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Stampelou M, Ladds G, Kolocouris A. Computational Workflow for Refining AlphaFold Models in Drug Design Using Kinetic and Thermodynamic Binding Calculations: A Case Study for the Unresolved Inactive Human Adenosine A 3 Receptor. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:914-936. [PMID: 38236582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05986] [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: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
A structure-based drug design pipeline that considers both thermodynamic and kinetic binding data of ligands against a receptor will enable the computational design of improved drug molecules. For unresolved GPCR-ligand complexes, a workflow that can apply both thermodynamic and kinetic binding data in combination with alpha-fold (AF)-derived or other homology models and experimentally resolved binding modes of relevant ligands in GPCR-homologs needs to be tested. Here, as test case, we studied a congeneric set of ligands that bind to a structurally unresolved G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the inactive human adenosine A3 receptor (hA3R). We tested three available homology models from which two have been generated from experimental structures of hA1R or hA2AR and one model was a multistate alphafold 2 (AF2)-derived model. We applied alchemical calculations with thermodynamic integration coupled with molecular dynamics (TI/MD) simulations to calculate the experimental relative binding free energies and residence time (τ)-random accelerated MD (τ-RAMD) simulations to calculate the relative residence times (RTs) for antagonists. While the TI/MD calculations produced, for the three homology models, good Pearson correlation coefficients, correspondingly, r = 0.74, 0.62, and 0.67 and mean unsigned error (mue) values of 0.94, 1.31, and 0.81 kcal mol-1, the τ-RAMD method showed r = 0.92 and 0.52 for the first two models but failed to produce accurate results for the multistate AF2-derived model. With subsequent optimization of the AF2-derived model by reorientation of the side chain of R1735.34 located in the extracellular loop 2 (EL2) that blocked ligand's unbinding, the computational model showed r = 0.84 for kinetic data and improved performance for thermodynamic data (r = 0.81, mue = 0.56 kcal mol-1). Overall, after refining the multistate AF2 model with physics-based tools, we were able to show a strong correlation between predicted and experimental ligand relative residence times and affinities, achieving a level of accuracy comparable to an experimental structure. The computational workflow used can be applied to other receptors, helping to rank candidate drugs in a congeneric series and enabling the prioritization of leads with stronger binding affinities and longer residence times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Stampelou
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Graham Ladds
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K
| | - Antonios Kolocouris
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
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Miranda-Pastoriza D, Bernárdez R, Azuaje J, Prieto-Díaz R, Majellaro M, Tamhankar AV, Koenekoop L, González A, Gioé-Gallo C, Mallo-Abreu A, Brea J, Loza MI, García-Rey A, García-Mera X, Gutiérrez-de-Terán H, Sotelo E. Exploring Non-orthosteric Interactions with a Series of Potent and Selective A 3 Antagonists. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:243-249. [PMID: 35178181 PMCID: PMC8842279 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
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A library of potent
and highly A3AR selective pyrimidine-based
compounds was designed to explore non-orthosteric interactions within
this receptor. Starting from a prototypical orthosteric A3AR antagonist (ISVY130), the structure-based design explored functionalized
residues at the exocyclic amide L1 region and aimed to provide additional
interactions outside the A3AR orthosteric site. The novel
ligands were assembled through an efficient and succinct synthetic
approach, resulting in compounds that retain the A3AR potent
and selective profile while improving the solubility of the original
scaffold. The experimentally demonstrated tolerability of the L1 region
to structural functionalization was further assessed by molecular
dynamics simulations, giving hints of the non-orthosteric interactions
explored by these series. The results pave the way to explore newly
functionalized A3AR ligands, including covalent drugs and
molecular probes for diagnostic and delivery purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rubén Prieto-Díaz
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | | | - Ashish V. Tamhankar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Lucien Koenekoop
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Alejandro González
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS). Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | - José Brea
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS). Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - M. Isabel Loza
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS). Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | | | - Hugo Gutiérrez-de-Terán
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, SciLifeLab, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
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Saini A, Patel R, Gaba S, Singh G, Gupta GD, Monga V. Adenosine receptor antagonists: Recent advances and therapeutic perspective. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 227:113907. [PMID: 34695776 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine is an endogenous purine-based nucleoside expressed nearly in all body tissues. It regulates various body functions by activating four G-protein coupled receptors, A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. These receptors are widely acknowledged as drug targets for treating different neurological, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. Although numerous adenosine receptor inhibitors have been developed worldwide, achieving target selectivity is still a big hurdle in drug development. However, the identification of specific radioligands-based affinity assay, fluorescent ligands, and MS-based ligand assay have contributed to the development of selective and potent adenosine ligands. In recent years various small heterocyclic-based molecules have shown some promising results. Istradefylline has been approved for treating Parkinson's in Japan, while preladenant, tozadenant, CVT-6883, MRS-1523, and many more are under different phases of clinical development. The present review is focused on the quest to develop potent and selective adenosine inhibitors from 2013 to early 2021 by various research groups. The review also highlights their biological activity, selectivity, structure-activity relationship, molecular docking, and mechanistic studies. A special emphsesis on drug designing strategies has been also given the manuscript. The comprehensive compilation of research work carried out in the field will provide inevitable scope for designing and developing novel adenosine inhibitors with improved selectivity and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Saini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Rajiv Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Sobhi Gaba
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Gurpreet Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
| | - G D Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India
| | - Vikramdeep Monga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, GT Road, Ghal Kalan, Moga, 142001, Punjab, India.
