1
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Navarro G, Gómez-Autet M, Morales P, Rebassa JB, Llinas Del Torrent C, Jagerovic N, Pardo L, Franco R. Homodimerization of CB 2 cannabinoid receptor triggered by a bivalent ligand enhances cellular signaling. Pharmacol Res 2024; 208:107363. [PMID: 39179054 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) exist within a landscape of interconvertible conformational states and in dynamic equilibrium between monomers and higher-order oligomers, both influenced by ligand binding. Here, we show that a homobivalent ligand formed by equal chromenopyrazole moieties as pharmacophores, connected by 14 methylene units, can modulate the dynamics of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R) homodimerization by simultaneously binding both protomers of the CB2R-CB2R homodimer. Computational and pharmacological experiments showed that one of the ligand pharmacophores binds to the orthosteric site of one protomer, and the other pharmacophore to a membrane-oriented pocket between transmembranes 1 and 7 of the partner protomer. This results in unique pharmacological properties, including increased potency in Gi-mediated signaling and enhanced recruitment of β-arrestin. Thus, by modulating dimerization dynamics, it may be possible to fine-tune CB2R activity, potentially leading to improved therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Navarro
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Barcelona 08035, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Marc Gómez-Autet
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Paula Morales
- Medicinal Chemistry Institute, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Joan Biel Rebassa
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology. Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Barcelona 08035, Spain
| | - Claudia Llinas Del Torrent
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain
| | - Nadine Jagerovic
- Medicinal Chemistry Institute, Spanish National Research Council, CSIC, Madrid 28006, Spain.
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
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2
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Payne CM, Baltos JA, Langiu M, Sinh Lu C, Tyndall JDA, Gregory KJ, May LT, Vernall AJ. Development of Putative Bivalent Dicovalent Ligands for the Adenosine A1 Receptor. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400242. [PMID: 38777792 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400242] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can exist and function in homodimer and heterodimer forms. The adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) has been shown to form both homodimers and heterodimers, but there is a lack of chemical tools to study these dimeric receptor populations. This work describes the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a novel class of bivalent GPCR chemical tools, where each ligand moiety of the bivalent compound contains a sulfonyl fluoride covalent warhead designed to be capable of simultaneously reacting with each A1R of an A1R homodimer. The novel compounds were characterised using radioligand binding assays, including washout assays, and functionally in cAMP assays. The bivalent dicovalent compounds were competitive A1R antagonists and showed evidence of covalent binding and simultaneous binding across an A1R homodimer. Greater selectivity for A1R over the adenosine A3 receptor was observed for bivalent dicovalent over the equivalent monovalent compounds, indicating subtype selectivity can be achieved with dual occupation by a bivalent dicovalent ligand.
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Affiliation(s)
- China M Payne
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jo-Anne Baltos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Monica Langiu
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Cam Sinh Lu
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Joel D A Tyndall
- School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Karen J Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Lauren T May
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Andrea J Vernall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
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3
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Di Virgilio F, Vultaggio-Poma V, Tarantini M, Giuliani AL. Overview of the role of purinergic signaling and insights into its role in cancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 262:108700. [PMID: 39111410 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108700] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
Innovation of cancer therapy has received a dramatic acceleration over the last fifteen years thanks to the introduction of the novel immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). On the other hand, the conspicuous scientific knowledge accumulated in purinergic signaling since the early seventies is finally being transferred to the clinic. Several Phase I/II clinical trials are currently underway to investigate the effect of drugs interfering with purinergic signaling as stand-alone or combination therapy in cancer. This is supporting the novel concept of "purinergic immune checkpoint" (PIC) in cancer therapy. In the present review we will address a) the basic pharmacology and cell biology of the purinergic system; b) principles of its pathophysiology in human diseases; c) implications for cell death, cell proliferation and cancer; d) novel molecular tools to investigate nucleotide homeostasis in the extracellular environment; e) recent developments in the pharmacology of P1, P2 receptors and related ecto-enzymes; f) P1 and P2 ligands as novel diagnostic tools; g) current issues in PIC-based anti-cancer therapy. This review will provide an appraisal of the current status of purinergic signaling in cancer and will help identify future avenues of development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mario Tarantini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy
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4
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Zhang M, Chen T, Lu X, Lan X, Chen Z, Lu S. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): advances in structures, mechanisms, and drug discovery. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:88. [PMID: 38594257 PMCID: PMC11004190 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01803-6] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of human membrane proteins and an important class of drug targets, play a role in maintaining numerous physiological processes. Agonist or antagonist, orthosteric effects or allosteric effects, and biased signaling or balanced signaling, characterize the complexity of GPCR dynamic features. In this study, we first review the structural advancements, activation mechanisms, and functional diversity of GPCRs. We then focus on GPCR drug discovery by revealing the detailed drug-target interactions and the underlying mechanisms of orthosteric drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years. Particularly, an up-to-date analysis is performed on available GPCR structures complexed with synthetic small-molecule allosteric modulators to elucidate key receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Finally, we highlight how the widespread GPCR-druggable allosteric sites can guide structure- or mechanism-based drug design and propose prospects of designing bitopic ligands for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Xun Lu
