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Yuan Y, Xu T, Huang Y, Shi J. Strategies for developing μ opioid receptor agonists with reduced adverse effects. Bioorg Chem 2024; 149:107507. [PMID: 38850778 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Opioids are currently the most effective and widely used painkillers in the world. Unfortunately, the clinical use of opioid analgesics is limited by serious adverse effects. Many researchers have been working on designing and optimizing structures in search of novel μ opioid receptor(MOR) agonists with improved analgesic activity and reduced incidence of adverse effects. There are many strategies to develop MOR drugs, mainly focusing on new low efficacy agonists (potentially G protein biased agonists), MOR agonists acting on different Gα subtype, targeting opioid receptors in the periphery, acting on multiple opioid receptor, and targeting allosteric sites of opioid receptors, and others. This review summarizes the design methods, clinical applications, and structure-activity relationships of small-molecule agonists for MOR based on these different design strategies, providing ideas for the development of safer novel opioid ligands with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yuan
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611756, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Yu Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611756, China
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
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2
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Grundmann M, Bender E, Schamberger J, Eitner F. Pharmacology of Free Fatty Acid Receptors and Their Allosteric Modulators. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041763. [PMID: 33578942 PMCID: PMC7916689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological function of free fatty acids (FFAs) has long been regarded as indirect in terms of their activities as educts and products in metabolic pathways. The observation that FFAs can also act as signaling molecules at FFA receptors (FFARs), a family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), has changed the understanding of the interplay of metabolites and host responses. Free fatty acids of different chain lengths and saturation statuses activate FFARs as endogenous agonists via binding at the orthosteric receptor site. After FFAR deorphanization, researchers from the pharmaceutical industry as well as academia have identified several ligands targeting allosteric sites of FFARs with the aim of developing drugs to treat various diseases such as metabolic, (auto)inflammatory, infectious, endocrinological, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. GPCRs are the largest group of transmembrane proteins and constitute the most successful drug targets in medical history. To leverage the rich biology of this target class, the drug industry seeks alternative approaches to address GPCR signaling. Allosteric GPCR ligands are recognized as attractive modalities because of their auspicious pharmacological profiles compared to orthosteric ligands. While the majority of marketed GPCR drugs interact exclusively with the orthosteric binding site, allosteric mechanisms in GPCR biology stay medically underexploited, with only several allosteric ligands currently approved. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the biology of FFAR1 (GPR40), FFAR2 (GPR43), FFAR3 (GPR41), FFAR4 (GPR120), and GPR84, including structural aspects of FFAR1, and discusses the molecular pharmacology of FFAR allosteric ligands as well as the opportunities and challenges in research from the perspective of drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Grundmann
- Research and Early Development, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Eckhard Bender
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (E.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Jens Schamberger
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany; (E.B.); (J.S.)
| | - Frank Eitner
- Research and Early Development, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, 42096 Wuppertal, Germany;
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Novel Positive Allosteric Modulators of µ Opioid Receptor-Insight from In Silico and In Vivo Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228463. [PMID: 33187107 PMCID: PMC7697543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are the drugs of choice in severe pain management. Unfortunately, their use involves serious, potentially lethal side effects. Therefore, efforts in opioid drug design turn toward safer and more effective mechanisms, including allosteric modulation. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations in silico and ‘writhing’ tests in vivo were used to characterize potential allosteric mechanism of two previously reported compounds. The results suggest that investigated compounds bind to μ opioid receptor in an allosteric site, augmenting action of morphine at subeffective doses, and exerting antinociceptive effect alone at higher doses. Detailed analysis of in silico calculations suggests that first of the compounds behaves more like allosteric agonist, while the second compound acts mainly as a positive allosteric modulator.
