1
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Wei S, Pour NG, Tiruvadi-Krishnan S, Ray AP, Thakur N, Eddy MT, Lamichhane R. Single-molecule visualization of human A 2A adenosine receptor activation by a G protein and constitutively activating mutations. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1218. [PMID: 38036689 PMCID: PMC10689853 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05603-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations that constitutively activate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), known as constitutively activating mutations (CAMs), modify cell signaling and interfere with drugs, resulting in diseases with limited treatment options. We utilize fluorescence imaging at the single-molecule level to visualize the dynamic process of CAM-mediated activation of the human A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) in real time. We observe an active-state population for all CAMs without agonist stimulation. Importantly, activating mutations significantly increase the population of an intermediate state crucial for receptor activation, notably distinct from the addition of a partner G protein. Activation kinetics show that while CAMs increase the frequency of transitions to the intermediate state, mutations altering sodium sensitivity increase transitions away from it. These findings indicate changes in GPCR function caused by mutations may be predicted based on whether they favor or disfavor formation of an intermediate state, providing a framework for designing receptors with altered functions or therapies that target intermediate states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushu Wei
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Niloofar Gopal Pour
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sriram Tiruvadi-Krishnan
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Arka Prabha Ray
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Naveen Thakur
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew T Eddy
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Rajan Lamichhane
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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2
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Lees JA, Dias JM, Rajamohan F, Fortin JP, O'Connor R, Kong JX, Hughes EAG, Fisher EL, Tuttle JB, Lovett G, Kormos BL, Unwalla RJ, Zhang L, Dechert Schmitt AM, Zhou D, Moran M, Stevens KA, Fennell KF, Varghese AE, Maxwell A, Cote EE, Zhang Y, Han S. An inverse agonist of orphan receptor GPR61 acts by a G protein-competitive allosteric mechanism. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5938. [PMID: 37741852 PMCID: PMC10517971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41646-3] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR61 is an orphan GPCR related to biogenic amine receptors. Its association with phenotypes relating to appetite makes it of interest as a druggable target to treat disorders of metabolism and body weight, such as obesity and cachexia. To date, the lack of structural information or a known biological ligand or tool compound has hindered comprehensive efforts to study GPR61 structure and function. Here, we report a structural characterization of GPR61, in both its active-like complex with heterotrimeric G protein and in its inactive state. Moreover, we report the discovery of a potent and selective small-molecule inverse agonist against GPR61 and structural elucidation of its allosteric binding site and mode of action. These findings offer mechanistic insights into an orphan GPCR while providing both a structural framework and tool compound to support further studies of GPR61 function and modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Lees
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - João M Dias
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca O'Connor
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Jimmy X Kong
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emily A G Hughes
- Internal Medicine Research Unit, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ethan L Fisher
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Jamison B Tuttle
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gabrielle Lovett
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bethany L Kormos
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Lei Zhang
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Dahui Zhou
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Michael Moran
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Andrew Maxwell
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Emmaline E Cote
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Internal Medicine, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seungil Han
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA.
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3
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Bueschbell B, Magalhães PR, Barreto CA, Melo R, Schiedel AC, Machuqueiro M, Moreira IS. The World of GPCR dimers - Mapping dopamine receptor D 2 homodimers in different activation states and configuration arrangements. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4336-4353. [PMID: 37711187 PMCID: PMC10497915 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to dimerize, but the molecular and structural basis of GPCR dimers is not well understood. In this study, we developed a computational framework to generate models of symmetric and asymmetric GPCR dimers using different monomer activation states and identified their most likely interfaces with molecular details. We chose the dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) homodimer as a case study because of its biological relevance and the availability of structural information. Our results showed that transmembrane domains 4 and 5 (TM4 and TM5) are mostly found at the dimer interface of the D2R dimer and that these interfaces have a subset of key residues that are mostly nonpolar from TM4 and TM5, which was in line with experimental studies. In addition, TM2 and TM3 appear to be relevant for D2R dimers. In some cases, the inactive configuration is unaffected by the partnered protomer, whereas in others, the active protomer adopts the properties of an inactive receptor. Additionally, the β-arrestin configuration displayed the properties of an active receptor in the absence of an agonist, suggesting that a switch to another meta-state during dimerization occurred. Our findings are consistent with the experimental data, and this method can be adapted to study heterodimers and potentially extended to include additional proteins such as G proteins or β-arrestins. In summary, this approach provides insight into the impact of the conformational status of partnered protomers on the overall quaternary GPCR macromolecular structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bueschbell
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIs-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro R. Magalhães
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8 bdg, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos A.V. Barreto
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIs-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Melo
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Anke C. Schiedel
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Miguel Machuqueiro
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8 bdg, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Irina S. Moreira
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
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4
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Oliphant S, Morris RH. Density Functional Theory Study on the Selective Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones over Their Reductions to Alcohols Using Sodium Triacetoxyborohydride. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:30554-30564. [PMID: 36061668 PMCID: PMC9434773 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Reductive amination is one of the most important methods to synthesize amines, having a wide application in the pharmaceutical, fine chemicals, and materials industries. In general, the reaction begins with dehydration between a carbonyl compound and an amine compound, forming an imine, which is then reduced to an alkylated amine product. Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (STAB) is a popular choice for the reducing agent as it shows selectivity for imines over aldehydes and ketones, which is particularly important in direct reductive amination where the imine and carbonyl compounds are present concurrently. Here, we analyze the reaction pathways of acid-catalyzed direct reductive amination in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) with acetaldehyde and methylamine. We find that the transition states for the formation and subsequent reduction of Z-methylethylideneimine (resultant aldimine from acetaldehyde and methylamine) have lower energies than the reduction of acetaldehyde. Transition state structures for the hydride transfers are organized by the Lewis-acidic sodium ion. Additionally, reduction reactions with formaldehyde and acetone and their imine derivatives (with methylamine) are investigated, and again, the hydride transfer to the resultant aldimine or ketimine is lower in energy than that of their parent carbonyl compound.
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5
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Cancer-Associated Mutations of the Adenosine A2A Receptor Have Diverse Influences on Ligand Binding and Receptor Functions. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154676. [PMID: 35897852 PMCID: PMC9331671 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154676] [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: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AAR) is a class A G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). It is an immune checkpoint in the tumor micro-environment and has become an emerging target for cancer treatment. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of cancer-patient-derived A2AAR mutations on ligand binding and receptor functions. The wild-type A2AAR and 15 mutants identified by Genomic Data Commons (GDC) in human cancers were expressed in HEK293T cells. Firstly, we found that the binding affinity for agonist NECA was decreased in six mutants but increased for the V275A mutant. Mutations A165V and A265V decreased the binding affinity for antagonist ZM241385. Secondly, we found that the potency of NECA (EC50) in an impedance-based cell-morphology assay was mostly correlated with the binding affinity for the different mutants. Moreover, S132L and H278N were found to shift the A2AAR towards the inactive state. Importantly, we found that ZM241385 could not inhibit the activation of V275A and P285L stimulated by NECA. Taken together, the cancer-associated mutations of A2AAR modulated ligand binding and receptor functions. This study provides fundamental insights into the structure–activity relationship of the A2AAR and provides insights for A2AAR-related personalized treatment in cancer.
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6
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Chen G, Xu J, Inoue A, Schmidt MF, Bai C, Lu Q, Gmeiner P, Liu Z, Du Y. Activation and allosteric regulation of the orphan GPR88-Gi1 signaling complex. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2375. [PMID: 35501348 PMCID: PMC9061749 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30081-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractGPR88 is an orphan class A G-protein-coupled receptor that is highly expressed in the striatum and regulates diverse brain and behavioral functions. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the human GPR88-Gi1 signaling complex with or without a synthetic agonist (1R, 2R)-2-PCCA. We show that (1R, 2R)-2-PCCA is an allosteric modulator binding to a herein identified pocket formed by the cytoplasmic ends of transmembrane segments 5, 6, and the extreme C terminus of the α5 helix of Gi1. We also identify an electron density in the extracellular orthosteric site that may represent a putative endogenous ligand of GPR88. These structures, together with mutagenesis studies and an inactive state model obtained from metadynamics simulations, reveal a unique activation mechanism for GPR88 with a set of distinctive structure features and a water-mediated polar network. Overall, our results provide a structural framework for understanding the ligand binding, activation and signaling mechanism of GPR88, and will facilitate the innovative drug discovery for neuropsychiatric disorders and for deorphanization of this receptor.