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Ziqiang Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, Affiliated to Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Protection, Development and Utilization of Medicinal Resources in Liupanshan Area, Ministry of Education, Peptide & Protein Drug Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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5
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Hetzler B, Donthamsetti P, Peitsinis Z, Stanley C, Trauner D, Isacoff EY. Optical Control of Dopamine D2-like Receptors with Cell-Specific Fast-Relaxing Photoswitches. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:18778-18788. [PMID: 37586061 PMCID: PMC10472511 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Dopamine D2-like receptors (D2R, D3R, and D4R) control diverse physiological and behavioral functions and are important targets for the treatment of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Their complex distribution and activation kinetics in the brain make it difficult to target specific receptor populations with sufficient precision. We describe a new toolkit of light-activatable, fast-relaxing, covalently taggable chemical photoswitches that fully activate, partially activate, or block D2-like receptors. This technology combines the spatiotemporal precision of a photoswitchable ligand (P) with cell type and spatial specificity of a genetically encoded membrane anchoring protein (M) to which the P tethers. These tools set the stage for targeting endogenous D2-like receptor signaling with molecular, cellular, and spatiotemporal precision using only one wavelength of light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda
E. Hetzler
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Prashant Donthamsetti
- Molecular
and Cell Biology, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Zisis Peitsinis
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Cherise Stanley
- Molecular
and Cell Biology, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Dirk Trauner
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational
Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Ehud Y. Isacoff
- Molecular
and Cell Biology, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Helen
Wills Neuroscience Institute, University
of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Weill Neurohub, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Molecular
Biophysics & Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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6
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Saha S, González-Maeso J. The crosstalk between 5-HT 2AR and mGluR2 in schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology 2023; 230:109489. [PMID: 36889432 PMCID: PMC10103009 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that usually produces a lifetime of disability. First generation or typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol and second generation or atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine and risperidone remain the current standard for schizophrenia treatment. In some patients with schizophrenia, antipsychotics produce complete remission of positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. However, antipsychotic drugs are ineffective against cognitive deficits and indeed treated schizophrenia patients have small improvements or even deterioration in several cognitive domains. This underlines the need for novel and more efficient therapeutic targets for schizophrenia treatment. Serotonin and glutamate have been identified as key parts of two neurotransmitter systems involved in fundamental brain processes. Serotonin (or 5-hydroxytryptamine) 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) and metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor (mGluR2) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that interact at epigenetic and functional levels. These two receptors can form GPCR heteromeric complexes through which their pharmacology, function and trafficking becomes affected. Here we review past and current research on the 5-HT2AR-mGluR2 heterocomplex and its potential implication in schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug action. This article is part of the Special Issue on "The receptor-receptor interaction as a new target for therapy".
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Affiliation(s)
- Somdatta Saha
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
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7
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Jacobson KA, Pradhan B, Wen Z, Pramanik A. New paradigms in purinergic receptor ligand discovery. Neuropharmacology 2023; 230:109503. [PMID: 36921890 PMCID: PMC10233512 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
The discovery and clinical implementation of modulators of adenosine, P2Y and P2X receptors (comprising nineteen subtypes) have progressed dramatically in ∼50 years since Burnstock's definition of purinergic signaling. Although most clinical trials of selective ligands (agonists and antagonists) of certain purinergic receptors failed, there is a renewed impetus to redirect efforts to new disease conditions and the discovery of more selective or targeted compounds with potentially reduced side effects, such as biased GPCR agonists. The elucidation of new receptor and enzyme structures is steering rational design of potent and selective agonists, antagonists, allosteric modulators and inhibitors. A2A adenosine receptor (AR) antagonists are being applied to neurodegenerative conditions and cancer immunotherapy. A3AR agonists have potential for treating chronic inflammation (e.g. psoriasis), stroke and pain, as well as cancer. P2YR modulators are being considered for treating inflammation, metabolic disorders, acute kidney injury, cancer, pain and other conditions, often with an immune mechanism. ADP-activated P2Y12R antagonists are widely used as antithrombotic drugs, while their repurposing toward neuroinflammation is considered. P2X3 antagonists have been in clinical trials for chronic cough. P2X7 antagonists have been in clinical trials for inflammatory diseases and depression (compounds that penetrate the blood-brain barrier). Thus, purinergic signaling is now recognized as an immense regulatory system in the body for rebalancing tissues and organs under stress, which can be adjusted by drug intervention for therapeutic purposes. The lack of success of many previous clinical trials can be overcome given more advanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approaches, including structure-based drug design, prodrugs and biased signaling. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Purinergic Signaling: 50 years".
