Isoform-specific antagonists of exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Nov 6;109(45):18613-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1210209109. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Abstract

The major physiological effects of cAMP in mammalian cells are transduced by two ubiquitously expressed intracellular cAMP receptors, protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC), as well as cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in certain tissues. Although a large number of PKA inhibitors are available, there are no reported EPAC-specific antagonists, despite extensive research efforts. Here we report the identification and characterization of noncyclic nucleotide EPAC antagonists that are exclusively specific for the EPAC2 isoform. These EAPC2-specific antagonists, designated as ESI-05 and ESI-07, inhibit Rap1 activation mediated by EAPC2, but not EPAC1, with high potency in vitro. Moreover, ESI-05 and ESI-07 are capable of suppressing the cAMP-mediated activation of EPAC2, but not EPAC1 and PKA, as monitored in living cells through the use of EPAC- and PKA-based FRET reporters, or by the use of Rap1-GTP pull-down assays. Deuterium exchange mass spectroscopy analysis further reveals that EPAC2-specific inhibitors exert their isoform selectivity through a unique mechanism by binding to a previously undescribed allosteric site: the interface of the two cAMP binding domains, which is not present in the EPAC1 isoform. Isoform-specific EPAC pharmacological probes are highly desired and will be valuable tools for dissecting the biological functions of EPAC proteins and their roles in various disease states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzene Derivatives / pharmacology*
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism*
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
  • Deuterium Exchange Measurement
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Sulfones / pharmacology*
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Benzene Derivatives
  • ESI-05
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RAPGEF3 protein, human
  • Rapgef4 protein, mouse
  • Sulfones
  • Cyclic AMP
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins