Bridging molecular docking to membrane molecular dynamics to investigate GPCR-ligand recognition: the human A₂A adenosine receptor as a key study

Bitopic Ligands Support the Presence of a Metastable Binding Site at the β2 Adrenergic Receptor

Metastable binding sites (MBS) have been observed in a multitude of molecular dynamics simulations and can be considered low affinity allosteric binding sites (ABS) that function as stepping stones as the ligand moves toward the orthosteric binding site (OBS). Herein, we show that MBS can be utilized as ABS in ligand design, resulting in ligands with improved binding kinetics. Four homobivalent bitopic ligands (1-4) were designed by molecular docking of (S)-alprenolol ((S)-ALP) in the cocrystal structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) bound to the antagonist ALP. Ligand 4 displayed a potency and affinity similar to (S)-ALP, but with a >4-fold increase in residence time. The proposed binding mode was confirmed by X-ray crystallography of ligand 4 in complex with the β2AR. This ligand design principle can find applications beyond the β2AR and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as a general approach for improving the pharmacological profile of orthosteric ligands by targeting the OBS and an MBS simultaneously.

A Multi-target Drug Designing for BTK, MMP9, Proteasome and TAK1 for the Clinical Treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the mutation and overexpression of the cyclin D1 protein by the reciprocal chromosomal translocation t(11;14)(q13:q32).

AIM

The present study aims to identify potential inhibition of MMP9, Proteasome, BTK, and TAK1 and determine the most suitable and effective protein target for the MCL.

METHODOLOGY

Nine known inhibitors for MMP9, 24 for proteasome, 15 for BTK and 14 for TAK1 were screened. SB-3CT (PubChem ID: 9883002), oprozomib (PubChem ID: 25067547), zanubrutinib (PubChem ID: 135565884) and TAK1 inhibitor (PubChem ID: 66760355) were recognized as drugs with high binding capacity with their respective protein receptors. 41, 72, 102 and 3 virtual screened compounds were obtained after the similarity search with compound (PubChem ID:102173753), PubChem compound SCHEMBL15569297 (PubChem ID:72374403), PubChem compound SCHEMBL17075298 (PubChem ID:136970120) and compound CID: 71814473 with best virtual screened compounds.

RESULT

MMP9 inhibitors show commendable affinity and good interaction profile of compound holding PubChem ID:102173753 over the most effective established inhibitor SB-3CT. The pharmacophore study of the best virtual screened compound reveals its high efficacy based on various interactions. The virtual screened compound's better affinity with the target MMP9 protein was deduced using toxicity and integration profile studies.

CONCLUSION

Based on the ADMET profile, the compound (PubChem ID: 102173753) could be a potent drug for MCL treatment. Similar to the established SB-3CT, the compound was non-toxic with LD50 values for both the compounds lying in the same range.

Structure-Activity Relationship of Heterocyclic P2Y14 Receptor Antagonists: Removal of the Zwitterionic Character with Piperidine Bioisosteres

A known zwitterionic, heterocyclic P2Y14R antagonist 3a was substituted with diverse groups on the central phenyl and terminal piperidine moieties, following a computational selection process. The most potent analogues contained an uncharged piperidine bioisostere, prescreened in silico, while an aza-scan (central phenyl ring) reduced P2Y14R affinity. Piperidine amide 11, 3-aminopropynyl 19, and 5-(hydroxymethyl)isoxazol-3-yl) 29 congeners in the triazole series maintained moderate receptor affinity. Adaption of 5-(hydroxymethyl)isoxazol-3-yl gave the most potent naphthalene-containing (32; MRS4654; IC50, 15 nM) and less active phenylamide-containing (33) scaffolds. Thus, a zwitterion was nonessential for receptor binding, and molecular docking and dynamics probed the hydroxymethylisoxazole interaction with extracellular loops. Also, amidomethyl ester prodrugs were explored to reversibly block the conserved carboxylate group to provide neutral analogues, which were cleavable by liver esterase, and in vivo efficacy demonstrated. We have, in stages, converted zwitterionic antagonists into neutral molecules designed to produce potent P2Y14R antagonists for in vivo application.

