1
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Fuladi S, Jannat RW, Shen L, Weber CR, Khalili-Araghi F. Computational Modeling of Claudin Structure and Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030742. [PMID: 31979311 PMCID: PMC7037046 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tight junctions form a barrier to control passive transport of ions and small molecules across epithelia and endothelia. In addition to forming a barrier, some of claudins control transport properties of tight junctions by forming charge- and size-selective ion channels. It has been suggested claudin monomers can form or incorporate into tight junction strands to form channels. Resolving the crystallographic structure of several claudins in recent years has provided an opportunity to examine structural basis of claudins in tight junctions. Computational and theoretical modeling relying on atomic description of the pore have contributed significantly to our understanding of claudin pores and paracellular transport. In this paper, we review recent computational and mathematical modeling of claudin barrier function. We focus on dynamic modeling of global epithelial barrier function as a function of claudin pores and molecular dynamics studies of claudins leading to a functional model of claudin channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Fuladi
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (S.F.); (R.-W.J.)
| | - Ridaka-Wal Jannat
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (S.F.); (R.-W.J.)
| | - Le Shen
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA;
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Christopher R. Weber
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA;
- Correspondence: (C.R.W.); (F.K.-A.)
| | - Fatemeh Khalili-Araghi
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA; (S.F.); (R.-W.J.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.W.); (F.K.-A.)
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2
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Barreto CAV, Baptista SJ, Preto AJ, Matos-Filipe P, Mourão J, Melo R, Moreira I. Prediction and targeting of GPCR oligomer interfaces. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 169:105-149. [PMID: 31952684 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
GPCR oligomerization has emerged as a hot topic in the GPCR field in the last years. Receptors that are part of these oligomers can influence each other's function, although it is not yet entirely understood how these interactions work. The existence of such a highly complex network of interactions between GPCRs generates the possibility of alternative targets for new therapeutic approaches. However, challenges still exist in the characterization of these complexes, especially at the interface level. Different experimental approaches, such as FRET or BRET, are usually combined to study GPCR oligomer interactions. Computational methods have been applied as a useful tool for retrieving information from GPCR sequences and the few X-ray-resolved oligomeric structures that are accessible, as well as for predicting new and trustworthy GPCR oligomeric interfaces. Machine-learning (ML) approaches have recently helped with some hindrances of other methods. By joining and evaluating multiple structure-, sequence- and co-evolution-based features on the same algorithm, it is possible to dilute the issues of particular structures and residues that arise from the experimental methodology into all-encompassing algorithms capable of accurately predict GPCR-GPCR interfaces. All these methods used as a single or a combined approach provide useful information about GPCR oligomerization and its role in GPCR function and dynamics. Altogether, we present experimental, computational and machine-learning methods used to study oligomers interfaces, as well as strategies that have been used to target these dynamic complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A V Barreto
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Salete J Baptista
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, LRS, Portugal
| | - António José Preto
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Matos-Filipe
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Mourão
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Melo
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, CTN, LRS, Portugal
| | - Irina Moreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Science and Technology Faculty, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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3
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Single Proteoliposome High-Content Analysis Reveals Differences in the Homo-Oligomerization of GPCRs. Biophys J 2019; 115:300-312. [PMID: 30021106 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) control vital cellular signaling pathways. GPCR oligomerization is proposed to increase signaling diversity. However, many reports have arrived at disparate conclusions regarding the existence, stability, and stoichiometry of GPCR oligomers, partly because of cellular complexity and ensemble averaging of intrareconstitution heterogeneities that complicate the interpretation of oligomerization data. To overcome these limitations, we exploited fluorescence-microscopy-based high-content analysis of single proteoliposomes. This allowed multidimensional quantification of intrinsic monomer-monomer interactions of three class A GPCRs (β2-adrenergic receptor, cannabinoid receptor type 1, and opsin). Using a billion-fold less protein than conventional assays, we quantified oligomer stoichiometries, association constants, and the influence of two ligands and membrane curvature on oligomerization, revealing key similarities and differences for three GPCRs with decidedly different physiological functions. The assays introduced here will assist with the quantitative experimental observation of oligomerization for transmembrane proteins in general.
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4
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Corradi V, Sejdiu BI, Mesa-Galloso H, Abdizadeh H, Noskov SY, Marrink SJ, Tieleman DP. Emerging Diversity in Lipid-Protein Interactions. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5775-5848. [PMID: 30758191 PMCID: PMC6509647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
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Membrane
lipids interact with proteins in a variety of ways, ranging
from providing a stable membrane environment for proteins to being
embedded in to detailed roles in complicated and well-regulated protein
functions. Experimental and computational advances are converging
in a rapidly expanding research area of lipid–protein interactions.
