1
|
Kaoullas MG, Thal DM, Christopoulos A, Valant C. Ligand bias at the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family: Opportunities and challenges. Neuropharmacology 2024; 258:110092. [PMID: 39067666 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are activated by the endogenous neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Disruption of mAChR signalling has been associated with a variety of neurological disorders and non-neurological diseases. Consequently, the development of agonists and antagonists of the mAChRs has been a major avenue in drug discovery. Unfortunately, mAChR ligands are often associated with on-target side effects for two reasons. The first reason is due to the high sequence conservation at the orthosteric ACh binding site among all five receptor subtypes (M1-M5), making on-target subtype selectivity a major challenge. The second reason is due to on-target side effects of mAChR drugs that are associated with the pleiotropic nature of mAChR signalling at the level of a single mAChR subtype. Indeed, there is growing evidence that within the myriad of signalling events produced by mAChR ligands, some will have therapeutic benefits, whilst others may promote cholinergic side effects. This paradigm of drug action, known as ligand bias or biased agonism, is an attractive feature for next-generation mAChR drugs, as it holds the promise of developing drugs devoid of on-target adverse effects. Although relatively simple to detect and even quantify in vitro, ligand bias, as observed in recombinant systems, does not always translate to in vivo systems, which remains a major hurdle in GPCR drug discovery, including the mAChR family. Here we report recent studies that have attempted to detect and quantify ligand bias at the mAChR family, and briefly discuss the challenges associated with biased agonist drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela G Kaoullas
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David M Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, 3052, VIC, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
McDonald JK, van der Westhuizen ET, Pham V, Thompson G, Felder CC, Paul SM, Thal DM, Christopoulos A, Valant C. Biased Profile of Xanomeline at the Recombinant Human M 4 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1206-1218. [PMID: 35380782 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs are structural analogues of the endogenous (natural) ligands of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, it is becoming appreciated that chemically distinct ligands can bind to GPCRs in conformations that lead to different cellular signaling events, a phenomenon termed biased agonism. Despite this, the rigorous experimentation and analysis required to identify biased agonism are often not undertaken in most clinical candidates and go unrealized. Recently, xanomeline, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, has entered phase III clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia. If successful, xanomeline will be the first novel FDA-approved antipsychotic drug in almost 50 years. Intriguingly, xanomeline's potential for biased agonism at the mAChRs and, in particular, the M4 mAChR, the most promising receptor target for schizophrenia, has not been assessed. Here, we quantify the biased agonism profile of xanomeline and three other mAChR agonists in Chinese hamster ovary cells recombinantly expressing the M4 mAChR. Agonist activity was examined across nine distinct signaling readouts, including the activation of five different G protein subtypes, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, β-arrestin recruitment, calcium mobilization, and cAMP regulation. Relative to acetylcholine (ACh), xanomeline was biased away from ERK1/2 phosphorylation and calcium mobilization compared to Gαi2 protein activation. These findings likely have important implications for our understanding of the therapeutic action of xanomeline and call for further investigation into the in vivo consequences of biased agonism in drugs targeting the M4 mAChR for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack K. McDonald
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Emma T. van der Westhuizen
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Vi Pham
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Geoff Thompson
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | | | - Steven M. Paul
- Karuna Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, United States
| | - David M. Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang D, Zhou Q, Labroska V, Qin S, Darbalaei S, Wu Y, Yuliantie E, Xie L, Tao H, Cheng J, Liu Q, Zhao S, Shui W, Jiang Y, Wang MW. G protein-coupled receptors: structure- and function-based drug discovery. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:7. [PMID: 33414387 PMCID: PMC7790836 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00435-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 78.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