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4
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Marsango S, Barki N, Jenkins L, Tobin AB, Milligan G. Therapeutic validation of an orphan G protein-coupled receptor: The case of GPR84. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 179:3529-3541. [PMID: 32869860 PMCID: PMC9361006 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of members of the GPCR superfamily as targets of a broad range of effective medicines many GPCRs remain poorly characterised. GPR84 is an example. Expression of GPR84 is strongly up regulated in immune cells in a range of pro-inflammatory settings and clinical trials to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are currently ongoing using ligands with differing levels of selectivity and affinity as GPR84 antagonists. Although blockade of GPR84 may potentially prove effective also in diseases associated with inflammation of the lower gut there is emerging interest in defining if agonists of GPR84 might find utility in conditions in which regulation of metabolism or energy sensing is compromised. Here, we consider the physiological and pathological expression profile of GPR84 and, in the absence of direct structural information, recent developments and use of GPR84 pharmacological tool compounds to study its broader role and biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Marsango
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Natasja Barki
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Laura Jenkins
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Graeme Milligan
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Mazzolari A, Gervasoni S, Pedretti A, Fumagalli L, Matucci R, Vistoli G. Repositioning Dequalinium as Potent Muscarinic Allosteric Ligand by Combining Virtual Screening Campaigns and Experimental Binding Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21175961. [PMID: 32825082 PMCID: PMC7503225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21175961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure-based virtual screening is a truly productive repurposing approach provided that reliable target structures are available. Recent progresses in the structural resolution of the G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) render these targets amenable for structure-based repurposing studies. Hence, the present study describes structure-based virtual screening campaigns with a view to repurposing known drugs as potential allosteric (and/or orthosteric) ligands for the hM2 muscarinic subtype which was indeed resolved in complex with an allosteric modulator thus allowing a precise identification of this binding cavity. First, a docking protocol was developed and optimized based on binding space concept and enrichment factor optimization algorithm (EFO) consensus approach by using a purposely collected database including known allosteric modulators. The so-developed consensus models were then utilized to virtually screen the DrugBank database. Based on the computational results, six promising molecules were selected and experimentally tested and four of them revealed interesting affinity data; in particular, dequalinium showed a very impressive allosteric modulation for hM2. Based on these results, a second campaign was focused on bis-cationic derivatives and allowed the identification of other two relevant hM2 ligands. Overall, the study enhances the understanding of the factors governing the hM2 allosteric modulation emphasizing the key role of ligand flexibility as well as of arrangement and delocalization of the positively charged moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Mazzolari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Silvia Gervasoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Rosanna Matucci
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-5019349
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6
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Allosteric modulators targeting cannabinoid cb1 and cb2 receptors: implications for drug discovery. Future Med Chem 2020; 11:2019-2037. [PMID: 31517528 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2019-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors hold great therapeutic potential, as they do not possess intrinsic efficacy, but instead enhance or diminish the receptor's response of orthosteric ligands allowing for the tempering of cannabinoid receptor signaling without the desensitization, tolerance and dependence. Allosteric modulators of cannabinoid receptors have numerous advantages over the orthosteric ligands such as higher receptor type selectivity, probe dependence and biased signaling, so they have a great potential to separate the therapeutic benefits from side effects own of orthosteric ligands. This review aims to give an overview of the CB1 and CB2 receptor allosteric modulators highlighting the structure-activity relationship and pharmacological profile of each classes, and their future promise.
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The Detrimental Action of Adenosine on Glutamate-Induced Cytotoxicity in PC12 Cells Can Be Shifted towards a Neuroprotective Role through A 1AR Positive Allosteric Modulation. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051242. [PMID: 32443448 PMCID: PMC7290574 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate cytotoxicity is implicated in neuronal death in different neurological disorders including stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. Adenosine is a nucleoside that plays an important role in modulating neuronal activity and its receptors have been identified as promising therapeutic targets for glutamate cytotoxicity. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the role of adenosine and its receptors on glutamate-induced injury in PC12 cells and to verify the protective effect of the novel A1 adenosine receptor positive allosteric modulator, TRR469. Flow cytometry experiments to detect apoptosis revealed that adenosine has a dual role in glutamate cytotoxicity, with A2A and A2B adenosine receptor (AR) activation exacerbating and A1 AR activation improving glutamate-induced cell injury. The overall effect of endogenous adenosine in PC12 cells resulted in a facilitating action on glutamate cytotoxicity, as demonstrated by the use of adenosine deaminase and selective antagonists. However, enhancing the action of endogenous adenosine on A1ARs by TRR469 completely abrogated glutamate-mediated cell death, caspase 3/7 activation, ROS production, and mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Our results indicate a novel potential therapeutic strategy against glutamate cytotoxicity based on the positive allosteric modulation of A1ARs.