Experimentally, the database of high-resolution membrane protein structures
is growing, as are capabilities to identify the complex lipid composition
of different membranes, to probe the challenging time and length scales
of lipid–protein interactions, and to link lipid–protein
interactions to protein function in a variety of proteins. Computationally,
more accurate membrane models and more powerful computers now enable
a detailed look at lipid–protein interactions and increasing
overlap with experimental observations for validation and joint interpretation
of simulation and experiment. Here we review papers that use computational
approaches to study detailed lipid–protein interactions, together
with brief experimental and physiological contexts, aiming at comprehensive
coverage of simulation papers in the last five years. Overall, a complex
picture of lipid–protein interactions emerges, through a range
of mechanisms including modulation of the physical properties of the
lipid environment, detailed chemical interactions between lipids and
proteins, and key functional roles of very specific lipids binding
to well-defined binding sites on proteins. Computationally, despite
important limitations, molecular dynamics simulations with current
computer power and theoretical models are now in an excellent position
to answer detailed questions about lipid–protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Corradi
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Besian I Sejdiu
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Haydee Mesa-Galloso
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Haleh Abdizadeh
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7 , 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - Sergei Yu Noskov
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7 , 9747 AG Groningen , The Netherlands
| | - D Peter Tieleman
- Centre for Molecular Simulation and Department of Biological Sciences , University of Calgary , 2500 University Drive NW , Calgary , Alberta T2N 1N4 , Canada
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5
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Zhang X, Yuan Y, Wang L, Guo Y, Li M, Li C, Pu X. Use multiscale simulation to explore the effects of the homodimerizations between different conformation states on the activation and allosteric pathway for the μ-opioid receptor. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:13485-13496. [PMID: 29726867 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp02016g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recently, oligomers of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been an important topic in the GPCR fields. However, knowledge about their structures and activation mechanisms is very limited due to the absence of crystal structures reported. In this work, we used multiscale simulations to study the effects of homodimerization between different conformation states on their activation, dynamic behaviors, and allosteric communication pathways for μ-OR. The results indicated that the dimerization of one inactive monomer with either one inactive monomer or one active one could enhance its constitutive activation. However, the conformation state of the other protomer (e.g., active or inactive) can influence the activated extent. The dimerization between the two inactive protomers leads to a negative cooperativity for their activation, which should contribute to the asymmetric activation of GPCR dimers observed in some experiments. On the other hand, for the active monomer, its dimerization with one inactive receptor could alleviate its deactivation, whereby negative and positive cooperativities can be observed between the two subunits of the dimer, depending on the different regions. Observations from protein structure network (PSN) analysis indicated that the dimerization of one inactive monomer with one active one would cause a significant drop in the number of main pathways from the ligand binding pocket to the G-protein coupled region for the inactive protomer, while the impact is minor for the active protomer. But, for the active monomer or the inactive one, its dimerization with one inactive monomer would significantly change the types of residues participating in the pathway with the highest frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuan Yuan
- College of Management, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China
| | - Longrong Wang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanzhi Guo
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Menglong Li
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chuan Li
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, P. R. China.
| | - Xuemei Pu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Molecular details of dimerization kinetics reveal negligible populations of transient µ-opioid receptor homodimers at physiological concentrations. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7705. [PMID: 29769636 PMCID: PMC5955887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26070-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Various experimental and computational techniques have been employed over the past decade to provide structural and thermodynamic insights into G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) dimerization. Here, we use multiple microsecond-long, coarse-grained, biased and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations (a total of ~4 milliseconds) combined with multi-ensemble Markov state models to elucidate the kinetics of homodimerization of a prototypic GPCR, the µ-opioid receptor (MOR), embedded in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/cholesterol lipid bilayer. Analysis of these computations identifies kinetically distinct macrostates comprising several different short-lived dimeric configurations of either inactive or activated MOR. Calculated kinetic rates and fractions of dimers at different MOR concentrations suggest a negligible population of MOR homodimers at physiological concentrations, which is supported by acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. This study provides a rigorous, quantitative explanation for some conflicting experimental data on GPCR oligomerization.
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7
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Durdagi S, Erol I, Salmas RE, Aksoydan B, Kantarcioglu I. Oligomerization and cooperativity in GPCRs from the perspective of the angiotensin AT1 and dopamine D2 receptors. Neurosci Lett 2018; 700:30-37. [PMID: 29684528 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) can form homo- and heterodimers or constitute higher oligomeric clusters with other heptahelical GPCRs. In this article, multiscale molecular modeling approaches as well as experimental techniques which are used to study oligomerization of GPCRs are reviewed. In particular, the effect of dimerization/oligomerization to the ligand binding affinity of individual protomers and also on the efficacy of the oligomer are discussed by including diverse examples from the literature. In addition, possible allosteric effects that may emerge upon interaction of GPCRs with membrane components, like cholesterol, is also discussed. Investigation of these above-mentioned interactions may greatly contribute to the candidate molecule screening studies and development of novel therapeutics with fewer adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serdar Durdagi
- Computational Biology and Molecular Simulations Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey; Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Ismail Erol
- Computational Biology and Molecular Simulations Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Chemistry, Gebze Technical University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Ramin Ekhteiari Salmas
- Computational Biology and Molecular Simulations Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Busecan Aksoydan
- Computational Biology and Molecular Simulations Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey; Neuroscience Program, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Isik Kantarcioglu
- Computational Biology and Molecular Simulations Laboratory, Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Bahcesehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey; Bioengineering Program, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
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8
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Gahbauer S, Pluhackova K, Böckmann RA. Closely related, yet unique: Distinct homo- and heterodimerization patterns of G protein coupled chemokine receptors and their fine-tuning by cholesterol. PLoS Comput Biol 2018; 14:e1006062. [PMID: 29529028 PMCID: PMC5864085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemokine receptors, a subclass of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), play essential roles in the human immune system, they are involved in cancer metastasis as well as in HIV-infection. A plethora of studies show that homo- and heterodimers or even higher order oligomers of the chemokine receptors CXCR4, CCR5, and CCR2 modulate receptor function. In addition, membrane cholesterol affects chemokine receptor activity. However, structural information about homo- and heterodimers formed by chemokine receptors and their interplay with cholesterol is limited. Here, we report homo- and heterodimer configurations of the chemokine receptors CXCR4, CCR5, and CCR2 at atomistic detail, as obtained from thousands of molecular dynamics simulations. The observed homodimerization patterns were similar for the closely related CC chemokine receptors, yet they differed significantly between the CC receptors and CXCR4. Despite their high sequence identity, cholesterol modulated the CC homodimer interfaces in a subtype-specific manner. Chemokine receptor heterodimers display distinct dimerization patterns for CXCR4/CCR5 and CXCR4/CCR2. Furthermore, associations between CXCR4 and CCR5 reveal an increased cholesterol-sensitivity as compared to CXCR4/CCR2 heterodimerization patterns. This work provides a first comprehensive structural overview over the complex interaction network between chemokine receptors and indicates how heterodimerization and the interaction with the membrane environment diversifies the function of closely related GPCRs.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Chemokines/metabolism