As one of the most successful therapeutic target families, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have experienced a transformation from random ligand screening to knowledge-driven drug design. We are eye-witnessing tremendous progresses made recently in the understanding of their structure-function relationships that facilitated drug development at an unprecedented pace. This article intends to provide a comprehensive overview of this important field to a broader readership that shares some common interests in drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dehua Yang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.,The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingtong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Viktorija Labroska
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Shanshan Qin
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Sanaz Darbalaei
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Elita Yuliantie
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Linshan Xie
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Houchao Tao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Liu
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.,The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqing Shui
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Jiang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China. .,The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China. .,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China. .,School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 201203, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang X, van Westen GJP, Heitman LH, IJzerman AP. G protein-coupled receptors expressed and studied in yeast. The adenosine receptor as a prime example. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 187:114370. [PMID: 33338473 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest class of membrane proteins with around 800 members in the human genome/proteome. Extracellular signals such as hormones and neurotransmitters regulate various biological processes via GPCRs, with GPCRs being the bodily target of 30-40% of current drugs on the market. Complete identification and understanding of GPCR functionality will provide opportunities for novel drug discovery. Yeast expresses three different endogenous GPCRs regulating pheromone and sugar sensing, with the pheromone pathway offering perspectives for the characterization of heterologous GPCR signaling. Moreover, yeast offers a ''null" background for studies on mammalian GPCRs, including GPCR activation and signaling, ligand identification, and characterization of disease-related mutations. This review focuses on modifications of the yeast pheromone signaling pathway for functional GPCR studies, and on opportunities and usage of the yeast system as a platform for human GPCR studies. Finally, this review discusses in some further detail studies of adenosine receptors heterologously expressed in yeast, and what Geoff Burnstock thought of this approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuesong Wang
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard J P van Westen
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Laura H Heitman
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan P IJzerman
- Drug Discovery and Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Seyedabadi M, Ghahremani MH, Albert PR. Biased signaling of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs): Molecular determinants of GPCR/transducer selectivity and therapeutic potential. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 200:148-178. [PMID: 31075355 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) convey signals across membranes via interaction with G proteins. Originally, an individual GPCR was thought to signal through one G protein family, comprising cognate G proteins that mediate canonical receptor signaling. However, several deviations from canonical signaling pathways for GPCRs have been described. It is now clear that GPCRs can engage with multiple G proteins and the line between cognate and non-cognate signaling is increasingly blurred. Furthermore, GPCRs couple to non-G protein transducers, including β-arrestins or other scaffold proteins, to initiate additional signaling cascades. Receptor/transducer selectivity is dictated by agonist-induced receptor conformations as well as by collateral factors. In particular, ligands stabilize distinct receptor conformations to preferentially activate certain pathways, designated 'biased signaling'. In this regard, receptor sequence alignment and mutagenesis have helped to identify key receptor domains for receptor/transducer specificity. Furthermore, molecular structures of GPCRs bound to different ligands or transducers have provided detailed insights into mechanisms of coupling selectivity. However, receptor dimerization, compartmentalization, and trafficking, receptor-transducer-effector stoichiometry, and ligand residence and exposure times can each affect GPCR coupling. Extrinsic factors including cell type or assay conditions can also influence receptor signaling. Understanding these factors may lead to the development of improved biased ligands with the potential to enhance therapeutic benefit, while minimizing adverse effects. In this review, evidence for ligand-specific GPCR signaling toward different transducers or pathways is elaborated. Furthermore, molecular determinants of biased signaling toward these pathways and relevant examples of the potential clinical benefits and pitfalls of biased ligands are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Seyedabadi
