Spiranic compounds as novel AMPK paradoxical inhibitors: can we derive new mechanistic insights?

In this study, we synthesized and fully characterized spiranic compounds designed as conformationally restricted mimetics of A-769662 by means of crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods. In vitro enzymatic assays and surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed a mixed-type inhi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sanz-Gómez, Marta, Barmpidi, Katerina, Quesada-Sánchez, Sergio, Cumella, José, Pérez, Concepción, García-Gimeno, María Adelaida, Sanz, Pascual, Doyagüez, Elisa G., Infantes, Lourdes, Luque, Francisco Javier, Castro Morera, Ana, Lagartera, Laura, Fernández-Alfonso, María S., Estarellas, Carolina
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::03db19b33a0fdccb0503a85e25bc7927
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/430271
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105035495196
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:AMPK
Closed A-loop
Endothelial function
Mixed-type inhibition
Paradoxical inhibitor
Protein dynamics
Vasodilation
Descripción
Sumario:In this study, we synthesized and fully characterized spiranic compounds designed as conformationally restricted mimetics of A-769662 by means of crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods. In vitro enzymatic assays and surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed a mixed-type inhibition mechanism. We developed a stable and equilibrated α1β1 AMPK model featuring the A-loop in a closed conformation, which was used to investigate alternative binding pockets beyond the canonical AMPK sites, namely type II-like pocket. The cell-based and tissue experiments further demonstrated that these compounds act as paradoxical inhibitors, since it enhances downstream signalling by increasing phosphorylation of ACC and eNOS, ultimately activating the AMPK-eNOS-NO pathway and inducing vasodilation in rat aorta. Altogether, our findings offer new insights into AMPK modulation and highlight the potential of spiranic scaffolds as tools for probing alternative regulatory mechanisms.