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7
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Wei S, Thakur N, Ray AP, Jin B, Obeng S, McCurdy CR, McMahon LR, Gutiérrez-de-Terán H, Eddy MT, Lamichhane R. Slow conformational dynamics of the human A 2A adenosine receptor are temporally ordered. Structure 2022; 30:329-337.e5. [PMID: 34895472 PMCID: PMC8897252 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
A more complete depiction of protein energy landscapes includes the identification of different function-related conformational states and the determination of the pathways connecting them. We used total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging to investigate the conformational dynamics of the human A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR), a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), at the single-molecule level. Slow, reversible conformational exchange was observed among three different fluorescence emission states populated for agonist-bound A2AAR. Transitions among these states predominantly occurred in a specific order, and exchange between inactive and active-like conformations proceeded through an intermediate state. Models derived from molecular dynamics simulations with available A2AAR structures rationalized the relative fluorescence emission intensities for the highest and lowest emission states but not the transition state. This suggests that the functionally critical intermediate state required to achieve activation is not currently visualized among available A2AAR structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushu Wei
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA
| | - Naveen Thakur
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 126 Sisler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Arka P Ray
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 126 Sisler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Beining Jin
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 126 Sisler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samuel Obeng
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Christopher R McCurdy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Translational Drug Development Core, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lance R McMahon
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Hugo Gutiérrez-de-Terán
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, B.M.C., Box 596, Uppsala 751 24, Sweden
| | - Matthew T Eddy
- Department of Chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, 126 Sisler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Rajan Lamichhane
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tennessee, 1311 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37932, USA.
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8
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Do HN, Haldane A, Levy RM, Miao Y. Unique features of different classes of G-protein-coupled receptors revealed from sequence coevolutionary and structural analysis. Proteins 2022; 90:601-614. [PMID: 34599827 PMCID: PMC8738117 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of human membrane proteins and represent the primary targets of about one third of currently marketed drugs. Despite the critical importance, experimental structures have been determined for only a limited portion of GPCRs and functional mechanisms of GPCRs remain poorly understood. Here, we have constructed novel sequence coevolutionary models of the A and B classes of GPCRs and compared them with residue contact frequency maps generated with available experimental structures. Significant portions of structural residue contacts were successfully detected in the sequence-based covariational models. "Exception" residue contacts predicted from sequence coevolutionary models but not available structures added missing links that were important for GPCR activation and allosteric modulation. Moreover, we identified distinct residue contacts involving different sets of functional motifs for GPCR activation, such as the Na+ pocket, CWxP, DRY, PIF, and NPxxY motifs in the class A and the HETx and PxxG motifs in the class B. Finally, we systematically uncovered critical residue contacts tuned by allosteric modulation in the two classes of GPCRs, including those from the activation motifs and particularly the extracellular and intracellular loops in class A GPCRs. These findings provide a promising framework for rational design of ligands to regulate GPCR activation and allosteric modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung N Do
- The Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047
| | - Allan Haldane
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122,Corresponding authors: and
| | - Ronald M Levy
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122
| | - Yinglong Miao
- The Center for Computational Biology and Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047,Corresponding authors: and
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9
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Hot Spot Mutagenesis Improves the Functional Expression of Unique Mammalian Odorant Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010277. [PMID: 35008703 PMCID: PMC8745346 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate animals detect odors through olfactory receptors (ORs), members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Due to the difficulty in the heterologous expression of ORs, studies of their odor molecule recognition mechanisms have progressed poorly. Functional expression of most ORs in heterologous cells requires the co-expression of their chaperone proteins, receptor transporting proteins (RTPs). Yet, some ORs were found to be functionally expressed without the support of RTP (RTP-independent ORs). In this study, we investigated whether amino acid residues highly conserved among RTP-independent ORs improve the functional expression of ORs in heterologous cells. We found that a single amino acid substitution at one of two sites (NBW3.39 and 3.43) in their conserved residues (E and L, respectively) significantly improved the functional expression of ORs in heterologous cells. E3.39 and L3.43 also enhanced the membrane expression of RTP-dependent ORs in the absence of RTP. These changes did not alter the odorant responsiveness of the tested ORs. Our results showed that specific sites within transmembrane domains regulate the membrane expression of some ORs.
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10
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Thom C, Ehrenmann J, Vacca S, Waltenspühl Y, Schöppe J, Medalia O, Plückthun A. Structures of neurokinin 1 receptor in complex with G q and G s proteins reveal substance P binding mode and unique activation features. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabk2872. [PMID: 34878828 PMCID: PMC8654284 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) is involved in inflammation and pain transmission. This pathophysiologically important G protein–coupled receptor is predominantly activated by its cognate agonist substance P (SP) but also by the closely related neurokinins A and B. Here, we report cryo–electron microscopy structures of SP-bound NK1R in complex with its primary downstream signal mediators, Gq and Gs. Our structures reveal how a polar network at the extracellular, solvent-exposed receptor surface shapes the orthosteric pocket and that NK1R adopts a noncanonical active-state conformation with an interface for G protein binding, which is distinct from previously reported structures. Detailed comparisons with antagonist-bound NK1R crystal structures reveal that insurmountable antagonists induce a distinct and long-lasting receptor conformation that sterically blocks SP binding. Together, our structures provide important structural insights into ligand and G protein promiscuity, the lack of basal signaling, and agonist- and antagonist-induced conformations in the neurokinin receptor family.
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11
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Jespers W, Heitman LH, IJzerman AP, Sotelo E, van Westen GJP, Åqvist J, Gutiérrez-de-Terán H. Deciphering conformational selectivity in the A2A adenosine G protein-coupled receptor by free energy simulations. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009152. [PMID: 34818333 PMCID: PMC8654218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmembranal G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) transduce extracellular chemical signals to the cell, via conformational change from a resting (inactive) to an active (canonically bound to a G-protein) conformation. Receptor activation is normally modulated by extracellular ligand binding, but mutations in the receptor can also shift this equilibrium by stabilizing different conformational states. In this work, we built structure-energetic relationships of receptor activation based on original thermodynamic cycles that represent the conformational equilibrium of the prototypical A2A adenosine receptor (AR). These cycles were solved with efficient free energy perturbation (FEP) protocols, allowing to distinguish the pharmacological profile of different series of A2AAR agonists with different efficacies. The modulatory effects of point mutations on the basal activity of the receptor or on ligand efficacies could also be detected. This methodology can guide GPCR ligand design with tailored pharmacological properties, or allow the identification of mutations that modulate receptor activation with potential clinical implications. The design of new ligands as chemical modulators of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has benefited considerably during the last years of advances in both the structural and computational biology disciplines. Within the last area, the use of free energy calculation methods has arisen as a computational tool to predict ligand affinities to explain structure-affinity relationships and guide lead optimization campaigns. However, our comprehension of the structural determinants of ligands with different pharmacological profile is scarce, and knowledge of the chemical modifications associated with an agonistic or antagonistic profile would be extremely valuable. We herein report an original implementation of the thermodynamic cycles associated with free energy perturbation (FEP) simulations, to mimic the conformational equilibrium between active and inactive GPCRs, and establish a framework to describe pharmacological profiles as a function of the ligands selectivity for a given receptor conformation. The advantage of this method resides into its simplicity of use, and the only consideration of active and inactive conformations of the receptor, with no simulation of the transitions between them. This model can accurately predict the pharmacological profile of series of full and partial agonists as opposed to antagonists of the A2A adenosine receptor, and moreover, how certain mutations associated with modulation of basal activity can influence this pharmacological profiles, which enables our understanding of such clinically relevant mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Jespers
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center (BMC), Uppsala, Sweden
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (WJ); (HGT)