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Education Development Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | | | - Paul R Albert
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Neuroscience, University of Ottawa, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu R, Wong W, IJzerman AP. Human G protein-coupled receptor studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 114:103-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
|
7
|
Masuho I, Ostrovskaya O, Kramer GM, Jones CD, Xie K, Martemyanov KA. Distinct profiles of functional discrimination among G proteins determine the actions of G protein-coupled receptors. Sci Signal 2015; 8:ra123. [PMID: 26628681 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aab4068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Members of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor (GPCR) family play key roles in many physiological functions and are extensively exploited pharmacologically to treat diseases. Many of the diverse effects of individual GPCRs on cellular physiology are transduced by heterotrimeric G proteins, which are composed of α, β, and γ subunits. GPCRs interact with and stimulate the binding of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to the α subunit to initiate signaling. Mammalian genomes encode 16 different G protein α subunits, each one of which has distinct properties. We developed a single-platform, optical strategy to monitor G protein activation in live cells. With this system, we profiled the coupling ability of individual GPCRs for different α subunits, simultaneously quantifying the magnitude of the signal and the rates at which the receptors activated the G proteins. We found that individual receptors engaged multiple G proteins with varying efficacy and kinetics, generating fingerprint-like profiles. Different classes of GPCR ligands, including full and partial agonists, allosteric modulators, and antagonists, distinctly affected these fingerprints to functionally bias GPCR signaling. Finally, we showed that intracellular signaling modulators further altered the G protein-coupling profiles of GPCRs, which suggests that their differential abundance may alter signaling outcomes in a cell-specific manner. These observations suggest that the diversity of the effects of GPCRs on cellular physiology may be determined by their differential engagement of multiple G proteins, coupling to which produces signals with varying signal magnitudes and activation kinetics, properties that may be exploited pharmacologically.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ikuo Masuho
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Olga Ostrovskaya
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Grant M Kramer
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA. Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Christopher D Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA. Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Keqiang Xie
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Kirill A Martemyanov
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Riddy DM, Valant C, Rueda P, Charman WN, Sexton PM, Summers RJ, Christopoulos A, Langmead CJ. Label-Free Kinetics: Exploiting Functional Hemi-Equilibrium to Derive Rate Constants for Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists. Mol Pharmacol 2015; 88:779-90. [DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.100545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
|
9
|
Fukutani Y, Hori A, Tsukada S, Sato R, Ishii J, Kondo A, Matsunami H, Yohda M. Improving the odorant sensitivity of olfactory receptor-expressing yeast with accessory proteins. Anal Biochem 2015; 471:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2014.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Revised: 10/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
|
10
|
|
11
|
What ligand-gated ion channels can tell us about the allosteric regulation of G protein-coupled receptors. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2014; 115:291-347. [PMID: 23415097 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394587-7.00007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
The GABA(A) receptor is the target for a number of important allosteric drugs used in medicine, including benzodiazepines and anesthetics. These modulators have variable effects on the potency and maximal response of macroscopic currents elicited by different GABA(A) receptor agonists, yet this modulation is consistent with a two-state model in which the allosteric ligand has invariant affinity constants for the active and inactive states. Analysis of the effects of an allosteric agonist, like etomidate, on the population current provides a means of estimating the gating constant of the unliganded GABA(A) receptor (∼10(-4)). In contrast, allosteric interactions at the M(2) muscarinic receptor are often inconsistent with a two-state model. Analyzing allosterism within the constraints of a two-state model, nonetheless, provides an unbiased measure of probe dependence as well as clues to the mechanism of allosteric modulation. The rather simple allosteric effect of affinity-only modulation is difficult to explain and suggests modulation of a peripheral orthosteric ligand-docking site on the M(2) muscarinic receptor.
