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Calderón JC, Plut E, Keller M, Cabrele C, Reiser O, Gervasio FL, Clark T. Extended Metadynamics Protocol for Binding/Unbinding Free Energies of Peptide Ligands to Class A G-Protein-Coupled Receptors. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:205-218. [PMID: 38150388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
A metadynamics protocol is presented to characterize the binding and unbinding of peptide ligands to class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The protocol expands on the one previously presented for binding and unbinding small-molecule ligands to class A GPCRs and accounts for the more demanding nature of the peptide binding-unbinding process. It applies to almost all class A GPCRs. Exemplary simulations are described for subtypes Y1R, Y2R, and Y4R of the neuropeptide Y receptor family, vasopressin binding to the vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R), and oxytocin binding to the oxytocin receptor (OTR). Binding free energies and the positions of alternative binding sites are presented and, where possible, compared with the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline C Calderón
- Computer-Chemistry-Center, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Naegelsbachstr. 25, Erlangen 91052, Germany
| | - Eva Plut
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93040, Germany
| | - Max Keller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg D-93040, Germany
| | - Chiara Cabrele
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93040, Germany
| | - Oliver Reiser
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93040, Germany
| | | | - Timothy Clark
- Computer-Chemistry-Center, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuernberg, Naegelsbachstr. 25, Erlangen 91052, Germany
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2
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Conrad M, Horn AHC, Sticht H. Computational Analysis of Histamine Protonation Effects on H 1R Binding. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093774. [PMID: 37175183 PMCID: PMC10180022 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite numerous studies investigating histamine and its receptors, the impact of histamine protonation states on binding to the histamine H1-receptor (H1R) has remained elusive. Therefore, we assessed the influence of different histamine tautomers (τ-tautomer, π-tautomer) and charge states (mono- vs. dicationic) on the interaction with the ternary histamine-H1R-Gq complex. In atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the τ-tautomer formed stable interactions with the receptor, while the π-tautomer induced a rotation of the histamine ring by 180° and formed only weaker hydrogen bonding interactions. This suggests that the τ-tautomer is more relevant for stabilization of the active ternary histamine-H1R-Gq complex. In addition to the two monocationic tautomers, the binding of dicationic histamine was investigated, whose interaction with the H1R had been observed in a previous experimental study. Our simulations showed that the dication is less compatible with the ternary histamine-H1R-Gq complex and rather induces an inactive conformation in the absence of the Gq protein. Our data thus indicate that the charge state of histamine critically affects its interactions with the H1R. Ultimately these findings might have implications for the future development of new ligands that stabilize distinct H1R activation states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Conrad
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anselm H C Horn
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen National High Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Division of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen National High Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Konieczny A, Conrad M, Ertl FJ, Gleixner J, Gattor AO, Grätz L, Schmidt MF, Neu E, Horn AHC, Wifling D, Gmeiner P, Clark T, Sticht H, Keller M. N-Terminus to Arginine Side-Chain Cyclization of Linear Peptidic Neuropeptide Y Y 4 Receptor Ligands Results in Picomolar Binding Constants. J Med Chem 2021; 64:16746-16769. [PMID: 34748345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The family of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors comprises four subtypes (Y1R, Y2R, Y4R, Y5R), which are addressed by at least three endogenous peptides, i.e., NPY, peptide YY, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP), the latter showing a preference for Y4R. A series of cyclic oligopeptidic Y4R ligands were prepared by applying a novel approach, i.e., N-terminus to arginine side-chain cyclization. Most peptides acted as Y4R partial agonists, showing up to 60-fold higher Y4R affinity compared to the linear precursor peptides. Two cyclic hexapeptides (18, 24) showed higher Y4R potency (Ca2+ aequorin assay) and, with pKi values >10, also higher Y4R affinity compared to human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP). Compounds such as 18 and 24, exhibiting considerably lower molecular weight and considerably more pronounced Y4R selectivity than PP and previously described dimeric peptidic ligands with high Y4R affinity, represent promising leads for the preparation of labeled tool compounds and might support the development of drug-like Y4R ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Konieczny