- Cholesterol/metabolism
- Computer Simulation
- Dimerization
- Humans
- Molecular Dynamics Simulation
- Receptors, CCR2/chemistry
- Receptors, CCR2/metabolism
- Receptors, CCR2/ultrastructure
- Receptors, CCR5/chemistry
- Receptors, CCR5/metabolism
- Receptors, CCR5/ultrastructure
- Receptors, CXCR4/chemistry
- Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism
- Receptors, CXCR4/ultrastructure
- Receptors, Chemokine/chemistry
- Receptors, Chemokine/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Gahbauer
- Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kristyna Pluhackova
- Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rainer A. Böckmann
- Computational Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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9
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Wang L, Yuan Y, Chen X, Chen J, Guo Y, Li M, Li C, Pu X. Probing the cooperative mechanism of the μ–δ opioid receptor heterodimer by multiscale simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:29969-29982. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp06652c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The activation-cooperativity of the μ–δ opioid receptor heterodimer was probed by multiscale simulation coupled with a protein structure network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longrong Wang
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- College of Management
- Southwest University for Nationalities
- Chengdu 610041
- P. R. China
| | - Xin Chen
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangfan Chen
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
| | - Yanzhi Guo
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
| | - Menglong Li
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan Li
- College of Computer Science
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Pu
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Sichuan University
- Chengdu
- People's Republic of China
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10
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Excessive aggregation of membrane proteins in the Martini model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187936. [PMID: 29131844 PMCID: PMC5683612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The coarse-grained Martini model is employed extensively to study membrane protein oligomerization. While this approach is exceptionally promising given its computational efficiency, it is alarming that a significant fraction of these studies demonstrate unrealistic protein clusters, whose formation is essentially an irreversible process. This suggests that the protein-protein interactions are exaggerated in the Martini model. If this held true, then it would limit the applicability of Martini to study multi-protein complexes, as the rapidly clustering proteins would not be able to properly sample the correct dimerization conformations. In this work we first demonstrate the excessive protein aggregation by comparing the dimerization free energies of helical transmembrane peptides obtained with the Martini model to those determined from FRET experiments. Second, we show that the predictions provided by the Martini model for the structures of transmembrane domain dimers are in poor agreement with the corresponding structures resolved using NMR. Next, we demonstrate that the first issue can be overcome by slightly scaling down the Martini protein-protein interactions in a manner, which does not interfere with the other Martini interaction parameters. By preventing excessive, irreversible, and non-selective aggregation of membrane proteins, this approach renders the consideration of lateral dynamics and protein-lipid interactions in crowded membranes by the Martini model more realistic. However, this adjusted model does not lead to an improvement in the predicted dimer structures. This implicates that the poor agreement between the Martini model and NMR structures cannot be cured by simply uniformly reducing the interactions between all protein beads. Instead, a careful amino-acid specific adjustment of the protein-protein interactions is likely required.
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11
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Altwaijry NA, Baron M, Wright DW, Coveney PV, Townsend-Nicholson A. An Ensemble-Based Protocol for the Computational Prediction of Helix-Helix Interactions in G Protein-Coupled Receptors using Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics. J Chem Theory Comput 2017; 13:2254-2270. [PMID: 28383913 PMCID: PMC5557214 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.6b01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The
accurate identification of the specific points of interaction
between G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oligomers is essential for
the design of receptor ligands targeting oligomeric receptor targets.
A coarse-grained molecular dynamics computer simulation approach would
provide a compelling means of identifying these specific protein–protein
interactions and could be applied both for known oligomers of interest
and as a high-throughput screen to identify novel oligomeric targets.
However, to be effective, this in silico modeling must provide accurate,
precise, and reproducible information. This has been achieved recently
in numerous biological systems using an ensemble-based all-atom molecular
dynamics approach. In this study, we describe an equivalent methodology
for ensemble-based coarse-grained simulations. We report the performance
of this method when applied to four different GPCRs known to oligomerize
using error analysis to determine the ensemble size and individual
replica simulation time required. Our measurements of distance between
residues shown to be involved in oligomerization of the fifth transmembrane
domain from the adenosine A2A receptor are in very good
agreement with the existing biophysical data and provide information
about the nature of the contact interface that cannot be determined
experimentally. Calculations of distance between rhodopsin, CXCR4,
and β1AR transmembrane domains reported to form contact
points in homodimers correlate well with the corresponding measurements
obtained from experimental structural data, providing an ability to predict
contact interfaces computationally. Interestingly, error analysis
enables identification of noninteracting regions. Our results confirm
that GPCR interactions can be reliably predicted using this novel
methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nojood A Altwaijry
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London , London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.,King Saud University , Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael Baron
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London , London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - David W Wright
- Centre for Computational Science, Department of Chemistry, University College London , London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Peter V Coveney
- Centre for Computational Science, Department of Chemistry, University College London , London WC1H 0AJ, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Townsend-Nicholson
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Research Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London , London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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12
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Gendron L, Cahill CM, von Zastrow M, Schiller PW, Pineyro G. Molecular Pharmacology of δ-Opioid Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2017; 68:631-700. [PMID: 27343248 DOI: 10.1124/pr.114.008979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are among the most effective analgesics available and are the first choice in the treatment of acute severe pain. However, partial efficacy, a tendency to produce tolerance, and a host of ill-tolerated side effects make clinically available opioids less effective in the management of chronic pain syndromes. Given that most therapeutic opioids produce their actions via µ-opioid receptors (MOPrs), other targets are constantly being explored, among which δ-opioid receptors (DOPrs) are being increasingly considered as promising alternatives. This review addresses DOPrs from the perspective of cellular and molecular determinants of their pharmacological diversity. Thus, DOPr ligands are examined in terms of structural and functional variety, DOPrs' capacity to engage a multiplicity of canonical and noncanonical G protein-dependent responses is surveyed, and evidence supporting ligand-specific signaling and regulation is analyzed. Pharmacological DOPr subtypes are examined in light of the ability of DOPr to organize into multimeric arrays and to adopt multiple active conformations as well as differences in ligand kinetics. Current knowledge on DOPr targeting to the membrane is examined as a means of understanding how these receptors are especially active in chronic pain management. Insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms of pharmacological diversity should guide the rational design of more effective, longer-lasting, and better-tolerated opioid analgesics for chronic pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Gendron
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Univeristé de Sherbrooke, and Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Québec Pain Research Network, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, California (C.M.C.); Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (C.M.C.); Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California (M.v.Z.); Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P.W.S.); and Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (G.P.)
