Chemical genetics identifies small-molecule modulators of neuritogenesis involving neuregulin-1/ErbB4 signaling.

ACS Chem Neurosci
Authors
Abstract

Genetic findings have suggested that neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) and its receptor v-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ErbB4) may play a role in neuropsychiatric diseases. However, the downstream signaling events and relevant phenotypic consequences of altered Nrg1 signaling in the nervous system remain poorly understood. To identify small molecules for probing Nrg1-ErbB4 signaling, a PC12-cell model was developed and used to perform a live-cell, image-based screen of the effects of small molecules on Nrg1-induced neuritogenesis. By comparing the resulting phenotypic data to that of a similar screening performed with nerve growth factor (NGF), this multidimensional screen identified compounds that directly inhibit Nrg1-ErbB4 signaling, such as the 4-anilino-quinazoline Iressa (gefitinib), as well as compounds that potentiate Nrg1-ErbB4 signaling, such as the indolocarbazole K-252a. These findings provide new insights into the regulation of Nrg1-ErbB4 signaling events and demonstrate the feasibility of using such a multidimensional, chemical-genetic approach for discovering probes of pathways implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Year of Publication
2010
Journal
ACS Chem Neurosci
Volume
1
Issue
4
Pages
325-342
Date Published
2010 Jan 28
ISSN
1948-7193
DOI
10.1021/cn900046a
PubMed ID
20495671
PubMed Central ID
PMC2873204
Links
Grant list
R21 MH087896 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH076146 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R33 MH087896 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH076146-01 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH076146-02 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
N01CO12400 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R21 MH087896-01 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States