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Barkan K, Lagarias P, Stampelou M, Stamatis D, Hoare S, Safitri D, Klotz KN, Vrontaki E, Kolocouris A, Ladds G. Pharmacological characterisation of novel adenosine A 3 receptor antagonists. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20781. [PMID: 33247159 PMCID: PMC7695835 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74521-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adenosine A3 receptor (A3R) belongs to a family of four adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes which all play distinct roles throughout the body. A3R antagonists have been described as potential treatments for numerous diseases including asthma. Given the similarity between (adenosine receptors) orthosteric binding sites, obtaining highly selective antagonists is a challenging but critical task. Here we screen 39 potential A3R, antagonists using agonist-induced inhibition of cAMP. Positive hits were assessed for AR subtype selectivity through cAMP accumulation assays. The antagonist affinity was determined using Schild analysis (pA2 values) and fluorescent ligand binding. Structure-activity relationship investigations revealed that loss of the 3-(dichlorophenyl)-isoxazolyl moiety or the aromatic nitrogen heterocycle with nitrogen at α-position to the carbon of carboximidamide group significantly attenuated K18 antagonistic potency. Mutagenic studies supported by molecular dynamic simulations combined with Molecular Mechanics-Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area calculations identified the residues important for binding in the A3R orthosteric site. We demonstrate that K18, which contains a 3-(dichlorophenyl)-isoxazole group connected through carbonyloxycarboximidamide fragment with a 1,3-thiazole ring, is a specific A3R (< 1 µM) competitive antagonist. Finally, we introduce a model that enables estimates of the equilibrium binding affinity for rapidly disassociating compounds from real-time fluorescent ligand-binding studies. These results demonstrate the pharmacological characterisation of a selective competitive A3R antagonist and the description of its orthosteric binding mode. Our findings may provide new insights for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry Barkan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
| | - Panagiotis Lagarias
- Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Margarita Stampelou
- Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Stamatis
- Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Sam Hoare
- Pharmechanics LLC, 14 Sunnyside Drive South, Owego, NY, 13827, USA
| | - Dewi Safitri
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK
- Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, 40534, Indonesia
| | - Karl-Norbert Klotz
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 9, 97078, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Eleni Vrontaki
- Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios Kolocouris
- Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
| | - Graham Ladds
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1PD, UK.
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Structure-Based Design of Potent and Selective Ligands at the Four Adenosine Receptors. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22111945. [PMID: 29125553 PMCID: PMC6150288 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22111945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The four receptors that signal for adenosine, A1, A2A, A2B and A3 ARs, belong to the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They mediate a number of (patho)physiological functions and have attracted the interest of the biopharmaceutical sector for decades as potential drug targets. The many crystal structures of the A2A, and lately the A1 ARs, allow for the use of advanced computational, structure-based ligand design methodologies. Over the last decade, we have assessed the efficient synthesis of novel ligands specifically addressed to each of the four ARs. We herein review and update the results of this program with particular focus on molecular dynamics (MD) and free energy perturbation (FEP) protocols. The first in silico mutagenesis on the A1AR here reported allows understanding the specificity and high affinity of the xanthine-antagonist 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX). On the A2AAR, we demonstrate how FEP simulations can distinguish the conformational selectivity of a recent series of partial agonists. These novel results are complemented with the revision of the first series of enantiospecific antagonists on the A2BAR, and the use of FEP as a tool for bioisosteric design on the A3AR.
