The regulation of the circadian rhythm is relayed from the central nervous system to the periphery by melatonin, a hormone synthesized at night in the pineal gland. Besides two melatonin G-coupled receptors, mt(1) and MT(2), the existence of a novel putative melatonin receptor, MT(3), was hypothesized from the observation of a binding site in both central and peripheral hamster tissues with an original binding profile and a very rapid kinetics of ligand exchange compared with mt(1) and MT(2). In this report, we present the purification of MT(3) from Syrian hamster kidney and its identification as the hamster homologue of the human quinone reductase 2 (QR(2), EC ). Our purification strategy included the use of an affinity chromatography step which was crucial in purifying MT(3) to homogeneity. The protein was sequenced by tandem mass spectrometry and shown to align with 95% identity with human QR(2). After transfection of CHO-K1 cells with the human QR(2) gene, not only did the QR(2) enzymatic activity appear, but also the melatonin-binding sites with MT(3) characteristics, both being below the limit of detection in the native cells. We further confronted inhibition data from MT(3) binding and QR(2) enzymatic activity obtained from samples of Syrian hamster kidney or QR(2)-overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary cells, and observed an overall good correlation of the data. In summary, our results provide the identification of the melatonin-binding site MT(3) as the quinone reductase QR(2) and open perspectives as to the function of this enzyme, known so far mainly for its detoxifying properties.

Because little comparative information is available concerning receptor profiles of antiparkinson drugs, affinities of 14 agents were determined at diverse receptors implicated in the etiology and/or treatment of Parkinson's disease: human (h)D₁, hD_2S, hD_2L, hD₃, hD₄, and hD₅ receptors; human 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)_1A, h5-HT_1B, h5-HT_1D, h5-HT_2A, h5-HT_2B, and h5-HT_2Creceptors; hα_1A-, hα_1B-, hα_1D-, hα_2A-, hα_2B-, hα_2C-, rat α_2D-, hβ₁-, and hβ₂-adrenoceptors (ARs); and native histamine₁ receptors. A correlation matrix (294 pK_i values) demonstrated substantial “covariance”. Correspondingly, principal components analysis revealed that axis 1, which accounted for 76% variance, was associated with the majority of receptor types: drugs displaying overall high versus modest affinities migrated at opposite extremities. Axis 2 (7% of variance) differentiated drugs with high affinity for hD₄ and H₁ receptors versus hα₁-AR subtypes. Five percent of variance was attributable to axis 3, which distinguished drugs with marked affinity for hβ₁- and hβ₂-ARs versus hD₅and 5-HT_2A receptors. Hierarchical (cluster) analysis of global homology generated a dendrogram differentiating two major groups possessing low versus high affinity, respectively, for multiple serotonergic and hD₅ receptors. Within the first group, quinpirole, quinerolane, ropinirole, and pramipexole interacted principally with hD₂, hD₃, and hD₄receptors, whereas piribedil and talipexole recognized dopaminergic receptors and hα₂-ARs. Within the second group, lisuride and terguride manifested high affinities for all sites, with roxindole/bromocriptine, cabergoline/pergolide, and 6,7-dihydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-2-ammotetralin (TL99)/apomorphine comprising three additional subclusters of closely related ligands. In conclusion, an innovative multivariate analysis revealed marked heterogeneity in binding profiles of antiparkinson agents. Actions at sites other than hD₂ receptors likely participate in their (contrasting) functional profiles.

The principal soy phytoestrogen genistein has an array of biological actions. It binds to estrogen receptor (ER) α and β and has ER-mediated estrogenic effects. In addition, it has antiestrogenic effects as well as non-ER-mediated effects such as inhibition of tyrosine kinase. Because of its complex biological actions, the molecular mechanisms of action of genistein are poorly understood. Here we show that genistein dose-dependently increases estrogenic transcriptional activity in mesenchymal progenitor cells, but its biological effects on osteogenesis and adipogenesis are different. At low concentrations (≤1 μm), genistein acts as estrogen, stimulating osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis. At high concentrations (>1 μm), however, genistein acts as a ligand of PPARγ, leading to up-regulation of adipogenesis and down-regulation of osteogenesis. Transfection experiments show that activation of PPARγ by genistein at the micromolar concentrations down-regulates its estrogenic transcriptional activity, while activation of ERα or ERβ by genistein down-regulates PPARγ transcriptional activity. Genistein concurrently activates two different transcriptional factors, ERs and PPARγ, which have opposite effects on osteogenesis or adipogenesis. As a result, the balance between activated ERs and PPARγ determines the biological effects of genistein on osteogenesis and adipogenesis. Our findings may explain distinct effects of genistein in different tissues.