Characterization of UBO-QIC as a Gα_q inhibitor in platelets

Abstract

Gα_q plays an important role in platelet activation by agonists such as thrombin, adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and thromboxane. The significance of Gα_q signaling in platelets was established using YM254890, a Gα_q/11-specific inhibitor and Gα_q knockout murine platelets. However, YM-254890 is no longer available for investigators and there is a need to characterize other Gα_q inhibitors. The aim of this study is to characterize the specificity of a compound, {L-threonine,(3R)-N-acetyl-3-hydroxy-L-leucyl-(aR)-a-hydroxybenzenepropanoyl-2,3-idehydro-N-methylalanyl-L-alanyl-N-methyl-L-alanyl-(3R)-3-[[(2S,3R)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-oxo-2-[(1-oxopropyl)amino]pentyl]oxy]-L-leucyl-N,O-dimethyl-,(7→1)-lactone (9CI)} (UBO-QIC), as a Gα_q inhibitor in platelets. Human platelets treated with UBO-QIC showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation and secretion by protease-activated receptors (PAR) agonists, U46619 and ADP. UBO-QIC also abolished Gα_q pathway signaling events such as calcium mobilization and pleckstrin phosphorylation. UBO-QIC had no nonspecific effects on the Gα_12/13 pathway since platelet shape change was intact in Gα_q knockout murine platelets stimulated with PAR agonists in the presence of the inhibitor. In addition, UBO-QIC-treated platelets did not affect collagen-related peptide-induced platelet activation suggesting that this inhibitor had no non-specific effects on the GPVI pathway. Furthermore, Akt phosphorylation downstream of the Gα_i and Gα_z pathways, and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation downstream of the Gα_s pathway were not inhibited in UBO-QIC-treated platelets. UBO-QIC is a specific inhibitor for Gα_q, which can be a useful tool for investigating Gα_q-coupled receptor signaling pathways in platelets.

• Gq
• GTP-binding protein alpha subunit
• platelets
• platelet aggregation
• specificity
• YM-254890

Declaration of interest

No relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

This work is supported by grants HL93231 and HL118593 from National Institutes of Health to S. P. K.