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstraße 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian J Ertl
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Gleixner
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Albert O Gattor
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian F Schmidt
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eduard Neu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Computer-Chemistry-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstraße 25, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anselm H C Horn
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstraße 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Wifling
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Timothy Clark
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Straße 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Computer-Chemistry-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nägelsbachstraße 25, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil-Fischer-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstraße 17, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Max Keller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Höring C, Conrad M, Söldner CA, Wang J, Sticht H, Strasser A, Miao Y. Specific Engineered G Protein Coupling to Histamine Receptors Revealed from Cellular Assay Experiments and Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10047. [PMID: 34576210 PMCID: PMC8467750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221810047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets of extracellular stimuli and hence occupy a key position in drug discovery. By specific and not yet fully elucidated coupling profiles with α subunits of distinct G protein families, they regulate cellular responses. The histamine H2 and H4 receptors (H2R and H4R) are prominent members of Gs- and Gi-coupled GPCRs. Nevertheless, promiscuous G protein and selective Gi signaling have been reported for the H2R and H4R, respectively, the molecular mechanism of which remained unclear. Using a combination of cellular experimental assays and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations, we investigated the coupling profiles of the H2R and H4R to engineered mini-G proteins (mG). We obtained coupling profiles of the mGs, mGsi, or mGsq proteins to the H2R and H4R from the mini-G protein recruitment assays using HEK293T cells. Compared to H2R-mGs expressing cells, histamine responses were weaker (pEC50, Emax) for H2R-mGsi and -mGsq. By contrast, the H4R selectively bound to mGsi. Similarly, in all-atom GaMD simulations, we observed a preferential binding of H2R to mGs and H4R to mGsi revealed by the structural flexibility and free energy landscapes of the complexes. Although the mG α5 helices were consistently located within the HR binding cavity, alternative binding orientations were detected in the complexes. Due to the specific residue interactions, all mG α5 helices of the H2R complexes adopted the Gs-like orientation toward the receptor transmembrane (TM) 6 domain, whereas in H4R complexes, only mGsi was in the Gi-like orientation toward TM2, which was in agreement with Gs- and Gi-coupled GPCRs structures resolved by X-ray/cryo-EM. These cellular and molecular insights support (patho)physiological profiles of the histamine receptors, especially the hitherto little studied H2R function in the brain, as well as of the pharmacological potential of H4R selective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Höring
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Conrad
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian A Söldner
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jinan Wang
- Department of Computational Biology and Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Erlangen National High Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Strasser
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Department of Computational Biology and Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
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Mehta P, Miszta P, Filipek S. Molecular Modeling of Histamine Receptors-Recent Advances in Drug Discovery. Molecules 2021; 26:1778. [PMID: 33810008 PMCID: PMC8004658 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent developments of fast reliable docking, virtual screening and other algorithms gave rise to discovery of many novel ligands of histamine receptors that could be used for treatment of allergic inflammatory disorders, central nervous system pathologies, pain, cancer and obesity. Furthermore, the pharmacological profiles of ligands clearly indicate that these receptors may be considered as targets not only for selective but also for multi-target drugs that could be used for treatment of complex disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, analysis of protein-ligand recognition in the binding site of histamine receptors and also other molecular targets has become a valuable tool in drug design toolkit. This review covers the period 2014-2020 in the field of theoretical investigations of histamine receptors mostly based on molecular modeling as well as the experimental characterization of novel ligands of these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sławomir Filipek
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland or (P.M.); (P.M.)
