Pharmacoperones and the calcium sensing receptor: Exogenous and endogenous regulators

• Published in: Pharmacological research Vol. 83; pp. 30 - 37
• Main Author: Breitwieser, Gerda E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2014
• Subjects: Allosteric Regulation - drug effects; Animals; Calcilytics; Calcimimetics; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium sensing receptor; Dihydropyridines - pharmacology; Drug Discovery; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; Humans; Membrane protein biosynthesis; Mutation; Pharmacologic chaperone; Pharmacoperones; Protein Biosynthesis - drug effects; Protein Folding - drug effects; Protein Transport - drug effects; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing - analysis; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing - genetics; Receptors, Calcium-Sensing - metabolism; GCM2; CaSR; IP3R; ADH; PTH; NPS 2143 (PubChem CID: 9869131); Pharmacoperones; Pharmacologic chaperone; DHPs; FHH; Cinacalcet hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 156416); EGFR; Calcimimetics; NSHPT; ER QC; R-568 (PubChem CID: 158796); MG132 (PubChem CID: 462382); N-linked; FIH; Nifedipine (PubChem CID: 4485); xCT; IPAH; SERCA pump; Calcium sensing receptor; ER; Membrane protein biosynthesis; PLCβ; EAAT; ERK1/2; mGlu5; GABA; GPCR; p24A; Calcilytics
• ISSN: 1043-6618; 1096-1186
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2013.11.006

Calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) mutations or altered expression cause disorders of calcium handling. Recent studies suggest that reduced targeting to the plasma membrane is a feature common to many CaSR loss-of-function mutations. Allosteric agonists (calcimimetics) can rescue signaling of a subset of CaSR mutants. This review evaluates our current understanding of the subcellular site(s) for allosteric modulator rescue of CaSR mutants. Studies to date make a strong case for calcimimetic potentiation of signaling not only at plasma membrane-localized CaSR, but at the endoplasmic reticulum, acting as pharmacoperones to assist in navigation of multiple quality control checkpoints. The possible role of endogenous pharmacoperones, calcium and glutathione, in folding and stabilization of the CaSR extracellular and transmembrane domains are considered. Finally, the possibility that dihydropyridines act as unintended pharmacoperones of CaSR is proposed. While our understanding of pharmacoperone rescue of CaSR requires refinement, promising results to date argue that this may be a fruitful avenue for drug discovery.