| | - Catherine M Cahill
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Univeristé de Sherbrooke, and Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Québec Pain Research Network, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, California (C.M.C.); Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (C.M.C.); Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California (M.v.Z.); Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P.W.S.); and Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (G.P.)
| | - Mark von Zastrow
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Univeristé de Sherbrooke, and Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Québec Pain Research Network, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, California (C.M.C.); Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (C.M.C.); Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California (M.v.Z.); Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P.W.S.); and Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (G.P.)
| | - Peter W Schiller
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Univeristé de Sherbrooke, and Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Québec Pain Research Network, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, California (C.M.C.); Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (C.M.C.); Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California (M.v.Z.); Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P.W.S.); and Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (G.P.)
| | - Graciela Pineyro
- Département de Pharmacologie-Physiologie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Sherbrooke, Centre d'excellence en neurosciences de l'Univeristé de Sherbrooke, and Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Québec Pain Research Network, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (L.G.); Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care and Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, California (C.M.C.); Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (C.M.C.); Departments of Psychiatry and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California (M.v.Z.); Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (P.W.S.); and Departments of Psychiatry, Pharmacology, and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (G.P.)
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13
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Methods used to study the oligomeric structure of G-protein-coupled receptors. Biosci Rep 2017; 37:BSR20160547. [PMID: 28062602 PMCID: PMC5398257 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20160547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which constitute the largest family of cell surface receptors, were originally thought to function as monomers, but are now recognized as being able to act in a wide range of oligomeric states and indeed, it is known that the oligomerization state of a GPCR can modulate its pharmacology and function. A number of experimental techniques have been devised to study GPCR oligomerization including those based upon traditional biochemistry such as blue-native PAGE (BN-PAGE), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and protein-fragment complementation assays (PCAs), those based upon resonance energy transfer, FRET, time-resolved FRET (TR-FRET), FRET spectrometry and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Those based upon microscopy such as FRAP, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM), spatial intensity distribution analysis (SpIDA) and various single molecule imaging techniques. Finally with the solution of a growing number of crystal structures, X-ray crystallography must be acknowledged as an important source of discovery in this field. A different, but in many ways complementary approach to the use of more traditional experimental techniques, are those involving computational methods that possess obvious merit in the study of the dynamics of oligomer formation and function. Here, we summarize the latest developments that have been made in the methods used to study GPCR oligomerization and give an overview of their application.
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Sengupta D, Sonar K, Joshi M. Characterizing clinically relevant natural variants of GPCRs using computational approaches. Methods Cell Biol 2017; 142:187-204. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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15
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Marino KA, Prada-Gracia D, Provasi D, Filizola M. Impact of Lipid Composition and Receptor Conformation on the Spatio-temporal Organization of μ-Opioid Receptors in a Multi-component Plasma Membrane Model. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1005240. [PMID: 27959924 PMCID: PMC5154498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The lipid composition of cell membranes has increasingly been recognized as playing an important role in the function of various membrane proteins, including G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). For instance, experimental and computational evidence has pointed to lipids influencing receptor oligomerization directly, by physically interacting with the receptor, and/or indirectly, by altering the bulk properties of the membrane. While the exact role of oligomerization in the function of class A GPCRs such as the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is still unclear, insight as to how these receptors oligomerize and the relevance of the lipid environment to this phenomenon is crucial to our understanding of receptor function. To examine the effect of lipids and different MOR conformations on receptor oligomerization we carried out extensive coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of crystal structures of inactive and/or activated MOR embedded in an idealized mammalian plasma membrane composed of 63 lipid types asymmetrically distributed across the two leaflets. The results of these simulations point, for the first time, to specific direct and indirect effects of the lipids, as well as the receptor conformation, on the spatio-temporal organization of MOR in the plasma membrane. While sphingomyelin-rich, high-order lipid regions near certain transmembrane (TM) helices of MOR induce an effective long-range attractive force on individual protomers, both long-range lipid order and interface formation are found to be conformation dependent, with a larger number of different interfaces formed by inactive MOR compared to active MOR. The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is an important pharmaceutical target in the treatment of pain. In order to develop novel pain therapies, devoid of the serious side-effects of present opioid analgesics, we need to understand the fundamentals of how MOR works on the molecular level. While some studies suggest that oligomers of MOR could play a role in signaling, how MOR forms dimers, which interfaces form, and the exact role of oligomers in MOR function remain unclear. While research has shown that the membrane environment can affect membrane protein function, most previous computational work to study oligomerization has been performed in a very simple membrane. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations of MOR in a heterogeneous plasma membrane model (comprising 63 lipid types) to investigate how the presence of the protein modulates its lipid environment, affecting species distribution and sculpting characteristic order and thickness profiles around the receptors. Such modulations, in turn, induce long-range interactions between the proteins and favor the formation of specific dimeric conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A. Marino
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - Diego Prada-Gracia
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - Davide Provasi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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16
