Allosteric modulation of adenosine A1 receptors (A1ARs) offers a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of numerous central and peripheral disorders; however, despite decades of research, there is a relative paucity of structural information regarding the A1AR allosteric site and mechanisms governing cooperativity with orthosteric ligands. We combined alanine-scanning mutagenesis of the A1AR second extracellular loop (ECL2) with radioligand binding and functional interaction assays to quantify effects on allosteric ligand affinity, cooperativity, and efficacy. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed using an A1AR homology model based on an agonist-bound A2AAR structure. Substitution of E172ECL2 for alanine reduced the affinity of the allosteric modulators PD81723 and VCP171 for the unoccupied A1AR. Residues involved in cooperativity with the orthosteric agonist NECA were different in PD81723 and VCP171; positive cooperativity between PD81723 and NECA was reduced on alanine substitution of a number of ECL2 residues, including E170ECL2 and K173ECL2, whereas mutation of W146ECL2 and W156ECL2 decreased VCP171 cooperativity with NECA. Molecular modeling localized a likely allosteric pocket for both modulators to an extracellular vestibule that overlaps with a region used by orthosteric ligands as they transit into the canonical A1AR orthosteric site. MD simulations confirmed a key interaction between E172ECL2 and both modulators. Bound PD81723 is flanked by another residue, E170ECL2, which forms hydrogen bonds with adjacent K168ECL2 and K173ECL2. Collectively, our data suggest E172ECL2 is a key allosteric ligand-binding determinant, whereas hydrogen-bonding networks within the extracellular vestibule may facilitate the transmission of cooperativity between orthosteric and allosteric sites.

The adenosine A G protein-coupled receptor (AAR) is an important therapeutic target implicated in a wide range of cardiovascular and neuronal disorders. Although it is well established that the AAR orthosteric site is located within the receptor's transmembrane (TM) bundle, prior studies have implicated extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) as having a significant role in contributing to orthosteric ligand affinity and signaling for various G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We thus performed extensive alanine scanning mutagenesis of AAR-ECL2 to explore the role of this domain on AAR orthosteric ligand pharmacology. Using quantitative analytical approaches and molecular modeling, we identified ECL2 residues that interact either directly or indirectly with orthosteric agonists and antagonists. Discrete mutations proximal to a conserved ECL2-TM3 disulfide bond selectively affected orthosteric ligand affinity, whereas a cluster of five residues near the TM4-ECL2 juncture influenced orthosteric agonist efficacy. A combination of ligand docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and mutagenesis results suggested that the orthosteric agonist 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine binds transiently to an extracellular vestibule formed by ECL2 and the top of TM5 and TM7, prior to entry into the canonical TM bundle orthosteric site. Collectively, this study highlights a key role for ECL2 in AAR orthosteric ligand binding and receptor activation.

Because of the surgical comorbidity associated with cardiac myxoma and/or Cushing's syndrome, recognition of Carney complex has important implications for perisurgical patient management and family screening. Study of the genetics of Carney complex and of the biological abnormalities associated with the tumors may provide insight into the general pathobiological abnormalities associated with the tumors may provide insight into the general pathobiological features of pituitary adenomas and NSTs.

The Multi-modal Australian ScienceS Imaging and Visualization Environment (MASSIVE) is a national imaging and visualization facility established by Monash University, the Australian Synchrotron, the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), and the Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing (VPAC), with funding from the National Computational Infrastructure and the Victorian Government. The MASSIVE facility provides hardware, software, and expertise to drive research in the biomedical sciences, particularly advanced brain imaging research using synchrotron x-ray and infrared imaging, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray computer tomography (CT), electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The development of MASSIVE has been based on best practice in system integration methodologies, frameworks, and architectures. The facility has: (i) integrated multiple different neuroimaging analysis software components, (ii) enabled cross-platform and cross-modality integration of neuroinformatics tools, and (iii) brought together neuroimaging databases and analysis workflows. MASSIVE is now operational as a nationally distributed and integrated facility for neuroinfomatics and brain imaging research.

Purpose-To examine the effect of volume and method on fluorescein tear breakup time (TBUT) values, and to evaluate test efficacy in an independent sample free of selection bias.Methods-Subjects were assessed using a battery of dry eye tests. Efficacy study: subjects were randomized to the Dry Eye Test (DET), Standard Strip (SS) and liquid NaFl, on separate days. A masked examiner measured TBUTs from video recordings. Verification study: Subjects were investigated for efficacy using volumes of 5.0 and 2.0 μl microliters of NaFl for TBUT.Results-Efficacy study: 46 subjects completed the study. Log-transformed TBUTs were significantly different, normals vs. drys, for all 3 methods (all p values < 0.001). AUCs, cut-points, sensitivity and specificity were: 1) DET: 0.873, 4.4 secs, 0.97 and 0.67, respectively, 2) 2.0 microliters: 0.901, 3.22 secs, 0.90 and 0.87, respectively, and 3) SS: 0.912, 3.42 secs, 0.97 and 0.80, respectively. Verification study: Data splitting analysis for the 2.0 μl data (n = 174 drys and 97 normals) generated an AUC of 0.917, a cut-point of 6.05 seconds for sensitivity of 0.87 and specificity of 0.81. The 5.0 μl sample yielded an AUC of 0.940, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.92 and 0.83, respectively at a cut-point of 5.5 seconds.