Discovery and characterization of a specific inhibitor of serine-threonine kinase cyclin dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) demonstrates role in hippocampal CA1 physiology

Abstract

Pathological loss-of-function mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) cause CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare and severe neurodevelopmental disorder associated with severe and medically refractory early-life epilepsy, motor, cognitive, visual and autonomic disturbances in the absence of any structural brain pathology. Analysis of genetic variants in CDD have indicated that CDKL5 kinase function is central to disease pathology.CDKL5encodes a serine-threonine kinase with significant homology to GSK3b, which has also been linked to synaptic function. Further,Cdkl5knock-out rodents have increased GSK3b activity and often increased long-term potentiation (LTP). Thus, development of a specific CDKL5 inhibitor must be careful to exclude cross-talk with GSK3b activity. We synthesized and characterized specific, high-affinity inhibitors of CDKL5 that do not have detectable activity for GSK3b. These compounds are very soluble in water but blood-brain barrier penetration is low. In rat hippocampal brain slices, acute inhibition of CDKL5 selectively reduces post-synaptic function of AMPA-type glutamate receptors in a dose-dependent manner. Acute inhibition of CDKL5 reduces hippocampal LTP. These studies provide new tools and insights into the role of CDKL5 as a newly appreciated, key kinase necessary for synaptic plasticity. Comparisons to rodent knock-out studies suggest that compensatory changes have limited the understanding of the roles of CDKL5 in synaptic physiology, plasticity and human neuropathology.

Genome-Wide Exploration and Expression Analysis of the CNGC Gene Family in Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) under Cold Stress, with Functional Characterization of SmCNGC1a

“…During stress and adversity, these proteins may interact synergistically with CNGCs to resist stress. Serine/threonine kinases are a class of enzyme proteins that phosphorylate serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) residues in target proteins and participate in the regulation of various signal transduction pathways [45]. We speculate that SmCNGC1a may interact with the aforementioned proteins to transmit cold-stress signals and activate cold-stress-defense-related genes.…”