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Periole X. Interplay of G Protein-Coupled Receptors with the Membrane: Insights from Supra-Atomic Coarse Grain Molecular Dynamics Simulations. Chem Rev 2016; 117:156-185. [PMID: 28073248 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are central to many fundamental cellular signaling pathways. They transduce signals from the outside to the inside of cells in physiological processes ranging from vision to immune response. It is extremely challenging to look at them individually using conventional experimental techniques. Recently, a pseudo atomistic molecular model has emerged as a valuable tool to access information on GPCRs, more specifically on their interactions with their environment in their native cell membrane and the consequences on their supramolecular organization. This approach uses the Martini coarse grain (CG) model to describe the receptors, lipids, and solvent in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and in enough detail to allow conserving the chemical specificity of the different molecules. The elimination of unnecessary degrees of freedom has opened up large-scale simulations of the lipid-mediated supramolecular organization of GPCRs. Here, after introducing the Martini CGMD method, we review these studies carried out on various members of the GPCR family, including rhodopsin (visual receptor), opioid receptors, adrenergic receptors, adenosine receptors, dopamine receptor, and sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor. These studies have brought to light an interesting set of novel biophysical principles. The insights range from revealing localized and heterogeneous deformations of the membrane bilayer at the surface of the protein, specific interactions of lipid molecules with individual GPCRs, to the effect of the membrane matrix on global GPCR self-assembly. The review ends with an overview of the lessons learned from the use of the CGMD method, the biophysical-chemical findings on lipid-protein interplay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Periole
- Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute and Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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17
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Kaczor AA, Jörg M, Capuano B. The dopamine D2 receptor dimer and its interaction with homobivalent antagonists: homology modeling, docking and molecular dynamics. J Mol Model 2016; 22:203. [PMID: 27491852 PMCID: PMC5023759 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-016-3065-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In order to apply structure-based drug design techniques to G protein-coupled receptor complexes, it is essential to model their 3D structure and to identify regions that are suitable for selective drug binding. For this purpose, we have developed and tested a multi-component protocol to model the inactive conformation of the dopamine D2 receptor dimer, suitable for interaction with homobivalent antagonists. Our approach was based on protein-protein docking, applying the Rosetta software to obtain populations of dimers as present in membranes with all the main possible interfaces. Consensus scoring based on the values and frequencies of best interfaces regarding four scoring parameters, Rosetta interface score, interface area, free energy of binding and energy of hydrogen bond interactions indicated that the best scored dimer model possesses a TM4-TM5-TM7-TM1 interface, which is in agreement with experimental data. This model was used to study interactions of the previously published dopamine D2 receptor homobivalent antagonists based on clozapine,1,4-disubstituted aromatic piperidines/piperazines and arylamidoalkyl substituted phenylpiperazine pharmacophores. It was found that the homobivalent antagonists stabilize the receptor-inactive conformation by maintaining the ionic lock interaction, and change the dimer interface by disrupting a set of hydrogen bonds and maintaining water- and ligand-mediated hydrogen bonds in the extracellular and intracellular part of the interface. Graphical Abstract Structure of the final model of the dopamine D2 receptor homodimer, indicating the distancebetween Tyr37 and Tyr 5.42 in the apo form (left) and in the complex with the ligand (right).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka A Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division for Medical Analytics, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., 20059, Lublin, Poland.
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, PO Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Manuela Jörg
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Ben Capuano
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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18
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Meng XY, Mezei M, Cui M. Computational approaches for modeling GPCR dimerization. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2015; 15:996-1006. [PMID: 25307013 DOI: 10.2174/1389201015666141013102515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Growing experimental evidences suggest that dimerization and oligomerization are important for G Protein- Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) function. The detailed structural information of dimeric/oligomeric GPCRs would be very important to understand their function. Although it is encouraging that recently several experimental GPCR structures in oligomeric forms have appeared, experimental determination of GPCR structures in oligomeric forms is still a big challenge, especially in mimicking the membrane environment. Therefore, development of computational approaches to predict dimerization of GPCRs will be highly valuable. In this review, we summarize computational approaches that have been developed and used for modeling of GPCR dimerization. In addition, we introduce a novel two-dimensional Brownian Dynamics based protein docking approach, which we have recently adapted, for GPCR dimer prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Meng Cui
- Institute of Quantitative Biology and Medicine, Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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19
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Provasi D, Boz MB, Johnston JM, Filizola M. Preferred supramolecular organization and dimer interfaces of opioid receptors from simulated self-association. PLoS Comput Biol 2015; 11:e1004148. [PMID: 25822938 PMCID: PMC4379167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Substantial evidence in support of the formation of opioid receptor (OR) di-/oligomers suggests previously unknown mechanisms used by these proteins to exert their biological functions. In an attempt to guide experimental assessment of the identity of the minimal signaling unit for ORs, we conducted extensive coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of different combinations of the three major OR subtypes, i.e., μ-OR, δ-OR, and κ-OR, in an explicit lipid bilayer. Specifically, we ran multiple, independent MD simulations of each homomeric μ-OR/μ-OR, δ-OR/δ-OR, and κ-OR/κ-OR complex, as well as two of the most studied heteromeric complexes, i.e., δ-OR/μ-OR and δ-OR/κ-OR, to derive the preferred supramolecular organization and dimer interfaces of ORs in a cell membrane model. These simulations yielded over 250 microseconds of accumulated data, which correspond to approximately 1 millisecond of effective simulated dynamics according to established scaling factors of the CG model we employed. Analysis of these data indicates similar preferred supramolecular organization and dimer interfaces of ORs across the different receptor subtypes, but also important differences in the kinetics of receptor association at specific dimer interfaces. We also investigated the kinetic properties of interfacial lipids, and explored their possible role in modulating the rate of receptor association and in promoting the formation of filiform aggregates, thus supporting a distinctive role of the membrane in OR oligomerization and, possibly, signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Provasi