Collapse
|
12
|
Gericke A, Steege A, Manicam C, Böhmer T, Wess J, Pfeiffer N. Role of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014; 55:625-31. [PMID: 24408978 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.13-13549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We tested the hypothesis that the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype mediates cholinergic responses in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal. METHODS Muscarinic receptor gene expression was determined in ophthalmic arteries with intact and with removed endothelium using real-time PCR. To examine the role of the M3 receptor in mediating vascular responses, ophthalmic arteries from M3 receptor-deficient mice (M3R(-/-)) and respective wild-type controls were studied in vitro. Functional studies were performed in nonpreconstricted arteries with either intact or removed endothelium using video microscopy. RESULTS In endothelium-intact ophthalmic arteries, mRNA for all five muscarinic receptor subtypes was detected, but M3 receptor mRNA was most abundant. In endothelium-removed ophthalmic arteries, M1, M2, and M3 receptors displayed similar mRNA expression levels, which were higher than those for M4 and M5 receptors. In functional studies, acetylcholine evoked vasoconstriction in endothelium-removed arteries from wild-type mice that was virtually abolished after incubation with the muscarinic receptor blocker atropine, indicative of the involvement of muscarinic receptors. In concentration-response experiments, acetylcholine and carbachol concentration-dependently constricted endothelium-removed ophthalmic arteries from wild-type mice, but produced only negligible responses in arteries from M3R(-/-) mice. In contrast, acetylcholine concentration-dependently dilated ophthalmic arteries with intact endothelium from wild-type mice, but not from M3R(-/-) mice. Responses to the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside and to KCl did not differ between ophthalmic arteries from wild-type and M3R(-/-) mice, neither in endothelium-intact nor in endothelium-removed arteries. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide evidence that in murine ophthalmic arteries the muscarinic M3 receptor subtype mediates cholinergic endothelium-dependent vasodilation and endothelium-independent vasoconstriction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Gericke
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Present and future approaches to screening of G-protein-coupled receptors. Future Med Chem 2013; 5:523-38. [PMID: 23573971 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.13.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
As G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediate a multitude of cellular signal transduction events, affecting more or less all human disease areas, it is, therefore, no surprise that they comprise the largest family of current drug targets. Screening of compounds interacting with GPCRs has developed during the past decade from receptor binding assays, to various functional determination of coupling to G-proteins, and, more recently, G-protein-independent signal transduction events. Additional opportunities have been presented in drug discovery through novel pharmacological properties obtained for receptor dimers and by identification of ligands for orphan GPCRs. Furthermore, high-throughput formats and automation has substantially facilitated and accelerated the screening process providing powerful tools in improving modern drug discovery.
Collapse
|
14
|
Cöster M, Wittkopf D, Kreuchwig A, Kleinau G, Thor D, Krause G, Schöneberg T. Using ortholog sequence data to predict the functional relevance of mutations in G‐protein‐coupled receptors. FASEB J 2012; 26:3273-81. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-203737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxi Cöster
- Molecular Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Medical FacultyUniversity of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Doreen Wittkopf
- Molecular Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Medical FacultyUniversity of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | | | - Gunnar Kleinau
- Institute of Experimental Pediatric EndocrinologyCharité Universitätsmedizin Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Doreen Thor
- Molecular Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Medical FacultyUniversity of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| | - Gerd Krause
- Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology Berlin Germany
| | - Torsten Schöneberg
- Molecular Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Medical FacultyUniversity of Leipzig Leipzig Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ligand-dependent conformations and dynamics of the serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor determine its activation and membrane-driven oligomerization properties. PLoS Comput Biol 2012; 8:e1002473. [PMID: 22532793 PMCID: PMC3330085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
From computational simulations of a serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) model complexed with pharmacologically and structurally diverse ligands we identify different conformational states and dynamics adopted by the receptor bound to the full agonist 5-HT, the partial agonist LSD, and the inverse agonist Ketanserin. The results from the unbiased all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that the three ligands affect differently the known GPCR activation elements including the toggle switch at W6.48, the changes in the ionic lock between E6.30 and R3.50 of the DRY motif in TM3, and the dynamics of the NPxxY motif in TM7. The computational results uncover a sequence of steps connecting these experimentally-identified elements of GPCR activation. The differences among the properties of the receptor molecule interacting with the ligands correlate with their distinct pharmacological properties. Combining these results with quantitative analysis of membrane deformation obtained with our new method (Mondal et al, Biophysical Journal 2011), we show that distinct conformational rearrangements produced by the three ligands also elicit different responses in the surrounding membrane. The differential reorganization of the receptor environment is reflected in (i)-the involvement of cholesterol in the activation of the 5-HT2AR, and (ii)-different extents and patterns of membrane deformations. These findings are discussed in the context of their likely functional consequences and a predicted mechanism of ligand-specific GPCR oligomerization. The 5-HT2A receptor for the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) belongs to family A (rhodopsin-like) G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of membrane proteins that are targeted by an extensive and diverse collection of external stimuli. Recently we learned that different ligands targeting the same GPCR can elicit different biological responses, but the mechanisms remain unknown. We address this fundamental question for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor, because it is known to respond to the binding of structurally diverse ligands by producing similar stimuli in the cell, and to the binding of quite similar ligands with dramatically different responses. Molecular dynamics simulations of molecular models of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in complex with pharmacologically distinct ligands show the dynamic rearrangements of the receptor molecule to be different for these ligands, and the nature and extents of the rearrangements reflect the known pharmacological properties of the ligands as full, partial or inverse activators of the receptor. The different rearrangements of the receptor molecule are shown to produce different rearrangements of the surrounding membrane, a remodeling of the environment that can have differential ligand-determined effects on receptor function and association in the cell's membrane.