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8
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Dahlgren C, Holdfeldt A, Lind S, Mårtensson J, Gabl M, Björkman L, Sundqvist M, Forsman H. Neutrophil Signaling That Challenges Dogmata of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Regulated Functions. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:203-220. [PMID: 32296763 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Activation as well as recruitment of neutrophils, the most abundant leukocyte in human blood, to sites of infection/inflammation largely rely on surface-exposed chemoattractant receptors. These receptors belong to the family of 7-transmembrane domain receptors also known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) due to the fact that part of the downstream signaling relies on an activation of heterotrimeric G proteins. The neutrophil GPCRs share significant sequence homologies but bind many structurally diverse activating (agonistic) and inhibiting (antagonistic) ligands, ranging from fatty acids to purines, peptides, and lipopeptides. Recent structural and functional studies of neutrophil receptors have generated important information on GPCR biology in general; this knowledge aids in the overall understanding of general pharmacological principles, governing regulation of neutrophil function and inflammatory processes, including novel leukocyte receptor activities related to ligand recognition, biased/functional selective signaling, allosteric modulation, desensitization mechanisms and reactivation, and communication (cross-talk) between GPCRs. This review summarizes the recent discoveries and pharmacological hallmarks with focus on neutrophil GPCRs. In addition, unmet challenges are dealt with, including recognition by the receptors of diverse ligands and how biased signaling mediates different biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claes Dahlgren
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - André Holdfeldt
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Simon Lind
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Jonas Mårtensson
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Michael Gabl
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Lena Björkman
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Martina Sundqvist
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
| | - Huamei Forsman
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, University of Göteborg, Göteborg 405 30, Sweden
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9
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The Retinoid and Non-Retinoid Ligands of the Rod Visual G Protein-Coupled Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20246218. [PMID: 31835521 PMCID: PMC6941084 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20246218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a predominant role in the drug discovery effort. These cell surface receptors are activated by a variety of specific ligands that bind to the orthosteric binding pocket located in the extracellular part of the receptor. In addition, the potential binding sites located on the surface of the receptor enable their allosteric modulation with critical consequences for their function and pharmacology. For decades, drug discovery focused on targeting the GPCR orthosteric binding sites. However, finding that GPCRs can be modulated allosterically opened a new venue for developing novel pharmacological modulators with higher specificity. Alternatively, focus on discovering of non-retinoid small molecules beneficial in retinopathies associated with mutations in rhodopsin is currently a fast-growing pharmacological field. In this review, we summarize the accumulated knowledge on retinoid ligands and non-retinoid modulators of the light-sensing GPCR, rhodopsin and their potential in combating the specific vision-related pathologies. Also, recent findings reporting the potential of biologically active compounds derived from natural products as potent rod opsin modulators with beneficial effects against degenerative diseases related to this receptor are highlighted here.
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10
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Prabhu SV, Singh SK. Energetically optimized pharmacophore modeling to identify dual negative allosteric modulators against group I mGluRs in neurodegenerative diseases. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:2326-2337. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1640794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sitrarasu Vijaya Prabhu
- Computer Aided Drug Designing and Molecular Modeling Laboratory, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Singh
- Computer Aided Drug Designing and Molecular Modeling Laboratory, Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
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11
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Jójárt B, Orgován Z, Márki Á, Pándy-Szekeres G, Ferenczy GG, Keserű GM. Allosteric activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:2624-2632. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1638302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Jójárt
- Institute of Food Engineering, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Orgován
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Árpád Márki
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Biopharmacy, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gáspár Pándy-Szekeres
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - György G. Ferenczy
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - György M. Keserű
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Group, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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12
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Brosey CA, Tainer JA. Evolving SAXS versatility: solution X-ray scattering for macromolecular architecture, functional landscapes, and integrative structural biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 58:197-213. [PMID: 31204190 PMCID: PMC6778498 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has emerged as an enabling
integrative technique for comprehensive analyses of macromolecular structures
and interactions in solution. Over the past two decades, SAXS has become a
mainstay of the structural biologist’s toolbox, supplying multiplexed
measurements of molecular shape and dynamics that unveil biological function.