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mustafa Burak Boz
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer M. Johnston
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Kaczor AA, Guixà-González R, Carrió P, Poso A, Dove S, Pastor M, Selent J. Multi-Component Protein - Protein Docking Based Protocol with External Scoring for Modeling Dimers of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Mol Inform 2015; 34:246-55. [PMID: 27490170 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201400088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In order to apply structure-based drug design techniques to GPCR complexes, it is essential to model their 3D structure. For this purpose, a multi-component protocol was derived based on protein-protein docking which generates populations of dimers compatible with membrane integration, considering all reasonable interfaces. At the next stage, we applied a scoring procedure based on up to eleven different parameters including shape or electrostatics complementarity. Two methods of consensus scoring were performed: (i) average scores of 100 best scored dimers with respect to each interface, and (ii) frequencies of interfaces among 100 best scored dimers. In general, our multi-component protocol gives correct indications for dimer interfaces that have been observed in X-ray crystal structures of GPCR dimers (opsin dimer, chemokine CXCR4 and CCR5 dimers, κ opioid receptor dimer, β1 adrenergic receptor dimer and smoothened receptor dimer) but also suggests alternative dimerization interfaces. Interestingly, at times these alternative interfaces are scored higher than the experimentally observed ones suggesting them to be also relevant in the life cycle of studied GPCR dimers. Further results indicate that GPCR dimer and higher-order oligomer formation may involve transmembrane helices (TMs) TM1-TM2-TM7, TM3-TM4-TM5 or TM4-TM5-TM6 but not TM1-TM2-TM3 or TM2-TM3-TM4 which is in general agreement with available experimental and computational data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka A Kaczor
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland phone: +48815357365; fax: +48815357366. .,Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modeling Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy with Division for Medical Analytics, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20059 Lublin, Poland. .,Research Unit on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), PRBB, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry II, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, DE-93040 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Ramon Guixà-González
- Research Unit on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), PRBB, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Carrió
- Research Unit on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), PRBB, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antti Poso
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland phone: +48815357365; fax: +48815357366
| | - Stefan Dove
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry II, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, DE-93040 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Manuel Pastor
- Research Unit on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), PRBB, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Unit on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), PRBB, Dr Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
The publication of high-resolution structures for all of the opioid receptor subfamilies has unveiled exciting opportunities for mechanistic insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of nociception, reward, and higher cognitive functions, as well as promises for progress in several clinical areas such as pain management, physiological dependence, addiction, and mood disorders. To turn this promise into novel and improved therapeutic entities, however, this information needs to be supplemented with research strategies that explore the dynamic behavior of the proteins and their interactions with other receptors and ligands in their physiological environment.Here we describe state-of-the-art molecular dynamics computational protocols, based on all-atom and coarse-grained modeling techniques, designed to estimate crucial thermodynamic and kinetic parameters describing the binding of small-molecule ligands and the formation of supramolecular complexes.
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Guixà-González R, Ramírez-Anguita JM, Kaczor AA, Selent J. Simulating G protein-coupled receptors in native-like membranes: from monomers to oligomers. Methods Cell Biol 2014; 117:63-90. [PMID: 24143972 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-408143-7.00004-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the most relevant superfamilies of transmembrane proteins as they participate in an important variety of biological events. Recently, the scientific community is witnessing an advent of a GPCR crystallization age along with impressive improvements achieved in the field of computer simulations during the last two decades. Computer simulation techniques such as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are now frequent tools to study the dynamic behavior of GPCRs and, more importantly, to model the complex membrane environment where these proteins spend their lifetime. Thanks to these tools, GPCRs can be simulated not only longer but also in a more "physiological" fashion. In this scenario, scientists are taking advantage of such advances to approach certain phenomena such as GPCR oligomerization occurring only at timescales not reachable until now. Thus, despite current MD simulations having important limitations today, they have become an essential tool to study key biophysical properties of GPCRs and GPCR oligomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Guixà-González
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra/IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Dr. Aiguader, Barcelona, Spain
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Johnston JM, Filizola M. Differential stability of the crystallographic interfaces of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90694. [PMID: 24651466 PMCID: PMC3944890 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) and kappa-opioid receptor (KOPr) crystal structures have inspired hypotheses of physiologically relevant dimerization contacts, specifically: a closely packed interface involving transmembrane (TM) helices TM5 and TM6, and a less compact interface, involving TM1, TM2, and helix 8 (H8). While the former was only found in MOPr crystals, similar arrangements of the latter were identified for both KOPr and MOPr. The relevance of these interfaces outside of a crystal lattice is called into question by the possibility that they might be influenced by the specific crystallization conditions. In this study, we have employed umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations of coarse-grained representations of the interacting MOPr or KOPr crystallographic structures, in the absence of the T4 lysozyme, and in an explicit lipid-water environment, to determine the strength of receptor dimerization at the different crystallographic interfaces. We note that the shape of the interface plays a dominant role in the strength of the interaction, and the pattern of contacting residues defines the shape of the potential of mean force. This information can be used to guide experiments aimed at exploring the role of dimerization in opioid receptor function.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Computer Simulation
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Humans
- Mice
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Binding
- Protein Multimerization
- Protein Structure, Quaternary
- Protein Structure, Secondary
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Johnston