Collapse
|
16
|
Davey AE, Leach K, Valant C, Conigrave AD, Sexton PM, Christopoulos A. Positive and negative allosteric modulators promote biased signaling at the calcium-sensing receptor. Endocrinology 2012; 153:1232-41. [PMID: 22210744 DOI: 10.1210/en.2011-1426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G protein-coupled receptor whose function can be allosterically modulated in a positive or negative manner by calcimimetics or calcilytics, respectively. Indeed, the second-generation calcimimetic, cinacalcet, has proven clinically useful in the treatment of chronic kidney disease patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism but is not widely used in earlier stages of renal disease due to the potential to predispose such patients to hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia. The development of a biased CaSR ligand that is more selective for specific signaling pathway(s) leading only to beneficial effects may overcome this limitation. The detection of such stimulus-bias at a G protein-coupled receptor requires investigation across multiple signaling pathways and the development of methods to quantify the effects of allosteric ligands on orthosteric ligand affinity and cooperativity at each pathway. In the current study, we determined the effects of the calcimimetics, NPS-R568 or cinacalcet, and the calcilytic, NPS-2143, on Ca(o)(2+)-mediated intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and plasma membrane ruffling in a stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293-TREx c-myc-CaSR cell line and applied a novel analytical model to quantify these modulator effects. We present quantitative evidence for the generation of stimulus bias by both positive and negative allosteric modulators of the CaSR, manifested as greater allosteric modulation of intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization relative to ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and a higher affinity of the modulators for the state of the CaSR mediating plasma membrane ruffling relative to the other two pathways. Our findings provide the first evidence that an allosteric modulator used in clinical practice exhibits stimulus bias.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Davey
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Canals M, Lane JR, Wen A, Scammells PJ, Sexton PM, Christopoulos A. A Monod-Wyman-Changeux mechanism can explain G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) allosteric modulation. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:650-659. [PMID: 22086918 PMCID: PMC3249119 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.314278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Monod-Wyman-Changeux (MWC) model was initially proposed to describe the allosteric properties of regulatory enzymes and subsequently extended to receptors. Yet despite GPCRs representing the largest family of receptors and drug targets, no study has systematically evaluated the MWC mechanism as it applies to GPCR allosteric ligands. We reveal how the recently described allosteric modulator, benzyl quinolone carboxylic acid (BQCA), behaves according to a strict, two-state MWC mechanism at the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR). Despite having a low affinity for the M1 mAChR, BQCA demonstrated state dependence, exhibiting high positive cooperativity with orthosteric agonists in a manner that correlated with efficacy but negative cooperativity with inverse agonists. The activity of BQCA was significantly increased at a constitutively active M1 mAChR but abolished at an inactive mutant. Interestingly, BQCA possessed intrinsic signaling efficacy, ranging from near-quiescence to full agonism depending on the coupling efficiency of the chosen intracellular pathway. This latter cellular property also determined the difference in magnitude of positive cooperativity between BQCA and the orthosteric agonist, carbachol, across pathways. The lack of additional, pathway-biased, allosteric modulation by BQCA was confirmed in genetically engineered yeast strains expressing different chimeras between the endogenous yeast G(pa1) protein and human Gα subunits. These findings define a chemical biological framework that can be applied to the study and classification of allosteric modulators across different GPCR families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meritxell Canals
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - J Robert Lane
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Adriel Wen
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Peter J Scammells