| | - Laura H. Heitman
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Leiden, Leiden
| | - Adriaan P. IJzerman
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eddy Sotelo
- Centro Singular de Investigación en Química Biolóxica y Materiais Moleculares (CIQUS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultade de Farmacia, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gerard J. P. van Westen
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Åqvist
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center (BMC), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hugo Gutiérrez-de-Terán
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Biomedical Center (BMC), Uppsala, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratories, BMC, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail: (WJ); (HGT)
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12
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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: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [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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13
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Zou R, Wang X, Li S, Chan HCS, Vogel H, Yuan S. The role of metal ions in G protein‐coupled receptor signalling and drug discovery. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rongfeng Zou
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- AlphaMol Science Ltd Shenzhen China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - Shu Li
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - H. C. Stephen Chan
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
| | - Horst Vogel
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- AlphaMol Science Ltd Shenzhen China
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Shuguang Yuan
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen China
- AlphaMol Science Ltd Shenzhen China
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14
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Lu Y, Liu H, Yang D, Zhong L, Xin Y, Zhao S, Wang MW, Zhou Q, Shui W. Affinity Mass Spectrometry-Based Fragment Screening Identified a New Negative Allosteric Modulator of the Adenosine A 2A Receptor Targeting the Sodium Ion Pocket. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:991-1002. [PMID: 34048655 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Allosteric ligands provide new opportunities to modulate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) function and present therapeutic benefits over orthosteric molecules. Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) can inhibit the activation of a receptor and downstream signal transduction. Screening NAMs for a GPCR target is particularly challenging because of the difficulty in distinguishing NAMs from antagonists bound to the orthosteric site as they both show inhibitory effects in receptor signaling assays. Here we report an affinity mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach tailored to screening potential NAMs of a GPCR target especially from fragment libraries. Compared to regular surface plasmon resonance or NMR-based methods for fragment screening, our approach features a reduction of the protein and compound consumption by 2-4 orders of magnitude and an increase in the data acquisition speed by 2-3 orders of magnitude. Our affinity MS-based fragment screening led to the identification of a new NAM of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AAR) bearing an unprecedented azetidine moiety predicted to occupy the allosteric sodium binding site. Molecular dynamics simulations, ligand structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, and in-solution NMR analyses further revealed the unique binding mode and antagonistic property of this compound that differs considerably from HMA (5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride), a well-characterized NAM of A2AAR. Taken together, our work would facilitate fragment-based screening of allosteric modulators, as well as guide the design of novel NAMs acting at the sodium ion pocket of class A GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongyue Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- The National Center for Drug Screening and the CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Li Zhong
- The National Center for Drug Screening and the CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ye Xin
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- The National Center for Drug Screening and the CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wenqing Shui
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
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15
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Navarro G, Gonzalez A, Campanacci S, Rivas-Santisteban R, Reyes-Resina I, Casajuana-Martin N, Cordomí A, Pardo L, Franco R. Experimental and computational analysis of biased agonism on full-length and a C-terminally truncated adenosine A 2A receptor. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2723-2732. [PMID: 33101610 PMCID: PMC7550916 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biased agonism, the ability of agonists to differentially activate downstream signaling pathways by stabilizing specific receptor conformations, is a key issue for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. The C-terminal domain might influence this functional selectivity of GPCRs as it engages G proteins, GPCR kinases, β-arrestins, and several other proteins. Thus, the aim of this paper is to compare the agonist-dependent selectivity for intracellular pathways in a heterologous system expressing the full-length (A2AR) and a C-tail truncated (A2AΔ40R lacking the last 40 amino acids) adenosine A2A receptor, a GPCR that is already targeted in Parkinson’s disease using a first-in-class drug. Experimental data such as ligand binding, cAMP production, β-arrestin recruitment, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and dynamic mass redistribution assays, which correspond to different aspects of signal transduction, were measured upon the action of structurally diverse compounds (the agonists adenosine, NECA, CGS-21680, PSB-0777 and LUF-5834 and the SCH-58261 antagonist) in cells expressing A2AR and A2AΔ40R. The results show that taking cAMP levels and the endogenous adenosine agonist as references, the main difference in bias was obtained with PSB-0777 and LUF-5834. The C-terminus is dispensable for both G-protein and β-arrestin recruitment and also for MAPK activation. Unrestrained molecular dynamics simulations, at the μs timescale, were used to understand the structural arrangements of the binding cavity, triggered by these chemically different agonists, facilitating G protein binding with different efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Navarro
- Dept. Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Gonzalez
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain d Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefano Campanacci
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine. School of Biology. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
| | - Rafael Rivas-Santisteban
- Dept. Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine. School of Biology. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
| | - Irene Reyes-Resina
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine. School of Biology. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
| | - Nil Casajuana-Martin
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain d Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arnau Cordomí
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain d Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain d Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- School of Chemistry. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona. Spain
- Corresponding author at: School of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Torrens-Fontanals M, Stepniewski TM, Aranda-García D, Morales-Pastor A, Medel-Lacruz B, Selent J. How Do Molecular Dynamics Data Complement Static Structural Data of GPCRs. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E5933. [PMID: 32824756 PMCID: PMC7460635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are implicated in nearly every physiological process in the human body and therefore represent an important drug targeting class. Advances in X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have provided multiple static structures of GPCRs in complex with various signaling partners. However, GPCR functionality is largely determined by their flexibility and ability to transition between distinct structural conformations. Due to this dynamic nature, a static snapshot does not fully explain the complexity of GPCR signal transduction. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations offer the opportunity to simulate the structural motions of biological processes at atomic resolution. Thus, this technique can incorporate the missing information on protein flexibility into experimentally solved structures. Here, we review the contribution of MD simulations to complement static structural data and to improve our understanding of GPCR physiology and pharmacology, as well as the challenges that still need to be overcome to reach the full potential of this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Torrens-Fontanals
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
| | - Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
- InterAx Biotech AG, PARK innovAARE, 5234 Villigen, Switzerland
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - David Aranda-García
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
| | - Adrián Morales-Pastor
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
| | - Brian Medel-Lacruz
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM)—Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (M.T.-F.); (T.M.S.); (D.A.-G.); (A.M.-P.); (B.M.-L.)
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17
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GPCRmd uncovers the dynamics of the 3D-GPCRome. Nat Methods 2020; 17:777-787. [PMID: 32661425 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0884-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in numerous physiological processes and are the most frequent targets of approved drugs. The explosion in the number of new three-dimensional (3D) molecular structures of GPCRs (3D-GPCRome) over the last decade has greatly advanced the mechanistic understanding and drug design opportunities for this protein family. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have become a widely established technique for exploring the conformational landscape of proteins at an atomic level. However, the analysis and visualization of MD simulations require efficient storage resources and specialized software. Here we present GPCRmd (http://gpcrmd.org/), an online platform that incorporates web-based visualization capabilities as well as a comprehensive and user-friendly analysis toolbox that allows scientists from different disciplines to visualize, analyze and share GPCR MD data. GPCRmd originates from a community-driven effort to create an open, interactive and standardized database of GPCR MD simulations.
