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Updated: Jan 4, 2026

Thermostabilization, Expression, Purification, and Crystallization of the Human Serotonin Transporter Bound to S-citalopram
Published on: November 27, 2016
Identification of Three Antimicrobials Activating Serotonin Receptor 4 in Colon Cells
Emily A Yasi1, Aurelia A Allen1, Widianti Sugianto1
1School of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332 , United States.
Abstract:
The serotonin receptor 4b (5-HTR4b) is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract, and its agonists are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Today, there are no rapid assays for the identification of 5-HTR4b agonists. Here, we developed a luciferase-based 5-HTR4b assay capable of assessing one compound per second with a 38-fold dynamic range and nM limit of detection for serotonin. We used the assay to screen more than 1000 natural products and anti-infection agents and identified five new 5-HTR4b ligands: hordenine, halofuginone, proflavine, ethacridine, and revaprazan. We demonstrate that hordenine (antibiofilm), halofuginone (antiparasitic), and revaprazan (gastric acid reducer) activate 5-HTR4b in human colon epithelial cells, leading to increased cell motility or wound healing. The 5-HTR4b assay can be used to screen larger pharmaceutical libraries to identify novel treatments for IBS-C. This work shows that antimicrobials interact not only with the gut microbiota, but also with the human host.
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