Application of In Silico and HTS Approaches to Identify Nuclear Import Inhibitors for Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus Capsid Protein: A Case Study

The development of new drugs is costly and time-consuming, with estimates of over $US1 billion and 15 years for a product to reach the market. As understanding of the molecular basis of disease improves, various approaches have been used to target specific molecular interactions in the search for effective drugs. These include high-throughput screening (HTS) for novel drug identification and computer-aided drug design (CADD) to assess the properties of putative drugs before experimental work begins. We have applied conventional HTS and CADD approaches to the problem of identifying antiviral compounds to limit infection by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV). Nuclear targeting of the VEEV capsid (CP) protein through interaction with the host nuclear import machinery has been shown to be essential for viral pathogenicity, with viruses incapable of this interaction being greatly attenuated. Our previous conventional HTS and in silico structure-based drug design (SBDD) screens were successful in identifying novel inhibitors of CP interaction with the host nuclear import machinery, thus providing a unique opportunity to assess the relative value of the two screening approaches directly. This focused review compares and contrasts the two screening approaches, together with the properties of the inhibitors identified, as a case study for parallel use of the two approaches to identify antivirals. The utility of SBDD screens, especially when used in parallel with traditional HTS, in identifying agents of interest to target the host-pathogen interface is highlighted.

Supervised molecular dynamics for exploring the druggability of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

The recent outbreak of the respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is stimulating an unprecedented scientific campaign to alleviate the burden of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). One line of research has focused on targeting SARS-CoV-2 proteins fundamental for its replication by repurposing drugs approved for other diseases. The first interaction between the virus and the host cell is mediated by the spike protein on the virus surface and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2). Small molecules able to bind the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and disrupt the binding to ACE2 would offer an important tool for slowing, or even preventing, the infection. Here, we screened 2421 approved small molecules in silico and validated the docking outcomes through extensive molecular dynamics simulations. Out of six drugs characterized as putative RBD binders, the cephalosporin antibiotic cefsulodin was further assessed for its effect on the binding between the RBD and ACE2, suggesting that it is important to consider the dynamic formation of the heterodimer between RBD and ACE2 when judging any potential candidate.

Ligand Pose Predictions for Human G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Insights from the Amber-Based Hybrid Molecular Mechanics/Coarse-Grained Approach

Human G protein-coupled receptors (hGPCRs) are the most frequent targets of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Structural bioinformatics, along with molecular simulation, can support structure-based drug design targeting hGPCRs. In this context, several years ago, we developed a hybrid molecular mechanics (MM)/coarse-grained (CG) approach to predict ligand poses in low-resolution hGPCR models. The approach was based on the GROMOS96 43A1 and PRODRG united-atom force fields for the MM part. Here, we present a new MM/CG implementation using, instead, the Amber 14SB and GAFF all-atom potentials for proteins and ligands, respectively. The new implementation outperforms the previous one, as shown by a variety of applications on models of hGPCR/ligand complexes at different resolutions, and it is also more user-friendly. Thus, it emerges as a useful tool to predict poses in low-resolution models and provides insights into ligand binding similarly to all-atom molecular dynamics, albeit at a lower computational cost.

Peptidomimetic-based approach toward inhibitors of microbial trimethylamine lyases

The development of gut microbiota-targeted small molecules represents a promising platform for the identification of new therapeutics based on the implication of human gut bacteria with different diseases. Bacterial trimethylamine (TMA)-lyase (CutC) is expressed in gut bacteria and catalyzes the conversion of choline to TMA. The association of elevated TMA production with various disorders has directed research efforts toward identification of CutC inhibitors. Herein, we introduce peptidomimetics as a promising toolbox for the discovery of CutC inhibitors. Our approach starts with screening a library of peptidomimetics for intestinal metabolic stability followed by in vitro CutC inhibition. Compound 5 was identified from this screening platform with IC₅₀ value of 5.9 ± 0.6 μM for CutC inhibition. Unlike previously reported CutC inhibitors, compound 5 possessed universal CutC inhibitory activity in different bacterial strains. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested a plausible binding site and inhibition mechanism for compound 5. Therefore, compound 5 is a promising lead for further structural optimization in the search for CutC-targeted small molecules.