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18
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Mayol E, García-Recio A, Tiemann JKS, Hildebrand PW, Guixà-González R, Olivella M, Cordomí A. HomolWat: a web server tool to incorporate 'homologous' water molecules into GPCR structures. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:W54-W59. [PMID: 32484557 PMCID: PMC7319549 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Internal water molecules play an essential role in the structure and function of membrane proteins including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, technical limitations severely influence the number and certainty of observed water molecules in 3D structures. This may compromise the accuracy of further structural studies such as docking calculations or molecular dynamics simulations. Here we present HomolWat, a web application for incorporating water molecules into GPCR structures by using template-based modelling of homologous water molecules obtained from high-resolution structures. While there are various tools available to predict the positions of internal waters using energy-based methods, the approach of borrowing lacking water molecules from homologous GPCR structures makes HomolWat unique. The tool can incorporate water molecules into a protein structure in about a minute with around 85% of water recovery. The web server is freely available at http://lmc.uab.es/homolwat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Mayol
- Unitat de Bioestadistica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Adrián García-Recio
- Unitat de Bioestadistica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Johanna K S Tiemann
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen 04107, Germany
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 101179, Germany
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical University Leipzig, Leipzig, Sachsen 04107, Germany
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 101179, Germany
- Berlin Insitute of Health (BIH), 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramon Guixà-González
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
- Condensed Matter Theory Group, Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Mireia Olivella
- Bioinformatics and Medical Statistics Group, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, Barcelona 08500, Spain
| | - Arnau Cordomí
- Unitat de Bioestadistica, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
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19
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Salmaso V, Jacobson KA. In Silico Drug Design for Purinergic GPCRs: Overview on Molecular Dynamics Applied to Adenosine and P2Y Receptors. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E812. [PMID: 32466404 PMCID: PMC7356333 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060812] [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: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular modeling has contributed to drug discovery for purinergic GPCRs, including adenosine receptors (ARs) and P2Y receptors (P2YRs). Experimental structures and homology modeling have proven to be useful in understanding and predicting structure activity relationships (SAR) of agonists and antagonists. This review provides an excursus on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations applied to ARs and P2YRs. The binding modes of newly synthesized A1AR- and A3AR-selective nucleoside derivatives, potentially of use against depression and inflammation, respectively, have been predicted to recapitulate their SAR and the species dependence of A3AR affinity. P2Y12R and P2Y1R crystallographic structures, respectively, have provided a detailed understanding of the recognition of anti-inflammatory P2Y14R antagonists and a large group of allosteric and orthosteric antagonists of P2Y1R, an antithrombotic and neuroprotective target. MD of A2AAR (an anticancer and neuroprotective target), A3AR, and P2Y1R has identified microswitches that are putatively involved in receptor activation. The approach pathways of different ligands toward A2AAR and P2Y1R binding sites have also been explored. A1AR, A2AAR, and A3AR were utilizes to study allosteric phenomena, but locating the binding site of structurally diverse allosteric modulators, such as an A3AR enhancer LUF6000, is challenging. Ligand residence time, a predictor of in vivo efficacy, and the structural role of water were investigated through A2AAR MD simulations. Thus, new MD and other modeling algorithms have contributed to purinergic GPCR drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth A. Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
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20
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Gao ZG, Toti KS, Campbell R, Suresh RR, Yang H, Jacobson KA. Allosteric Antagonism of the A 2A Adenosine Receptor by a Series of Bitopic Ligands. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051200. [PMID: 32408534 PMCID: PMC7290864 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric antagonism by bitopic ligands, as reported for many receptors, is a distinct modulatory mechanism. Although several bitopic A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) ligand classes were reported as pharmacological tools, their receptor binding and functional antagonism patterns, i.e., allosteric or competitive, were not well characterized. Therefore, here we systematically characterized A2AAR binding and functional antagonism of two distinct antagonist chemical classes. i.e., fluorescent conjugates of xanthine amine congener (XAC) and SCH442416. Bitopic ligands were potent, weak, competitive or allosteric, based on the combination of pharmacophore, linker and fluorophore. Among antagonists tested, XAC, XAC245, XAC488, SCH442416, MRS7352 showed Ki binding values consistent with KB values from functional antagonism. Interestingly, MRS7396, XAC-X-BY630 (XAC630) and 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) were 9–100 times weaker in displacing fluorescent MRS7416 binding than radioligand binding. XAC245, XAC630, MRS7396, MRS7416 and MRS7322 behaved as allosteric A2AAR antagonists, whereas XAC488 and MRS7395 antagonized competitively. Schild analysis showed antagonism slopes of 0.42 and 0.47 for MRS7396 and XAC630, respectively. Allosteric antagonists HMA and MRS7396 were more potent in displacing [3H]ZM241385 binding than MRS7416 binding. Sodium site D52N mutation increased and decreased affinity of HMA and MRS7396, respectively, suggesting possible preference for different A2AAR conformations. The allosteric binding properties of some bitopic ligands were rationalized and analyzed using the Hall two-state allosteric model. Thus, fluorophore tethering to an orthosteric ligand is not neutral pharmacologically and may confer unexpected properties to the conjugate.
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21
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Deganutti G, Moro S, Reynolds CA. A Supervised Molecular Dynamics Approach to Unbiased Ligand–Protein Unbinding. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:1804-1817. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b01094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Deganutti
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Moro
- Molecular Modeling Section, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Christopher A. Reynolds
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom
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22
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Chan HC, Xu Y, Tan L, Vogel H, Cheng J, Wu D, Yuan S. Enhancing the Signaling of GPCRs via Orthosteric Ions. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:274-282. [PMID: 32123746 PMCID: PMC7047428 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b01247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors play essential roles in cellular processes such as neuronal signaling, vision, olfaction, tasting, and metabolism. As GPCRs are the most important drug targets, understanding their interactions with ligands is of utmost importance for discovering related new medicines. In many GPCRs, an allosteric sodium ion next to the highly conserved residue D2.50 has been proposed to stabilize the inactive receptor state by mediating interactions between transmembrane helices. Here, we probed the existence of internal and functionally important sodium ions in the dopamine D2 receptor, using molecular dynamics simulations. Besides a new sodium ion at the allosteric ligand binding site, we discovered an additional sodium ion, located close to the orthosteric ligand binding site. Through cell-based activation assays, the signaling of D2 receptor with site-specific mutations was tested against a series of chemically modified agonists. We concluded an important structural role of this newly discovered orthosteric sodium ion in modulating the receptor signaling: It enables the coordination of a polar residue in the ligand binding site with an appropriately designed agonist molecule. An identical interaction was also observed in a recently released high-resolution crystal structure of mu-opioid receptor, which was reresolved in this work. Probably because of similar interactions, various metal ions have been found to increase the signaling of many other GPCRs. This unique principle and strategy could be used to optimize the drug activity of GPCR. Our findings open a new mechanistic opportunity of GPCR signaling and help design the next generation of drugs targeting GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. C.
Stephen Chan
- Shenzhen
Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yueming Xu
- iHuman
Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Liang Tan
- iHuman
Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Horst Vogel
- Shenzhen
Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Institute
of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman
Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- E-mail:
| | - Dong Wu
- iHuman
Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- E-mail:
| | - Shuguang Yuan
- Shenzhen
Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
- E-mail:
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23
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Isawi IH, Morales P, Sotudeh N, Hurst DP, Lynch DL, Reggio PH. GPR6 Structural Insights: Homology Model Construction and Docking Studies. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25030725. [PMID: 32046081 PMCID: PMC7037797 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR6 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that has been associated with the cannabinoid family because of its recognition of a sub-set of cannabinoid ligands. The high abundance of GPR6 in the central nervous system, along with high constitutive activity and a link to several neurodegenerative diseases make GPR6 a promising biological target. In fact, diverse research groups have demonstrated that GPR6 represents a possible target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. Several patents have claimed the use of a wide range of pyrazine derivatives as GPR6 inverse agonists for the treatment of Parkinson's disease symptoms and other dyskinesia syndromes. However, the full pharmacological importance of GPR6 has not yet been fully explored due to the lack of high potency, readily available ligands targeting GPR6. The long-term goal of the present study is to develop such ligands. In this paper, we describe our initial steps towards this goal. A human GPR6 homology model was constructed using a suite of computational techniques. This model permitted the identification of unique GPR6 structural features and the exploration of the GPR6 binding crevice. A subset of patented pyrazine analogs were docked in the resultant GPR6 inactive state model to validate the model, rationalize the structure-activity relationships from the reported patents and identify the key residues in the binding crevice for ligand recognition. We will take this structural knowledge into the next phase of GPR6 project, in which scaffold hopping will be used to design new GPR6 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israa H. Isawi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (I.H.I.); (D.P.H.); (D.L.L.)
| | - Paula Morales
- Instituto de Química Medica (IQM-CSIC), C/Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Noori Sotudeh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA;
| | - Dow P. Hurst
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (I.H.I.); (D.P.H.); (D.L.L.)
| | - Diane L. Lynch
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (I.H.I.); (D.P.H.); (D.L.L.)
| | - Patricia H. Reggio
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA; (I.H.I.); (D.P.H.); (D.L.L.)
- Correspondence:
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Bridging non-overlapping reads illuminates high-order epistasis between distal protein sites in a GPCR. Nat Commun 2020; 11:690. [PMID: 32019920 PMCID: PMC7000732 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14495-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Epistasis emerges when the effects of an amino acid depend on the identities of interacting residues. This phenomenon shapes fitness landscapes, which have the power to reveal evolutionary paths and inform evolution of desired functions. However, there is a need for easily implemented, high-throughput methods to capture epistasis particularly at distal sites. Here, we combine deep mutational scanning (DMS) with a straightforward data processing step to bridge reads in distal sites within genes (BRIDGE). We use BRIDGE, which matches non-overlapping reads to their cognate templates, to uncover prevalent epistasis within the binding pocket of a human G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) yielding variants with 4-fold greater affinity to a target ligand. The greatest functional improvements in our screen result from distal substitutions and substitutions that are deleterious alone. Our results corroborate findings of mutational tolerance in GPCRs, even in conserved motifs, but reveal inherent constraints restricting tolerated substitutions due to epistasis. Epistasis effects among amino acids at distal sites within binding pockets can have important impacts on protein fitness landscapes. Here the authors present BRIDGE, which matches non-overlapping sequence reads with their cognate DNA templates.