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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24
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Johnston JM, Filizola M. Beyond standard molecular dynamics: investigating the molecular mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptors with enhanced molecular dynamics methods. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 796:95-125. [PMID: 24158803 PMCID: PMC4074508 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7423-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The majority of biological processes mediated by G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) take place on timescales that are not conveniently accessible to standard molecular dynamics (MD) approaches, notwithstanding the current availability of specialized parallel computer architectures, and efficient simulation algorithms. Enhanced MD-based methods have started to assume an important role in the study of the rugged energy landscape of GPCRs by providing mechanistic details of complex receptor processes such as ligand recognition, activation, and oligomerization. We provide here an overview of these methods in their most recent application to the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Johnston
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
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25
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Hu J, Hu K, Liu T, Stern MK, Mistry R, Challiss RAJ, Costanzi S, Wess J. Novel structural and functional insights into M3 muscarinic receptor dimer/oligomer formation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:34777-90. [PMID: 24133207 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.503714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are able to form homodimers and/or oligomeric arrays. We recently proposed, based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer studies with the M3 muscarinic receptor (M3R), a prototypic class A GPCR, that the M3R is able to form multiple, structurally distinct dimers that are probably transient in nature (McMillin, S. M., Heusel, M., Liu, T., Costanzi, S., and Wess, J. (2011) J. Biol. Chem. 286, 28584-28598). To provide more direct experimental support for this concept, we employed a disulfide cross-linking strategy to trap various M3R dimeric species present in a native lipid environment (transfected COS-7 cells). Disulfide cross-linking studies were carried out with many mutant M3Rs containing single cysteine (Cys) substitutions within two distinct cytoplasmic M3R regions, the C-terminal portion of the second intracellular loop (i2) and helix H8 (H8). The pattern of cross-links that we obtained, in combination with molecular modeling studies, was consistent with the existence of two structurally distinct M3R dimer interfaces, one involving i2/i2 contacts (TM4-TM5-i2 interface) and the other one characterized by H8-H8 interactions (TM1-TM2-H8 interface). Specific H8-H8 disulfide cross-links led to significant impairments in M3R-mediated G protein activation, suggesting that changes in the structural orientation or mobility of H8 are critical for efficient receptor-G protein coupling. Our findings provide novel structural and functional insights into the mechanisms involved in M3R dimerization (oligomerization). Because the M3R shows a high degree of sequence similarity with many other class A GPCRs, our findings should be of considerable general interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Hu
- From the Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Abstract
Spatial organization of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) into dimers and higher order oligomers has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacological readout was shown to depend on the specific interfaces, but why particular regions of the GPCR structure are involved, and how ligand-determined states change them remains unknown. Here we show why protein-membrane hydrophobic matching is attained upon oligomerization at specific interfaces from an analysis of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of the spontaneous diffusion-interaction of the prototypical beta2-adrenergic (β2AR) receptors in a POPC lipid bilayer. The energy penalty from mismatch is significantly reduced in the spontaneously emerging oligomeric arrays, making the spatial organization of the GPCRs dependent on the pattern of mismatch in the monomer. This mismatch pattern is very different for β2AR compared to the highly homologous and structurally similar β1AR, consonant with experimentally observed oligomerization patterns of β2AR and β1AR. The results provide a mechanistic understanding of the structural context of oligomerization.
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Milligan G. The prevalence, maintenance, and relevance of G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 84:158-69. [PMID: 23632086 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.084780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, ideas and experimental support for the hypothesis that G protein-coupled receptors may exist as dimeric or oligomeric complexes moved initially from heresy to orthodoxy, to the current situation in which the capacity of such receptors to interact is generally accepted but the prevalence, maintenance, and relevance of such interactions to both pharmacology and function remain unclear. A vast body of data obtained following transfection of cultured cells is still to be translated to native systems and, even where this has been attempted, results often remain controversial and contradictory. This review will consider approaches that are currently being applied and why these might be challenging to interpret, and will suggest means to overcome these limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme Milligan
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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Quaternary Structure Predictions and Structural Communication Features of GPCR Dimers. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2013; 117:105-42. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-386931-9.00005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Collu F, Ceccarelli M, Ruggerone P. Exploring binding properties of agonists interacting with a δ-opioid receptor. PLoS One 2012; 7:e52633. [PMID: 23300729 PMCID: PMC3530460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2011] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ligand-receptor interactions are at the basis of the mediation of our physiological responses to a large variety of ligands, such as hormones, neurotransmitters and environmental stimulants, and their tuning represents the goal of a large variety of therapies. Several molecular details of these interactions are still largely unknown. In an effort to shed some light on this important issue, we performed a computational study on the interaction of two related compounds differing by a single methyl group (clozapine and desmethylclozapine) with a -opioid receptor. According to experiments, desmethylclozapine is more active than clozapine, providing a system well suited for a comparative study. We investigated stable configurations of the two drugs inside the receptor by simulating their escape routes by molecular dynamics simulations. Our results point out that the action of the compounds might be related to the spatial and temporal distribution of the affinity sites they visit during their permanency. Moreover, no particularly pronounced structural perturbations of the receptor were detected during the simulations, reinforcing the idea of a strong dynamical character of the interaction process, with an important role played by the solvent in addition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Collu
- CNR-IOM SLACS and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Matteo Ceccarelli
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Paolo Ruggerone
