaperones (PCs) which stabilize mutant GCase have been used to increase lysosomal activity through improving trafficking efficiency. By engineering their inherent basicity, we have synthesized PCs that change conformation between the ER and the lysosomal environment, thus weakening binding to GCase after its successful trafficking to the lysosome. NMR studies confirmed the conformational change while X‐ray data reveal bound conformations and binding modes. These results were further corroborated by cell studies showing increases in GCase activity when using the pH‐switchable probe at low dosing. Preliminary in vivo assays with humanized mouse models of Gaucher showed enhanced GCase activity levels in relevant tissues, including the brain, further supporting their potential. Abstract : The conformational equilibrium in aqueous solution of polyhydroxylated iminoxylitols is related to the ammonium p K a . Engineering of its basicity through chemical modification allows modulation of the p K a value into the physiologically relevant 7.0–4.5 range. This optimizes GCase inhibition in the intraluminal conditions of the ER, but weakens binding in the more acidic environment of the lysosome.