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25
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Klimanova EA, Sidorenko SV, Tverskoi AM, Shiyan AA, Smolyaninova LV, Kapilevich LV, Gusakova SV, Maksimov GV, Lopina OD, Orlov SN. Search for Intracellular Sensors Involved in the Functioning of Monovalent Cations as Secondary Messengers. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2019; 84:1280-1295. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297919110063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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26
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Zarzycka B, Zaidi SA, Roth BL, Katritch V. Harnessing Ion-Binding Sites for GPCR Pharmacology. Pharmacol Rev 2019; 71:571-595. [PMID: 31551350 PMCID: PMC6782022 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.017863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Endogenous ions play important roles in the function and pharmacology of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Historically the evidence for ionic modulation of GPCR function dates to 1973 with studies of opioid receptors, where it was demonstrated that physiologic concentrations of sodium allosterically attenuated agonist binding. This Na+-selective effect was distinct from effects of other monovalent and divalent cations, with the latter usually counteracting sodium's negative allosteric modulation of binding. Since then, numerous studies documenting the effects of mono- and divalent ions on GPCR function have been published. While ions can act selectively and nonselectively at many sites in different receptors, the discovery of the conserved sodium ion site in class A GPCR structures in 2012 revealed the unique nature of Na+ site, which has emerged as a near-universal site for allosteric modulation of class A GPCR structure and function. In this review, we synthesize and highlight recent advances in the functional, biophysical, and structural characterization of ions bound to GPCRs. Taken together, these findings provide a molecular understanding of the unique roles of Na+ and other ions as GPCR allosteric modulators. We will also discuss how this knowledge can be applied to the redesign of receptors and ligand probes for desired functional and pharmacological profiles. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The function and pharmacology of GPCRs strongly depend on the presence of mono and divalent ions in experimental assays and in living organisms. Recent insights into the molecular mechanism of this ion-dependent allosterism from structural, biophysical, biochemical, and computational studies provide quantitative understandings of the pharmacological effects of drugs in vitro and in vivo and open new avenues for the rational design of chemical probes and drug candidates with improved properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Zarzycka
- Departments of Biological Sciences (B.Z., S.A.Z., V.K.) and Chemistry (V.K.), Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Pharmacology (B.L.R.) and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (B.L.R.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Saheem A Zaidi
- Departments of Biological Sciences (B.Z., S.A.Z., V.K.) and Chemistry (V.K.), Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Pharmacology (B.L.R.) and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (B.L.R.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Departments of Biological Sciences (B.Z., S.A.Z., V.K.) and Chemistry (V.K.), Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Pharmacology (B.L.R.) and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (B.L.R.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Departments of Biological Sciences (B.Z., S.A.Z., V.K.) and Chemistry (V.K.), Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and Department of Pharmacology (B.L.R.) and Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy (B.L.R.), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Ryazantsev MN, Nikolaev DM, Struts AV, Brown MF. Quantum Mechanical and Molecular Mechanics Modeling of Membrane-Embedded Rhodopsins. J Membr Biol 2019; 252:425-449. [PMID: 31570961 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-019-00095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Computational chemistry provides versatile methods for studying the properties and functioning of biological systems at different levels of precision and at different time scales. The aim of this article is to review the computational methodologies that are applicable to rhodopsins as archetypes for photoactive membrane proteins that are of great importance both in nature and in modern technologies. For each class of computational techniques, from methods that use quantum mechanics for simulating rhodopsin photophysics to less-accurate coarse-grained methodologies used for long-scale protein dynamics, we consider possible applications and the main directions for improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail N Ryazantsev
- Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, 26 Universitetskii pr, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 198504
| | - Dmitrii M Nikolaev
- Saint-Petersburg Academic University - Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre RAS, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 194021
| | - Andrey V Struts
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.,Laboratory of Biomolecular NMR, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Michael F Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA. .,Department of Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
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28
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Hu X, Smith MD, Humphreys BM, Green AT, Parks JM, Baudry JY, Smith JC. Ligand-Dependent Sodium Ion Dynamics within the A 2A Adenosine Receptor: A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:7947-7954. [PMID: 31483659 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b04474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Sodium ions have long been known to reduce the binding of agonists in many class-A GPCRs while having little effect on antagonist binding. Here, using long-time scale classical all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we explore, in atomic detail, the motion of sodium ions within the ligand-binding pocket of the A2A adenosine receptor (A2A-AR) both in the presence and absence of ligands and in the active and inactive state. We identify novel secondary ion binding sites within the pocket and find that the types of ion motions within the pocket are highly dependent on the presence and type of ligand within the pocket. Our results provide a first step toward developing a molecular understanding of the impact of sodium ions on class-A GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohu Hu
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States.,Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - Micholas Dean Smith
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - Bailey M Humphreys
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - Adam T Green
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - Jerry M Parks
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - Jerome Y Baudry
- Biological Sciences Department , University of Alabama in Huntsville , Huntsville , Alabama 35899 , United States
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
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29
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Massink A, Amelia T, Karamychev A, IJzerman AP. Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors by amiloride and its derivatives. Perspectives for drug discovery? Med Res Rev 2019; 40:683-708. [PMID: 31495942 PMCID: PMC7028016 DOI: 10.1002/med.21633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The function of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be modulated by compounds that bind to other sites than the endogenous orthosteric binding site, so‐called allosteric sites. Structure elucidation of a number of GPCRs has revealed the presence of a sodium ion bound in a conserved allosteric site. The small molecule amiloride and analogs thereof have been proposed to bind in this same sodium ion site. Hence, this review seeks to summarize and reflect on the current knowledge of allosteric effects by amiloride and its analogs on GPCRs. Amiloride is known to modulate adenosine, adrenergic, dopamine, chemokine, muscarinic, serotonin, gonadotropin‐releasing hormone, GABAB, and taste receptors. Amiloride analogs with lipophilic substituents tend to be more potent modulators than amiloride itself. Adenosine, α‐adrenergic and dopamine receptors are most strongly modulated by amiloride analogs. In addition, for a few GPCRs, more than one binding site for amiloride has been postulated. Interestingly, the nature of the allosteric effect of amiloride and derivatives varies considerably between GPCRs, with both negative and positive allosteric modulation occurring. Since the sodium ion binding site is strongly conserved among class A GPCRs it is to be expected that amiloride also binds to class A GPCRs not evaluated yet. Investigating this typical amiloride‐GPCR interaction further may yield general insight in the allosteric mechanisms of GPCR ligand binding and function, and possibly provide new opportunities for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnault Massink
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tasia Amelia
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Karamychev
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan P IJzerman
- Division of Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Bissaro M, Bolcato G, Deganutti G, Sturlese M, Moro S. Revisiting the Allosteric Regulation of Sodium Cation on the Binding of Adenosine at the Human A 2A Adenosine Receptor: Insights from Supervised Molecular Dynamics (SuMD) Simulations. Molecules 2019; 24:E2752. [PMID: 31362426 PMCID: PMC6695830 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most intriguing findings highlighted from G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) crystallography is the presence, in many members of class A, of a partially hydrated sodium ion in the middle of the seven transmembrane helices (7TM) bundle. In particular, the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2A AR) is the first GPCR in which a monovalent sodium ion was crystallized in a distal site from the canonical orthosteric one, corroborating, from a structural point of view, its role as a negative allosteric modulator. However, the molecular mechanism by which the sodium ion influences the recognition of the A2A AR agonists is not yet fully understood. In this study, the supervised molecular dynamics (SuMD) technique was exploited to analyse the sodium ion recognition mechanism and how its presence influences the binding of the endogenous agonist adenosine. Due to a higher degree of flexibility of the receptor extracellular (EC) vestibule, we propose the sodium-bound A2A AR as less efficient in stabilizing the adenosine during the different steps of binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maicol Bissaro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bolcato
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Deganutti
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Mattia Sturlese
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Moro
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), University of Padova, via Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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31
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Free-Energy Calculations for Bioisosteric Modifications of A 3 Adenosine Receptor Antagonists. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143499. [PMID: 31315296 PMCID: PMC6679372 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine receptors are a family of G protein-coupled receptors with increased attention as drug targets on different indications. We investigate the thermodynamics of ligand binding to the A3 adenosine receptor subtype, focusing on a recently reported series of diarylacetamidopyridine inhibitors via molecular dynamics simulations. With a combined approach of thermodynamic integration and one-step perturbation, we characterize the impact of the charge distribution in a central heteroaromatic ring on the binding affinity prediction. Standard charge distributions according to the GROMOS force field yield values in good agreement with the experimental data and previous free energy calculations. Subsequently, we examine the thermodynamics of inhibitor binding in terms of the energetic and entropic contributions. The highest entropy penalties are found for inhibitors with methoxy substituents in meta position of the aryl groups. This bulky group restricts rotation of aromatic rings attached to the pyrimidine core which leads to two distinct poses of the ligand. Our predictions support the previously proposed binding pose for the o-methoxy ligand, yielding in this case a very good correlation with the experimentally measured affinities with deviations below 4 kJ/mol.