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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, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Balaram Pradhan
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Zhiwei Wen
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Asmita Pramanik
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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8
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Ferré S, Sarasola LI, Quiroz C, Ciruela F. Presynaptic adenosine receptor heteromers as key modulators of glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum. Neuropharmacology 2023; 223:109329. [PMID: 36375695 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2022.109329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine plays a very significant role in modulating striatal glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission. In the present essay we first review the extensive evidence that indicates this modulation is mediated by adenosine A1 and A2A receptors (A1Rs and A2ARs) differentially expressed by the components of the striatal microcircuit that include cortico-striatal glutamatergic and mesencephalic dopaminergic terminals, and the cholinergic interneuron. This microcircuit mediates the ability of striatal glutamate release to locally promote dopamine release through the intermediate activation of cholinergic interneurons. A1Rs and A2ARs are colocalized in the cortico-striatal glutamatergic terminals, where they form A1R-A2AR and A2AR-cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) heteromers. We then evaluate recent findings on the unique properties of A1R-A2AR and A2AR-CB1R heteromers, which depend on their different quaternary tetrameric structure. These properties involve different allosteric mechanisms in the two receptor heteromers that provide fine-tune modulation of adenosine and endocannabinoid-mediated striatal glutamate release. Finally, we evaluate the evidence supporting the use of different heteromers containing striatal adenosine receptors as targets for drug development for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, based on the ability or inability of the A2AR to demonstrate constitutive activity in the different heteromers, and the ability of some A2AR ligands to act preferentially as neutral antagonists or inverse agonists, or to have preferential affinity for a specific A2AR heteromer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Laura I Sarasola
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Neuropharmacology and Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - César Quiroz
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Pharmacology Unit, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Neuropharmacology and Pain Group, Neuroscience Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
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9
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Sluyter R, Cederholm JME, Vlajkovic SM. Editorial: purinergic signalling-perspectives from Australia and New Zealand. Purinergic Signal 2022; 18:383-384. [PMID: 36219328 PMCID: PMC9552130 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09901-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Sluyter
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia. .,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia.
| | - Jennie M. E. Cederholm
- grid.1005.40000 0004 4902 0432Translational Neuroscience Facility and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Srdjan M. Vlajkovic
- grid.9654.e0000 0004 0372 3343Department of Physiology and Eisdell Moore Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 1142 Auckland, New Zealand
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10
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Gregory KJ, Jörg M. Chemical biology-based approaches to study adenosine A 2A - dopamine D 2 receptor heteromers. Purinergic Signal 2022; 18:395-398. [PMID: 35348986 PMCID: PMC9832194 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09860-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karen J. Gregory
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Drug Discovery Biology Theme, ARC Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052 Australia
| | - Manuela Jörg
- Medicinal Chemistry Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia. .,Chemistry-School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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11
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Casajuana-Martin N, Navarro G, Gonzalez A, Llinas del Torrent C, Gómez-Autet M, Quintana García A, Franco R, Pardo L. A Single Point Mutation Blocks the Entrance of Ligands to the Cannabinoid CB 2 Receptor via the Lipid Bilayer. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:5771-5779. [PMID: 36302505 PMCID: PMC9709915 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations have become a common tool to study the pathway of ligand entry to the orthosteric binding site of G protein-coupled receptors. Here, we have combined MD simulations and site-directed mutagenesis to study the binding process of the potent JWH-133 agonist to the cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R). In CB2R, the N-terminus and extracellular loop 2 fold over the ligand binding pocket, blocking access to the binding cavity from the extracellular environment. We, thus, hypothesized that the binding pathway is a multistage process consisting of the hydrophobic ligand diffusing in the lipid bilayer to contact a lipid-facing vestibule, from which the ligand enters an allosteric site inside the transmembrane bundle through a tunnel formed between TMs 1 and 7 and finally moving from the allosteric to the orthosteric binding cavity. This pathway was experimentally validated by the Ala2827.36Phe mutation that blocks the entrance of the ligand, as JWH-133 was not able to decrease the forskolin-induced cAMP levels in cells expressing the mutant receptor. This proposed ligand entry pathway defines transient binding sites that are potential cavities for the design of synthetic modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nil Casajuana-Martin
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Department
of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain,Centro
de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Gonzalez
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Llinas del Torrent
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Gómez-Autet
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aleix Quintana García
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Franco
- Centro
de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28031 Madrid, Spain,Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratory
of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain,E-mail:
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12
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Trinh PNH, Baltos JA, Hellyer SD, May LT, Gregory KJ. Adenosine receptor signalling in Alzheimer’s disease. Purinergic Signal 2022; 18:359-381. [PMID: 35870032 PMCID: PMC9391555 DOI: 10.1007/s11302-022-09883-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common dementia in the elderly and its increasing prevalence presents treatment challenges. Despite a better understanding of the disease, the current mainstay of treatment cannot modify pathogenesis or effectively address the associated cognitive and memory deficits. Emerging evidence suggests adenosine G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are promising therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease. The adenosine A1 and A2A receptors are expressed in the human brain and have a proposed involvement in the pathogenesis of dementia. Targeting these receptors preclinically can mitigate pathogenic β-amyloid and tau neurotoxicity whilst improving cognition and memory. In this review, we provide an accessible summary of the literature on Alzheimer’s disease and the therapeutic potential of A1 and A2A receptors. Although there are no available medicines targeting these receptors approved for treating dementia, we provide insights into some novel strategies, including allosterism and the targeting of oligomers, which may increase drug discovery success and enhance the therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuc N. H. Trinh
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Jo-Anne Baltos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Shane D. Hellyer
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Lauren T. May
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Karen J. Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, 3052 Australia
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