In Silico Drug Design for Purinergic GPCRs: Overview on Molecular Dynamics Applied to Adenosine and P2Y Receptors

Molecular modeling has contributed to drug discovery for purinergic GPCRs, including adenosine receptors (ARs) and P2Y receptors (P2YRs). Experimental structures and homology modeling have proven to be useful in understanding and predicting structure activity relationships (SAR) of agonists and antagonists. This review provides an excursus on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations applied to ARs and P2YRs. The binding modes of newly synthesized A1AR- and A3AR-selective nucleoside derivatives, potentially of use against depression and inflammation, respectively, have been predicted to recapitulate their SAR and the species dependence of A3AR affinity. P2Y12R and P2Y1R crystallographic structures, respectively, have provided a detailed understanding of the recognition of anti-inflammatory P2Y14R antagonists and a large group of allosteric and orthosteric antagonists of P2Y1R, an antithrombotic and neuroprotective target. MD of A2AAR (an anticancer and neuroprotective target), A3AR, and P2Y1R has identified microswitches that are putatively involved in receptor activation. The approach pathways of different ligands toward A2AAR and P2Y1R binding sites have also been explored. A1AR, A2AAR, and A3AR were utilizes to study allosteric phenomena, but locating the binding site of structurally diverse allosteric modulators, such as an A3AR enhancer LUF6000, is challenging. Ligand residence time, a predictor of in vivo efficacy, and the structural role of water were investigated through A2AAR MD simulations. Thus, new MD and other modeling algorithms have contributed to purinergic GPCR drug discovery.

Insights into adenosine A2A receptor activation through cooperative modulation of agonist and allosteric lipid interactions

The activation process of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been extensively studied, both experimentally and computationally. In particular, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations have proven useful in exploring GPCR conformational space. The typical behaviour of class A GPCRs, when subjected to unbiased MD simulations from their crystallized inactive state, is to fluctuate between inactive and intermediate(s) conformations, even with bound agonist. Fully active conformation(s) are rarely stabilized unless a G protein is also bound. Despite several crystal structures of the adenosine A2a receptor (A2aR) having been resolved in complex with co-crystallized agonists and Gs protein, its agonist-mediated activation process is still not completely understood. In order to thoroughly examine the conformational landscape of A2aR activation, we performed unbiased microsecond-length MD simulations in quadruplicate, starting from the inactive conformation either in apo or with bound agonists: endogenous adenosine or synthetic NECA, embedded in two homogeneous phospholipid membranes: 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoglycerol (DOPG) or 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). In DOPC with bound adenosine or NECA, we observe transition to an intermediate receptor conformation consistent with the known adenosine-bound crystal state. In apo state in DOPG, two different intermediate conformations are obtained. One is similar to that observed with bound adenosine in DOPC, while the other is closer to the active state but not yet fully active. Exclusively, in DOPG with bound adenosine or NECA, we reproducibly identify receptor conformations with fully active features, which are able to dock Gs protein. These different receptor conformations can be attributed to the action/absence of agonist and phospholipid-mediated allosteric effects on the intracellular side of the receptor.