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32
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Al-Shar'i NA, Al-Balas QA. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Adenosine Receptors: Advances, Applications and Trends. Curr Pharm Des 2019; 25:783-816. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666190304123414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
:
Adenosine receptors (ARs) are transmembrane proteins that belong to the G protein-coupled receptors
(GPCRs) superfamily and mediate the biological functions of adenosine. To date, four AR subtypes are known,
namely A1, A2A, A2B and A3 that exhibit different signaling pathways, tissue localization, and mechanisms of
activation. Moreover, the widespread ARs and their implication in numerous physiological and pathophysiological
conditions had made them pivotal therapeutic targets for developing clinically effective agents.
:
The crystallographic success in identifying the 3D crystal structures of A2A and A1 ARs has dramatically enriched
our understanding of their structural and functional properties such as ligand binding and signal transduction.
This, in turn, has provided a structural basis for a larger contribution of computational methods, particularly molecular
dynamics (MD) simulations, toward further investigation of their molecular properties and designing
bioactive ligands with therapeutic potential. MD simulation has been proved to be an invaluable tool in investigating
ARs and providing answers to some critical questions. For example, MD has been applied in studying ARs
in terms of ligand-receptor interactions, molecular recognition, allosteric modulations, dimerization, and mechanisms
of activation, collectively aiding in the design of subtype selective ligands.
:
In this review, we focused on the advances and different applications of MD simulations utilized to study the
structural and functional aspects of ARs that can foster the structure-based design of drug candidates. In addition,
relevant literature was briefly discussed which establishes a starting point for future advances in the field of drug
discovery to this pivotal group of drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizar A. Al-Shar'i
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Qosay A. Al-Balas
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
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33
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Mahmod Al-Qattan MN, Mordi MN. Molecular Basis of Modulating Adenosine Receptors Activities. Curr Pharm Des 2019; 25:817-831. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666190304122624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Modulating cellular processes through extracellular chemical stimuli is medicinally an attractive approach to control disease conditions. GPCRs are the most important group of transmembranal receptors that produce different patterns of activations using intracellular mediators (such as G-proteins and Beta-arrestins). Adenosine receptors (ARs) belong to GPCR class and are divided into A1AR, A2AAR, A2BAR and A3AR. ARs control different physiological activities thus considered valuable target to control neural, heart, inflammatory and other metabolic disorders. Targeting ARs using small molecules essentially works by binding orthosteric and/or allosteric sites of the receptors. Although targeting orthosteric site is considered typical to modulate receptor activity, allosteric sites provide better subtype selectivity, saturable modulation of activity and variable activation patterns. Each receptor exists in dynamical equilibrium between conformational ensembles. The equilibrium is affected by receptor interaction with other molecules. Changing the population of conformational ensembles of the receptor is the method by which orthosteric, allosteric and other cellular components control receptor signaling. Herein, the interactions of ARs with orthosteric, allosteric ligands as well as intracellular mediators are described. A quinary interaction model for the receptor is proposed and energy wells for major conformational ensembles are retrieved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohd Nizam Mordi
- Centre For Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
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34
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Towards A Molecular Understanding of The Cannabinoid Related Orphan Receptor GPR18: A Focus on Its Constitutive Activity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092300. [PMID: 31075933 PMCID: PMC6539512 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR18, has been recently proposed as a potential member of the cannabinoid family as it recognizes several endogenous, phytogenic, and synthetic cannabinoids. Potential therapeutic applications for GPR18 include intraocular pressure, metabolic disorders, and cancer. GPR18 has been reported to have high constitutive activity, i.e., activation/signaling occurs in the absence of an agonist. This activity can be reduced significantly by the A3.39N mutation. At the intracellular (IC) ends of (transmembrane helices) TMH3 and TMH6 in GPCRs, typically, a pair of oppositely charged amino acids form a salt bridge called the "ionic lock". Breaking of this salt bridge creates an IC opening for coupling with G protein. The GPR18 "ionic lock" residues (R3.50/S6.33) can form only a hydrogen bond. In this paper, we test the hypothesis that the high constitutive activity of GPR18 is due to the weakness of its "ionic lock" and that the A3.39N mutation strengthens this lock. To this end, we report molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type (WT) GPR18 and the A3.39N mutant in fully hydrated (POPC) phophatidylcholine lipid bilayers. Results suggest that in the A3.39N mutant, TMH6 rotates and brings R3.50 and S6.33 closer together, thus strengthening the GPR18 "ionic lock".
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Karhu L, Magarkar A, Bunker A, Xhaard H. Determinants of Orexin Receptor Binding and Activation-A Molecular Dynamics Study. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:2609-2622. [PMID: 30786708 PMCID: PMC6727383 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b10220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
![]()
We
assess the stability of two previously suggested binding modes
for the neuropeptide orexin-A in the OX2 receptor through
extensive molecular dynamics simulations. As the activation determinants
of the receptor remain unknown, we simulated an unliganded receptor
and two small-molecular ligands, the antagonist suvorexant and the
agonist Nag26 for comparison. Each system was simulated in pure POPC
membrane as well as in the 25% cholesterol–POPC membrane. In
total, we carried out 36 μs of simulations. Through this set
of simulations, we report a stable binding mode for the C-terminus
of orexin-A. In addition, we suggest interactions that would promote
orexin receptor activation, as well as others that would stabilize
the inactive state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lasse Karhu
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , POB 56, FI-00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Aniket Magarkar
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , POB 56 , FI-00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Alex Bunker
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , POB 56 , FI-00014 Helsinki , Finland
| | - Henri Xhaard
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy , University of Helsinki , POB 56, FI-00014 Helsinki , Finland
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36
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Peeking at G-protein-coupled receptors through the molecular dynamics keyhole. Future Med Chem 2019; 11:599-615. [DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2018-0393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular dynamics is a state of the art computational tool for the investigation of biophysics phenomenon at a molecular scale, as it enables the modeling of dynamic processes, such as conformational motions, molecular solvation and ligand binding. The recent advances in structural biology have led to a bloom in published G-protein-coupled receptor structures, representing a solid and valuable resource for molecular dynamics studies. During the last decade, indeed, a plethora of physiological and pharmacological facets of this membrane protein superfamily have been addressed by means of molecular dynamics simulations, including the activation mechanism, allosterism and, very recently, biased signaling. Here, we try to recapitulate some of the main contributions that molecular dynamics has recently produced in the field.
