Cel
To determine experimentally and in silico, as a prerequisite to a rational medicinal chemistry, three-dimensional models of the nociceptin-ORL1 receptor complex.-
To identify and subsequently clone, as potential novel targets for therapeutic agents, specific receptors to pronociceptin-derived (orphan) neuropeptides.
To firmly establish that nociceptin and pronociceptin-derived (orphan) peptides regulate nociception, and identify other functions of pathological interest.
The objectives of the project are to provide a detailed molecular and functional description of novel peptide-based communication pathways that are thought to modulate pain in the nervous system. One pathway makes use of nociceptin, the recently identified natural agonist of ORL1, a Gprotein-coupled neuroreceptor closely related to opioid receptors. The other may utilize F15Q, a peptide of yet unknown receptor, which is also present as one potentially excisable copy in pronociceptin, nociceptin's precursorpolypeptide. When centrally (i.c.v.) administered in rnice, nociceptin and F15Qboth render the animals' hyperreactive to thermal nociceptive stimulation, suggesting that the two heptadecapeptides may normally act to produce orexacerbate the pain sensation. Most irnportantly then, antagonists of thenociceptin (ORL1) and/or F15Q (unknown) receptors should display analgesic activity. Molecular description: in order to provide a structural basis to the rational design of better adapted ligands, including antagonists (potential new analgesics), the functional architecture of the ORLI receptor and the structure-activity relationships of nociceptin (Noc) will be analysed by means of protein engineering (receptor) and peptide synthesis (ligand). 3-D models of the Noc-ORLl receptor complex will provide assistance. In parallel, a specific receptor for the F15Q "orphan" peptide will be searched for as a specific, high affinity [3HlF15Q binding site in nerve tissue. If the site proves to exist, we propose to clone the cDNA encoding the F15Q receptor.
Functional description: localization of pronociceptin's mRNA and/or of the peptides (nociceptin and F15Q) along pain pathways in the rat and/or mouse nervous system will provide additional although indirect evidence that the pronociceptin gene products are involved in nociperception. More directly the two peptides will be tested for pro-nociceptive (and other) activities in vivo, using behavioural paradigms based on various pain modalities (thermal vs. mechanical, cutaneous vs. visceral, spinal vs. supraspinal, acute vs. chronic) and electrophysiological studies will be carried out to demonstrate direct (spinal) or indirect (supraspinal) stimulatory effects of nociceptin and/orF15Q on spinal nociceptive neurons in situ. It is also envisaged to generate transgenic mouse strains, which do not express a functional ORLl orpronociceptin gene, hence, which might display reduced pain sensitivity. Along this same line, we propose to search for mutations of the ORLl and pronociceptin genes in blood samples from patients suffering congenital insensitivity to pain. This multidisciplinary approach involving five research teams with complementary technological abilities should speed up comprehension of the physiological roles of pronociceptin-derived neuropeptides and, most importantly, provide the pharmaceutical industry with new targets and the tools to develop novel, non-opiate analgesics. 07
Dziedzina nauki
Temat(-y)
Zaproszenie do składania wniosków
Data not availableSystem finansowania
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsKoordynator
31077 TOULOUSE
Francja