Conjugable A3 adenosine receptor antagonists for the development of functionalized ligands and their use in fluorescent probes

Compounds able to simultaneously bind a biological target and be conjugated to a second specific moiety are attractive tools for the development of multi-purpose ligands useful as multi-target ligands, receptor probes or drug delivery systems, with both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The human A₃ adenosine receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor involved in many physio-pathological conditions, e.g. cancer and inflammation, thus representing a promising research target. In this work, two series of conjugable hA₃AR antagonists, based on the pyrazolo[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine nucleus, were developed. The introduction of an aromatic ring at the 5 position of the scaffold, before (phenylacetamido moiety) or after (1,2,3-triazole obtained by click chemistry) the conjugation is aimed to increase affinity and selectivity towards the hA₃AR receptor. As expected, conjugable compounds showed good affinity towards the hA₃AR. In order to prove their potential in the development of hA₃AR ligands for different purposes, compounds were also functionalized with fluorescent probes. Unfortunately, conjugation decreased affinity and selectivity for the target as compared to the hA_2AAR. Computational studies identified specific non-conserved residues of the extracellular loops which constitute a structural barrier able to discriminate between ligands, giving insights into the rational development of new highly selective ligands.

Probing the Existence of a Metastable Binding Site at the β2-Adrenergic Receptor with Homobivalent Bitopic Ligands

Herein, we report the development of bitopic ligands aimed at targeting the orthosteric binding site (OBS) and a metastable binding site (MBS) within the same receptor unit. Previous molecular dynamics studies on ligand binding to the β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) suggested that ligands pause at transient, less-conserved MBSs. We envisioned that MBSs can be regarded as allosteric binding sites and targeted by homobivalent bitopic ligands linking two identical pharmacophores. Such ligands were designed based on docking of the antagonist (S)-alprenolol into the OBS and an MBS and synthesized. Pharmacological characterization revealed ligands with similar potency and affinity, slightly increased β₂/β₁AR-selectivity, and/or substantially slower β₂AR off-rates compared to (S)-alprenolol. Truncated bitopic ligands suggested the major contribution of the metastable pharmacophore to be a hydrophobic interaction with the β₂AR, while the linkers alone decreased the potency of the orthosteric fragment. Altogether, the study underlines the potential of targeting MBSs for improving the pharmacological profiles of ligands.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Adenosine Receptors: Advances, Applications and Trends

:

Adenosine receptors (ARs) are transmembrane proteins that belong to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily and mediate the biological functions of adenosine. To date, four AR subtypes are known, namely A1, A2A, A2B and A3 that exhibit different signaling pathways, tissue localization, and mechanisms of activation. Moreover, the widespread ARs and their implication in numerous physiological and pathophysiological conditions had made them pivotal therapeutic targets for developing clinically effective agents.

:

The crystallographic success in identifying the 3D crystal structures of A2A and A1 ARs has dramatically enriched our understanding of their structural and functional properties such as ligand binding and signal transduction. This, in turn, has provided a structural basis for a larger contribution of computational methods, particularly molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, toward further investigation of their molecular properties and designing bioactive ligands with therapeutic potential. MD simulation has been proved to be an invaluable tool in investigating ARs and providing answers to some critical questions. For example, MD has been applied in studying ARs in terms of ligand-receptor interactions, molecular recognition, allosteric modulations, dimerization, and mechanisms of activation, collectively aiding in the design of subtype selective ligands.

:

In this review, we focused on the advances and different applications of MD simulations utilized to study the structural and functional aspects of ARs that can foster the structure-based design of drug candidates. In addition, relevant literature was briefly discussed which establishes a starting point for future advances in the field of drug discovery to this pivotal group of drug targets.

Fentanyl Family at the Mu-Opioid Receptor: Uniform Assessment of Binding and Computational Analysis