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Azuaje J, Jespers W, Yaziji V, Mallo A, Majellaro M, Caamaño O, Loza MI, Cadavid MI, Brea J, Åqvist J, Sotelo E, Gutiérrez-de-Terán H. Effect of Nitrogen Atom Substitution in A3 Adenosine Receptor Binding: N-(4,6-Diarylpyridin-2-yl)acetamides as Potent and Selective Antagonists. J Med Chem 2017; 60:7502-7511. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Willem Jespers
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Johan Åqvist
- Department
of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
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7
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Kumar S, Lim SM, Ramasamy K, Vasudevan M, Shah SAA, Narasimhan B. Bis-pyrimidine acetamides: design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Chem Cent J 2017; 11:80. [PMID: 29086907 PMCID: PMC5548699 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-017-0312-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past few years, increased resistance of microorganisms towards antimicrobial agents become a serious health problem, so there is a need for the discovery of new antimicrobial agents. On the other hand, bis-pyrimidines possess various types of biological activity. In view of this, in the present study we have designed and synthesized a new series of bis-pyrimidine acetamides by Claisen-Schmidt condensation and screened for its in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer activities. RESULTS The synthesized bis-pyrimidine acetamide derivatives were confirmed by IR, 1H/13C-NMR, Mass spectral studies as well C, H, N analyses. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis); Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) bacterial and fungal (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) strains by tube dilution technique and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) recorded in µmol/mL was comparable to reference drugs, cefadroxil (antibacterial) and fluconazole (antifungal). The in vitro anticancer activity (IC50 value) determined against human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cancer cell line by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) technique and 5-fluorouracil used as reference drug. CONCLUSIONS The biological study demonstrated that compounds 3, 13, 16, 17 and 18 were found to be most active antimicrobial agents with best MIC values than the cefadroxil (antibacterial) and fluconazole (antifungal) and compounds 12, 16 and 18 found to have better anticancer activity against human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cancer cell line with best IC50 value than the 5-fluorouracil (anticancer). Graphical abstract SAR of bis-pyrimidine acetamides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjiv Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001 India
| | - Siong Meng Lim
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
- Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group, Pharmaceutical Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
| | - Kalavathy Ramasamy
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
- Collaborative Drug Discovery Research (CDDR) Group, Pharmaceutical Life Sciences Community of Research, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
| | - Mani Vasudevan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, 51452 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Adnan Ali Shah
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia
- Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Products Discovery (AuRIns), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor D. E Malaysia
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Madanagopal A, Periandy S, Gayathri P, Ramalingam S, Xavier S. Molecular structure activity on pharmaceutical applications of Phenacetin using spectroscopic investigation. J Mol Struct 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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10
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Cavasotto CN, Palomba D. Expanding the horizons of G protein-coupled receptor structure-based ligand discovery and optimization using homology models. Chem Commun (Camb) 2015; 51:13576-94. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cc05050b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
We show the key role of structural homology models in GPCR structure-based lead discovery and optimization, highlighting methodological aspects, recent progress and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio N. Cavasotto
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA) - CONICET - Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
| | - Damián Palomba
- Instituto de Investigación en Biomedicina de Buenos Aires (IBioBA) - CONICET - Partner Institute of the Max Planck Society
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
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Congreve M, Dias JM, Marshall FH. Structure-based drug design for G protein-coupled receptors. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2014; 53:1-63. [PMID: 24418607 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63380-4.00001-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of the structural biology of G protein-coupled receptors has undergone a transformation over the past 5 years. New protein-ligand complexes are described almost monthly in high profile journals. Appreciation of how small molecules and natural ligands bind to their receptors has the potential to impact enormously how medicinal chemists approach this major class of receptor targets. An outline of the key topics in this field and some recent examples of structure- and fragment-based drug design are described. A table is presented with example views of each G protein-coupled receptor for which there is a published X-ray structure, including interactions with small molecule antagonists, partial and full agonists. The possible implications of these new data for drug design are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles Congreve
- Heptares Therapeutics Ltd, BioPark, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - João M Dias
- Heptares Therapeutics Ltd, BioPark, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona H Marshall
- Heptares Therapeutics Ltd, BioPark, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
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