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Johnston JM, Wang H, Provasi D, Filizola M. Assessing the relative stability of dimer interfaces in g protein-coupled receptors. PLoS Comput Biol 2012; 8:e1002649. [PMID: 22916005 PMCID: PMC3420924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence has accumulated in recent years suggesting that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) associate in the plasma membrane to form homo- and/or heteromers. Nevertheless, the stoichiometry, fraction and lifetime of such receptor complexes in living cells remain topics of intense debate. Motivated by experimental data suggesting differing stabilities for homomers of the cognate human β1- and β2-adrenergic receptors, we have carried out approximately 160 microseconds of biased molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the dimerization free energy of crystal structure-based models of these receptors, interacting at two interfaces that have often been implicated in GPCR association under physiological conditions. Specifically, results are presented for simulations of coarse-grained (MARTINI-based) and atomistic representations of each receptor, in homodimeric configurations with either transmembrane helices TM1/H8 or TM4/3 at the interface, in an explicit lipid bilayer. Our results support a definite contribution to the relative stability of GPCR dimers from both interface sequence and configuration. We conclude that β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor homodimers with TM1/H8 at the interface are more stable than those involving TM4/3, and that this might be reconciled with experimental studies by considering a model of oligomerization in which more stable TM1 homodimers diffuse through the membrane, transiently interacting with other protomers at interfaces involving other TM helices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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31
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Stockton SD, Devi LA. Functional relevance of μ-δ opioid receptor heteromerization: a role in novel signaling and implications for the treatment of addiction disorders: from a symposium on new concepts in mu-opioid pharmacology. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 121:167-72. [PMID: 22115888 PMCID: PMC3288266 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Revised: 07/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Morphine and other opiates are among the most widely prescribed and clinically useful medications for the treatment of chronic pain. However, the applicability of these compounds has been severely hampered by the rapid development of tolerance and physical dependence that typically accompanies their repeated use. A growing body of evidence has implicated the regulated functioning of μ-δ opioid receptor heteromers in both the modulation of morphine-mediated antinociception, and in the limitation of undesirable side effects resulting from chronic opiate exposure. Moreover, μ-δ heteromers exhibit unique ligand binding characteristics and signaling properties, indicating that pharmacological targeting of the μ-δ heteromer may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the management of chronic pain and addiction disorders. Therefore, the present review will attempt to summarize the latest relevant findings regarding the regulation and functional characteristics of the μ-δ heteromer both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lakshmi A. Devi
- Corresponding author: , Phone: (212) 241-8345; Fax: (212) 996-7214
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32
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Bruno A, Costantino G. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Mol Inform 2012; 31:222-30. [DOI: 10.1002/minf.201100138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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33
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Fanelli F, De Benedetti PG. Update 1 of: computational modeling approaches to structure-function analysis of G protein-coupled receptors. Chem Rev 2011; 111:PR438-535. [PMID: 22165845 DOI: 10.1021/cr100437t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fanelli
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Campi 183, 41125 Modena, Italy.
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34
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Johnston JM, Filizola M. Showcasing modern molecular dynamics simulations of membrane proteins through G protein-coupled receptors. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2011; 21:552-8. [PMID: 21764295 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2011.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Revised: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite many years of dedicated efforts, high-resolution structural determination of membrane proteins lags far behind that of soluble proteins. Computational methods in general, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in particular, have represented important alternative resources over the years to advance understanding of membrane protein structure and function. However, it is only recently that much progress has been achieved owing to new high-resolution membrane protein structures, specialized parallel computer architectures, and efficient simulation algorithms. This has definitely been the case for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which have assumed a leading role in the area of structural biology with several new structures appearing in the literature during the past five years. We provide here a concise overview of recent developments in computational biophysics of membrane proteins, using GPCRs as an example to showcase important information that can be derived from modern MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Johnston
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Avenue, Box 1677, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Johnston JM, Aburi M, Provasi D, Bortolato A, Urizar E, Lambert NA, Javitch JA, Filizola M. Making structural sense of dimerization interfaces of delta opioid receptor homodimers. Biochemistry 2011; 50:1682-90. [PMID: 21261298 PMCID: PMC3050604 DOI: 10.1021/bi101474v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
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Opioid receptors, like other members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, have been shown to associate to form dimers and/or oligomers at the plasma membrane. Whether this association is stable or transient is not known. Recent compelling evidence suggests that at least some GPCRs rapidly associate and dissociate. We have recently calculated binding affinities from free energy estimates to predict transient association between mouse delta opioid receptor (DOR) protomers at a symmetric interface involving the fourth transmembrane (TM4) helix (herein termed “4” dimer). Here we present disulfide cross-linking experiments with DOR constructs with cysteines substituted at the extracellular ends of TM4 or TM5 that confirm the formation of DOR complexes involving these helices. Our results are consistent with the involvement of TM4 and/or TM5 at the DOR homodimer interface, but possibly with differing association propensities. Coarse-grained (CG) well-tempered metadynamics simulations of two different dimeric arrangements of DOR involving TM4 alone or with TM5 (herein termed “4/5” dimer) in an explicit lipid−water environment confirmed the presence of two structurally and energetically similar configurations of the 4 dimer, as previously assessed by umbrella sampling calculations, and revealed a single energetic minimum of the 4/5 dimer. Additional CG umbrella sampling simulations of the 4/5 dimer indicated that the strength of association between DOR protomers varies depending on the protein region at the interface, with the 4 dimer being more stable than the 4/5 dimer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Johnston
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, United States
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