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Wold EA, Chen J, Cunningham KA, Zhou J. Allosteric Modulation of Class A GPCRs: Targets, Agents, and Emerging Concepts. J Med Chem 2019; 62:88-127. [PMID: 30106578 PMCID: PMC6556150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been tractable drug targets for decades with over one-third of currently marketed drugs targeting GPCRs. Of these, the class A GPCR superfamily is highly represented, and continued drug discovery for this family of receptors may provide novel therapeutics for a vast range of diseases. GPCR allosteric modulation is an innovative targeting approach that broadens the available small molecule toolbox and is proving to be a viable drug discovery strategy, as evidenced by recent FDA approvals and clinical trials. Numerous class A GPCR allosteric modulators have been discovered recently, and emerging trends such as the availability of GPCR crystal structures, diverse functional assays, and structure-based computational approaches are improving optimization and development. This Perspective provides an update on allosterically targeted class A GPCRs and their disease indications and the medicinal chemistry approaches toward novel allosteric modulators and highlights emerging trends and opportunities in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Wold
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Jianping Chen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Kathryn A. Cunningham
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemical Biology Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555, United States
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38
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Schöppe J, Ehrenmann J, Klenk C, Rucktooa P, Schütz M, Doré AS, Plückthun A. Crystal structures of the human neurokinin 1 receptor in complex with clinically used antagonists. Nat Commun 2019; 10:17. [PMID: 30604743 PMCID: PMC6318301 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07939-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurokinins (or tachykinins) are peptides that modulate a wide variety of human physiology through the neurokinin G protein-coupled receptor family, implicated in a diverse array of pathological processes. Here we report high-resolution crystal structures of the human NK1 receptor (NK1R) bound to two small-molecule antagonist therapeutics – aprepitant and netupitant and the progenitor antagonist CP-99,994. The structures reveal the detailed interactions between clinically approved antagonists and NK1R, which induce a distinct receptor conformation resulting in an interhelical hydrogen-bond network that cross-links the extracellular ends of helices V and VI. Furthermore, the high-resolution details of NK1R bound to netupitant establish a structural rationale for the lack of basal activity in NK1R. Taken together, these co-structures provide a comprehensive structural basis of NK1R antagonism and will facilitate the design of new therapeutics targeting the neurokinin receptor family. Neurokinin receptors are G protein-coupled receptors. Here the authors present three crystal structures of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in complex with small-molecule antagonists including aprepitant and netupitant and observe that these clinically approved compounds induce a conformational change in the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jendrik Schöppe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Janosch Ehrenmann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Klenk
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Prakash Rucktooa
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Marco Schütz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.,Heptares Therapeutics Zürich AG, Grabenstrasse 11a, 8952, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew S Doré
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6DG, UK
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Korkutata M, Saitoh T, Cherasse Y, Ioka S, Duo F, Qin R, Murakoshi N, Fujii S, Zhou X, Sugiyama F, Chen JF, Kumagai H, Nagase H, Lazarus M. Enhancing endogenous adenosine A2A receptor signaling induces slow-wave sleep without affecting body temperature and cardiovascular function. Neuropharmacology 2019; 144:122-132. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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40
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Structural biology and structure–function relationships of membrane proteins. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 47:47-61. [DOI: 10.1042/bst20180269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
The study of structure–function relationships of membrane proteins (MPs) has been one of the major goals in the field of structural biology. Many Noble Prizes regarding remarkable accomplishments in MP structure determination and biochemistry have been awarded over the last few decades. Mutations or improper folding of these proteins are associated with numerous serious illnesses. Therefore, as important drug targets, the study of their primary sequence and three-dimensional fold, combined with cell-based assays, provides vital information about their structure–function relationships. Today, this information is vital to drug discovery and medicine. In the last two decades, many have been the technical advances and breakthroughs in the field of MP structural biology that have contributed to an exponential growth in the number of unique MP structures in the Protein Data Bank. Nevertheless, given the medical importance and many unanswered questions, it will never be an excess of MP structures, regardless of the method used. Owing to the extension of the field, in this brief review, we will only focus on structure–function relationships of the three most significant pharmaceutical classes: G protein-coupled receptors, ion channels and transporters.
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41
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Could the presence of sodium ion influence the accuracy and precision of the ligand-posing in the human A 2A adenosine receptor orthosteric binding site using a molecular docking approach? Insights from Dockbench. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2018; 32:1337-1346. [PMID: 30361971 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-018-0174-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) by sodium ions has received considerable attention as crystal structures of several receptors, in their inactive conformation, show a Na+ ion bound to specific residues which, in the human A2A adenosine receptor (hA2A AR), are Ser913.39, Trp2466.48, Asn2807.45, and Asn2847.49. A cluster of water molecules completes the coordination of the sodium ion in the putative allosteric site. It is absolutely consolidated that the progress made in the field of GPCRs structural determination has increased the adoption of docking-driven approaches for the identification or the optimization of novel potent and selective ligands. Despite the extensive use of docking protocols in virtual screening approaches, to date, almost any of these studies have been carried out without taking into account the presence of the sodium cation and its first solvation shell in the putative allosteric binding site. In this study, we have focused our attention on determining how the presence of sodium ion binding and additionally its first hydration sphere, in hA2AAR could influence the ligand positioning accuracy during molecular docking simulations for most of the available resting and activated hA2A AR crystal structures, using DockBench as a comparative benchmarking tool and implementing a new correlation coefficient (EM). This work provides indications on the evidence that the posing performance (accuracy and/or precision) of the docking protocols in reproducing the crystallographic poses of different hA2A AR antagonists is generally increased in the presence of the sodium cation and its first solvation shell, in agreement with experimental observations. Consequently, the inclusion of sodium ion and its first solvation shell should be considered in order to facilitate the selection of new potential ligands in all molecular docking-based virtual screening protocols that aim to find novel GPCRs antagonists and inverse agonists.
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42
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Cong X, Golebiowski J. Allosteric Na +-binding site modulates CXCR4 activation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:24915-24920. [PMID: 30238101 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp04134b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control most cellular communications with the environment and are the largest protein family of drug targets. As strictly regulated molecular machines, profound comprehension of their activation mechanism is expected to significantly facilitate structure-based drug design. This study provides atomistic-level description of the activation dynamics of the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), a class A GPCR and important drug target. Using molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling, we demonstrate how mutations and protonation of conserved residues trigger activation through microswitches at the receptor core, while sodium ion - a known allosteric modulator - inhibits it. The findings point to a conserved mechanism of activation and the allosteric modulation by sodium in the chemokine receptor family. From the technical aspect, the enhanced sampling protocol effectively samples receptor conformational changes toward activation, and differentiates three variants of the receptor by their basal activity. This work provides structural basis and a powerful in silico tool for CXCR4 agonist design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojing Cong
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Institut de Chimie de Nice UMR7272, 06108 Nice, France.
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43
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Allosteric sodium binding cavity in GPR3: a novel player in modulation of Aβ production. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11102. [PMID: 30038319 PMCID: PMC6056553 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29475-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The orphan G-protein coupled receptor 3 (GPR3) belongs to class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and is highly expressed in central nervous system neurons. Among other functions, it is likely associated with neuron differentiation and maturation. Recently, GPR3 has also been linked to the production of Aβ peptides in neurons. Unfortunately, the lack of experimental structural information for this receptor hampers a deep characterization of its function. Here, using an in-silico and in-vitro combined approach, we describe, for the first time, structural characteristics of GPR3 receptor underlying its function: the agonist binding site and the allosteric sodium binding cavity. We identified and validated by alanine-scanning mutagenesis the role of three functionally relevant residues: Cys2676.55, Phe1203.36 and Asp2.50. The latter, when mutated into alanine, completely abolished the constitutive and agonist-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of GPR3 receptor by disrupting its sodium binding cavity. Interestingly, this is correlated with a decrease in Aβ production in a model cell line. Taken together, these results suggest an important role of the allosteric sodium binding site for GPR3 activity and open a possible avenue for the modulation of Aβ production in the Alzheimer’s Disease.
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44
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Taddese B, Deniaud M, Garnier A, Tiss A, Guissouma H, Abdi H, Henrion D, Chabbert M. Evolution of chemokine receptors is driven by mutations in the sodium binding site. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006209. [PMID: 29912865 PMCID: PMC6037435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors (members of the GPCR super-family) are involved in a wide variety of physiological processes and diseases; thus, understanding the specificity of the chemokine receptor family could help develop new receptor specific drugs. Here, we explore the evolutionary mechanisms that led to the emergence of the chemokine receptors. Based on GPCR hierarchical classification, we analyzed nested GPCR sets with an eigen decomposition approach of the sequence covariation matrix and determined three key residues whose mutation was crucial for the emergence of the chemokine receptors and their subsequent divergence into homeostatic and inflammatory receptors. These residues are part of the allosteric sodium binding site. Their structural and functional roles were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations of CXCR4 and CCR5 as prototypes of homeostatic and inflammatory chemokine receptors, respectively. This study indicates that the three mutations crucial for the evolution of the chemokine receptors dramatically altered the sodium binding mode. In CXCR4, the sodium ion is tightly bound by four protein atoms and one water molecule. In CCR5, the sodium ion is mobile within the binding pocket and moves between different sites involving from one to three protein atoms and two to five water molecules. Analysis of chemokine receptor evolution reveals that a highly constrained sodium binding site characterized most ancient receptors, and that the constraints were subsequently loosened during the divergence of this receptor family. We discuss the implications of these findings for the evolution of the chemokine receptor functions and mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruck Taddese
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - Madeline Deniaud
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - Antoine Garnier
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - Asma Tiss
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
- Laboratoire de Génétique, Immunologie et Pathologies Humaines, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Hajer Guissouma
- Laboratoire de Génétique, Immunologie et Pathologies Humaines, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Hervé Abdi
- The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Daniel Henrion
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - Marie Chabbert
- Laboratoire MITOVASC, UMR CNRS 6015 – INSERM 1083, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
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45
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Dudev T, Mazmanian K, Lim C. Competition between Li + and Na + in sodium transporters and receptors: Which Na +-Binding sites are "therapeutic" Li + targets? Chem Sci 2018; 9:4093-4103. [PMID: 29780538 PMCID: PMC5944251 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc05284g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Li+ (turquoise), the better charge acceptor, can displace Na+ (purple) bound by only one or two aa residues in buried sites. Thus, Li+ can displace Na+ bound by Asp– and Ser in the A2AAR/β1AR receptor and enhance the metal site's stability, thus prohibiting structural distortions induced by agonist binding, leading to lower cytosolic levels of activated G-proteins, which are hyperactive in bipolar disorder patients.