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Conrad M, Söldner CA, Miao Y, Sticht H. Agonist Binding and G Protein Coupling in Histamine H 2 Receptor: A Molecular Dynamics Study. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186693. [PMID: 32932742 PMCID: PMC7554837 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The histamine H2 receptor (H2R) plays an important role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion. Therefore, it is a main drug target for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux or peptic ulcer disease. However, there is as of yet no 3D-structural information available hampering a mechanistic understanding of H2R. Therefore, we created a model of the histamine-H2R-Gs complex based on the structure of the ternary complex of the β2-adrenoceptor and investigated the conformational stability of this active GPCR conformation. Since the physiologically relevant motions with respect to ligand binding and conformational changes of GPCRs can only partly be assessed on the timescale of conventional MD (cMD) simulations, we also applied metadynamics and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations. A multiple walker metadynamics simulation in combination with cMD was applied for the determination of the histamine binding mode. The preferential binding pose detected is in good agreement with previous data from site directed mutagenesis and provides a basis for rational ligand design. Inspection of the H2R-Gs interface reveals a network of polar interactions that may contribute to H2R coupling selectivity. The cMD and GaMD simulations demonstrate that the active conformation is retained on a μs-timescale in the ternary histamine-H2R-Gs complex and in a truncated complex that contains only Gs helix α5 instead of the entire G protein. In contrast, histamine alone is unable to stabilize the active conformation, which is in line with previous studies of other GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Conrad
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Centrum, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (M.C.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Christian A. Söldner
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Centrum, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (M.C.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Yinglong Miao
- Department of Computational Biology and Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA;
| | - Heinrich Sticht
- Bioinformatik, Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Centrum, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Fahrstraße 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (M.C.); (C.A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Mast Cell Degranulation Decreases Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Aortic Gene Expression and Systemic Levels of Interleukin-6 In Vivo. Mediators Inflamm 2019; 2019:3856360. [PMID: 31780858 PMCID: PMC6855011 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3856360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mast cells play an important role in immunomodulation and in the maintenance of vascular integrity. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the key biomarkers and therapeutic target in systemic vasculitis. The objective of the current study is to describe the role of mast cells in arterial IL-6 homeostasis. Eight- to ten-week-old male C57BL/6 (wild-type) mice were injected with either (a) saline, (b) compound 48/80 (a systemic mast cell degranulating agent), (c) lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or (d) a combination of C48/80 and LPS. Twenty-four hours after the injections, mice were sacrificed and serum samples and aortic tissues were analyzed for determining inflammatory response and cytokine expression profile. The results revealed that induction of mast cell degranulation significantly lowers serum IL-6 levels and aortic expression of IL-6 in LPS-treated mice. Significantly higher aortic expression of toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) and TNF-α was seen in the LPS and LPS+C48/80 groups of mice compared to controls. Aortic expression of TLR-4 was significantly decreased in LPS+C48/80 compared to C48/80 alone. LPS+C48/80-treated mice presented with a 3-fold higher aortic expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS-1) compared to saline-injected groups. The inhibition of LPS-induced increase in serum IL-6 levels by mast cell degranulation was not seen in H1R knockout mice which suggests that mast cell-derived histamine acting through H1R may participate in the regulatory process. To examine whether the mast cell-mediated downregulation of LPS-induced IL-6 production is transient or cumulative in nature, wild-type mice were injected serially over a period of 10 days (5 injections) and serum cytokine levels were quantified. We found no significant differences in serum IL-6 levels between any of the groups. While mice injected with C48/80 or LPS had higher IL-10 compared to vehicle-injected mice, there was no difference between C48/80- and LPS+C48/80-injected mice. In conclusion, in an in vivo setting, mast cells appear to partially and transiently regulate systemic IL-6 homeostasis. This effect may be regulated through increased systemic IL-10 and/or aortic overexpression of SOCS-1.
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A Metadynamics-Based Protocol for the Determination of GPCR-Ligand Binding Modes. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20081970. [PMID: 31013635 PMCID: PMC6514967 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20081970] [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: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a main drug target and therefore a hot topic in pharmaceutical research. One important prerequisite to understand how a certain ligand affects a GPCR is precise knowledge about its binding mode and the specific underlying interactions. If no crystal structure of the respective complex is available, computational methods can be used to deduce the binding site. One of them are metadynamics simulations which have the advantage of an enhanced sampling compared to conventional molecular dynamics simulations. However, the enhanced sampling of higher-energy states hampers identification of the preferred binding mode. Here, we present a novel protocol based on clustering of multiple walker metadynamics simulations which allows identifying the preferential binding mode from such conformational ensembles. We tested this strategy for three different model systems namely the histamine H1 receptor in combination with its physiological ligand histamine, as well as the β2 adrenoceptor with its agonist adrenaline and its antagonist alprenolol. For all three systems, the proposed protocol was able to reproduce the correct binding mode known from the literature suggesting that the approach can more generally be applied to the prediction of GPCR ligand binding in future.
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