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Patrick M Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Department of Pharmacology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 399 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Stallaert W, Christopoulos A, Bouvier M. Ligand functional selectivity and quantitative pharmacology at G protein-coupled receptors. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2011; 6:811-25. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2011.586691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
19
|
Ehlert FJ, Suga H, Griffin MT. Analysis of agonism and inverse agonism in functional assays with constitutive activity: estimation of orthosteric ligand affinity constants for active and inactive receptor states. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2011; 338:671-86. [PMID: 21576379 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.111.179309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a modification of receptor theory for the estimation of observed affinities (K(obs)) and relative efficacies of orthosteric ligands in functional assays that exhibit constitutive activity. Our theory includes parameters for the fractions of the occupied receptor population in the active (intrinsic efficacy, ε) and inactive (ε(i)) states and analogous parameters for the fractions of the free receptor population in the active (ε(sys)) and inactive (ε(i-sys)) states. The total stimulus represents the summation of the active states of the free and occupied receptor populations. A modified operational model is developed that expresses the response as a logistic function of the total stimulus. This function includes the standard parameters related to affinity and efficacy (K(obs) and τ) as well as a parameter proportional to the activity of the free receptor complex, τ(sys). Two related parameters are proportional to the fraction of the free (τ(i-sys)) and occupied (τ(i)) receptor populations in the inactive state. We show that the estimates of the affinity constants of orthosteric ligands for the active (K(b)) and inactive (K(a)) states of the receptor are equivalent to τK(obs)/τ(sys) and τ(i)K(obs)/τ(i-sys), respectively. We verify our method with computer simulation techniques and apply it to the analysis of M(2) and M(3) muscarinic receptors. Our method is applicable in the analysis of ligand bias in drug discovery programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frederick J Ehlert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors: A pharmacological perspective. Neuropharmacology 2011; 60:24-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2010] [Revised: 07/05/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
21
|
Stewart GD, Sexton PM, Christopoulos A. Prediction of functionally selective allosteric interactions at an M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor mutant using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol Pharmacol 2010; 78:205-14. [PMID: 20466821 DOI: 10.1124/mol.110.064253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a tractable yeast species for expression and coupling of heterologous G protein-coupled receptors with the endogenous pheromone response pathway. Although this platform has been used for ligand screening, no studies have probed its ability to predict novel pharmacology and functional selectivity of allosteric ligands. As a proof of concept, we expressed a rat M(3) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) bearing a mutation (K(7.32)E) recently identified to confer positive cooperativity between acetylcholine and the allosteric modulator brucine in various strains of S. cerevisiae, each expressing a different human Galpha/yeast Gpa1 protein chimera, and probed for G protein-biased allosteric modulation. Subsequent assays performed in this system revealed that brucine was a partial allosteric agonist and positive modulator of carbachol when coupled to Gpa1/G(q) proteins, a positive modulator (no agonism) when coupled to Gpa1/G(12) proteins, and a neutral modulator when coupled to Gpa1/G(i) proteins. It is noteworthy that these results were validated at the human M(3)K(7.32)E mAChR expressed in a mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cell background by determination of calcium mobilization and membrane ruffling as surrogate measures of G(q) and G(12) protein activation, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of this functionally selective allosteric modulator with G protein-biased yeast screens allowed us to ascribe a potential G protein candidate (G(12)) as a key mediator for allosteric modulation of M(3)K(7.32)E mAChR-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was confirmed by small interfering RNA knockdown experiments. These results highlight how the yeast platform can be used to identify functional selectivity of allosteric ligands and to facilitate dissection of convergent signaling pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory D Stewart
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|