Here, we discuss evolving SAXS theory, methods, and applications that extend the
field of small-angle scattering beyond simple shape characterization. SAXS,
coupled with size-exclusion chromatography (SEC-SAXS) and time-resolved
(TR-SAXS) methods, is now providing high-resolution insight into macromolecular
flexibility and ensembles, delineating biophysical landscapes, and facilitating
high-throughput library screening to assess macromolecular properties and to
create opportunities for drug discovery. Looking forward, we consider SAXS in
the integrative era of hybrid structural biology methods, its potential for
illuminating cellular supramolecular and mesoscale structures, and its capacity
to complement high-throughput bioinformatics sequencing data. As advances in the
field continue, we look forward to proliferating uses of SAXS based upon its
abilities to robustly produce mechanistic insights for biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris A Brosey
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology and Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - John A Tainer
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology and Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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13
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Analysis of tractable allosteric sites in G protein-coupled receptors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6180. [PMID: 30992500 PMCID: PMC6467999 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42618-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors represent a promising mechanism of pharmacological intervention. Dramatic developments witnessed in the structural biology of membrane proteins continue to reveal that the binding sites of allosteric modulators are widely distributed, including along protein surfaces. Here we restrict consideration to intrahelical and intracellular sites together with allosteric conformational locks, and show that the protein mapping tools FTMap and FTSite identify 83% and 88% of such experimentally confirmed allosteric sites within the three strongest sites found. The methods were also able to find partially hidden allosteric sites that were not fully formed in X-ray structures crystallized in the absence of allosteric ligands. These results confirm that the intrahelical sites capable of binding druglike allosteric modulators are among the strongest ligand recognition sites in a large fraction of GPCRs and suggest that both FTMap and FTSite are useful tools for identifying allosteric sites and to aid in the design of such compounds in a range of GPCR targets.
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14
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Stępnicki P, Kondej M, Kaczor AA. Current Concepts and Treatments of Schizophrenia. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23082087. [PMID: 30127324 PMCID: PMC6222385 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23082087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness which involves three groups of symptoms, i.e., positive, negative and cognitive, and has major public health implications. According to various sources, it affects up to 1% of the population. The pathomechanism of schizophrenia is not fully understood and current antipsychotics are characterized by severe limitations. Firstly, these treatments are efficient for about half of patients only. Secondly, they ameliorate mainly positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and thought disorders which are the core of the disease) but negative (e.g., flat affect and social withdrawal) and cognitive (e.g., learning and attention disorders) symptoms remain untreated. Thirdly, they involve severe neurological and metabolic side effects and may lead to sexual dysfunction or agranulocytosis (clozapine). It is generally agreed that the interactions of antipsychotics with various neurotransmitter receptors are responsible for their effects to treat schizophrenia symptoms. In particular, several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), mainly dopamine, serotonin and adrenaline receptors, are traditional molecular targets for antipsychotics. Comprehensive research on GPCRs resulted in the exploration of novel important signaling mechanisms of GPCRs which are crucial for drug discovery: intentionally non-selective multi-target compounds, allosteric modulators, functionally selective compounds and receptor oligomerization. In this review, we cover current hypotheses of schizophrenia, involving different neurotransmitter systems, discuss available treatments and present novel concepts in schizophrenia and its treatment, involving mainly novel mechanisms of GPCRs signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Stępnicki
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Magda Kondej
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka A Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division of Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodzki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
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