Sodium (Na+) acts as an indispensable allosteric regulator of the activities of biologically important neurotransmitter transporters and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), which comprise well-known drug targets for psychiatric disorders and addictive behavior. How selective these allosteric Na+-binding sites are for the cognate cation over abiogenic Li+, a first-line drug to treat bipolar disorder, is unclear. Here, we reveal how properties of the host protein and its binding cavity affect the outcome of the competition between Li+ and Na+ for allosteric binding sites in sodium transporters and receptors. We show that rigid Na+-sites that are crowded with multiple protein ligands are well-protected against Li+ attack, but their flexible counterparts or buried Na+-sites containing only one or two protein ligands are vulnerable to Li+ substitution. These findings suggest a novel possible mode of Li+ therapeutic action: By displacing Na+ bound by ≤2 protein ligands in buried GPCR sites and stabilizing the receptor's inactive state, Li+ could prohibit conformational changes to an active state, leading to lower cytosolic levels of activated guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, which are hyperactive/overexpressed in bipolar disorder patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todor Dudev
- Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy , Sofia University , Sofia 1164 , Bulgaria .
| | - Karine Mazmanian
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences , Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529 , Taiwan . .,Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program , Taiwan International Graduate Program , Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529 , Taiwan
| | - Carmay Lim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences , Academia Sinica , Taipei 11529 , Taiwan . .,Department of Chemistry , National Tsing Hua University , Hsinchu 300 , Taiwan
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46
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Selvam B, Shamsi Z, Shukla D. Universality of the Sodium Ion Binding Mechanism in Class A G-Protein-Coupled Receptors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:3048-3053. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201708889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Selvam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | - Zahra Shamsi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | - Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Center for Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, National Center for Supercomputing Applications; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
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47
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Selvam B, Shamsi Z, Shukla D. Universality of the Sodium Ion Binding Mechanism in Class A G-Protein-Coupled Receptors. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201708889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Selvam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | - Zahra Shamsi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
| | - Diwakar Shukla
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Center for Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, National Center for Supercomputing Applications; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Urbana IL 61801 USA
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48
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White KL, Eddy MT, Gao ZG, Han GW, Lian T, Deary A, Patel N, Jacobson KA, Katritch V, Stevens RC. Structural Connection between Activation Microswitch and Allosteric Sodium Site in GPCR Signaling. Structure 2018; 26:259-269.e5. [PMID: 29395784 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2017.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sodium ions are endogenous allosteric modulators of many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Mutation of key residues in the sodium binding motif causes a striking effect on G-protein signaling. We report the crystal structures of agonist complexes for two variants in the first sodium coordination shell of the human A2A adenosine receptor, D522.50N and S913.39A. Both structures present an overall active-like conformation; however, the variants show key changes in the activation motif NPxxY. Changes in the hydrogen bonding network in this microswitch suggest a possible mechanism for modified G-protein signaling and enhanced thermal stability. These structures, signaling data, and thermal stability analysis with a panel of pharmacological ligands provide a basis for understanding the role of the sodium-coordinating residues on stability and G-protein signaling. Utilizing the D2.50N variant is a promising method for stabilizing class A GPCRs to accelerate structural efforts and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate L White
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Matthew T Eddy
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Zhan-Guo Gao
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gye Won Han
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Tiffany Lian
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Alexander Deary
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nilkanth Patel
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kenneth A Jacobson
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Bridge Institute, USC Michelson Center, University of Southern California, 1002 West Childs Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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49
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Draper-Joyce CJ, Verma RK, Michino M, Shonberg J, Kopinathan A, Klein Herenbrink C, Scammells PJ, Capuano B, Abramyan AM, Thal DM, Javitch JA, Christopoulos A, Shi L, Lane JR. The action of a negative allosteric modulator at the dopamine D 2 receptor is dependent upon sodium ions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1208. [PMID: 29352161 PMCID: PMC5775417 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Sodium ions (Na+) allosterically modulate the binding of orthosteric agonists and antagonists to many class A G protein-coupled receptors, including the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R). Experimental and computational evidences have revealed that this effect is mediated by the binding of Na+ to a conserved site located beneath the orthosteric binding site (OBS). SB269652 acts as a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the D2R that adopts an extended bitopic pose, in which the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety interacts with the OBS and the indole-2-carboxamide moiety occupies a secondary binding pocket (SBP). In this study, we find that the presence of a Na+ within the conserved Na+-binding pocket is required for the action of SB269652. Using fragments of SB269652 and novel full-length analogues, we show that Na+ is required for the high affinity binding of the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety within the OBS, and that the interaction of the indole-2-carboxamide moiety with the SBP determines the degree of Na+-sensitivity. Thus, we extend our understanding of the mode of action of this novel class of NAM by showing it acts synergistically with Na+ to modulate the binding of orthosteric ligands at the D2R, providing opportunities for fine-tuning of modulatory effects in future allosteric drug design efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Draper-Joyce
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ravi Kumar Verma
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
| | - Mayako Michino
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States.,Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, 413 E 69th St, New York, NY, 10021, United States
| | - Jeremy Shonberg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anitha Kopinathan
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Carmen Klein Herenbrink
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter J Scammells
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ben Capuano
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ara M Abramyan
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
| | - David M Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan A Javitch
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, 10032, United States.,College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, 10032, United States
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Lei Shi
- Computational Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States.
| | - J Robert Lane
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
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50
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Hori T, Okuno T, Hirata K, Yamashita K, Kawano Y, Yamamoto M, Hato M, Nakamura M, Shimizu T, Yokomizo T, Miyano M, Yokoyama S. Na +-mimicking ligands stabilize the inactive state of leukotriene B 4 receptor BLT1. Nat Chem Biol 2018; 14:262-269. [PMID: 29309055 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Most G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are stabilized in common in the inactive state by the formation of the sodium ion-centered water cluster with the conserved Asp2.50 inside the seven-transmembrane domain. We determined the crystal structure of the leukotriene B4 (LTB4) receptor BLT1 bound with BIIL260, a chemical bearing a benzamidine moiety. Surprisingly, the amidine group occupies the sodium ion and water locations, interacts with D662.50, and mimics the entire sodium ion-centered water cluster. Thus, BLT1 is fixed in the inactive state, and the transmembrane helices cannot change their conformations to form the active state. Moreover, the benzamidine molecule alone serves as a negative allosteric modulator for BLT1. As the residues involved in the benzamidine binding are widely conserved among GPCRs, the unprecedented inverse-agonist mechanism by the benzamidine moiety could be adapted to other GPCRs. Consequently, the present structure will enable the rational development of inverse agonists specific for each GPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hori
- RIKEN Structural Biology Laboratory, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.,RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Okuno
- Department of Biochemistry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunio Hirata
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology (PRESTO), Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | | | | | | | - Masakatsu Hato
- Division of Structural and Synthetic Biology, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Motonao Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science, Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takao Shimizu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Lipid Signaling, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takehiko Yokomizo
- Department of Biochemistry, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masashi Miyano
- RIKEN SPring-8 Center, Sayo, Hyogo, Japan.,Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shigeyuki Yokoyama
- RIKEN Structural Biology Laboratory, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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