Interactions of 21 fentanyl derivatives with μ-opioid receptor (μOR) were studied using experimental and theoretical methods. Their binding to μOR was assessed with radioligand competitive binding assay. A uniform set of binding affinity data contains values for two novel and one previously uncharacterized derivative. The data confirms trends known so far and thanks to their uniformity, they facilitate further comparisons. In order to provide structural hypotheses explaining the experimental affinities, the complexes of the studied derivatives with μOR were modeled and subject to molecular dynamics simulations. Five common General Features (GFs) of fentanyls' binding modes stemmed from these simulations. They include: GF1) the ionic interaction between D147 and the ligands' piperidine NH⁺ moiety; GF2) the N-chain orientation towards the μOR interior; GF3) the other pole of ligands is directed towards the receptor outlet; GF4) the aromatic anilide ring penetrates the subpocket formed by TM3, TM4, ECL1 and ECL2; GF5) the 4-axial substituent (if present) is directed towards W318. Except for the ionic interaction with D147, the majority of fentanyl-μOR contacts is hydrophobic. Interestingly, it was possible to find nonlinear relationships between the binding affinity and the volume of the N-chain and/or anilide's aromatic ring. This kind of relationships is consistent with the apolar character of interactions involved in ligand⁻receptor binding. The affinity reaches the optimum for medium size while it decreases for both large and small substituents. Additionally, a linear correlation between the volumes and the average dihedral angles of W293 and W133 was revealed by the molecular dynamics study. This seems particularly important, as the W293 residue is involved in the activation processes. Further, the Y326 (OH) and D147 (Cγ) distance found in the simulations also depends on the ligands' size. In contrast, neither RMSF measures nor D114/Y336 hydrations show significant structure-based correlations. They also do not differentiate studied fentanyl derivatives. Eventually, none of 14 popular scoring functions yielded a significant correlation between the predicted and observed affinity data (R < 0.30, n = 28).

Designing Hybrids Targeting the Cholinergic System by Modulating the Muscarinic and Nicotinic Receptors: A Concept to Treat Alzheimer's Disease

The cholinergic hypothesis has been reported first being the cause of memory dysfunction in the Alzheimer's disease. Researchers around the globe have focused their attention on understanding the mechanisms of how this complicated system contributes to processes such as learning, memory, disorientation, linguistic problems, and behavioral issues in the indicated chronic neurodegenerative disease. The present review reports recent updates in hybrid molecule design as a strategy for selectively addressing multiple target proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the study of their therapeutic relevance. The rationale and the design of the bifunctional compounds will be discussed in order to understand their potential as tools to investigate the role of the cholinergic system in AD.

Bridging Molecular Docking to Molecular Dynamics in Exploring Ligand-Protein Recognition Process: An Overview

Computational techniques have been applied in the drug discovery pipeline since the 1980s. Given the low computational resources of the time, the first molecular modeling strategies relied on a rigid view of the ligand-target binding process. During the years, the evolution of hardware technologies has gradually allowed simulating the dynamic nature of the binding event. In this work, we present an overview of the evolution of structure-based drug discovery techniques in the study of ligand-target recognition phenomenon, going from the static molecular docking toward enhanced molecular dynamics strategies.

Binding Affinity via Docking: Fact and Fiction

In 1982, Kuntz et al. published an article with the title “A Geometric Approach to Macromolecule-Ligand Interactions”, where they described a method “to explore geometrically feasible alignment of ligands and receptors of known structure”. Since then, small molecule docking has been employed as a fast way to estimate the binding pose of a given compound within a specific target protein and also to predict binding affinity. Remarkably, the first docking method suggested by Kuntz and colleagues aimed to predict binding poses but very little was specified about binding affinity. This raises the question as to whether docking is the right tool to estimate binding affinity. The short answer is no, and this has been concluded in several comprehensive analyses. However, in this opinion paper we discuss several critical aspects that need to be reconsidered before a reliable binding affinity prediction through docking is realistic. These are not the only issues that need to be considered, but they are perhaps the most critical ones. We also consider that in spite of the huge efforts to enhance scoring functions, the accuracy of binding affinity predictions is perhaps only as good as it was 10–20 years ago. There are several underlying reasons for this poor performance and these are analyzed. In particular, we focus on the role of the solvent (water), the poor description of H-bonding and the lack of the systems’ true dynamics. We hope to provide readers with potential insights and tools to overcome the challenging issues related to binding affinity prediction via docking.

Enabling STD-NMR fragment screening using stabilized native GPCR: A case study of adenosine receptor

Structural studies of integral membrane proteins have been limited by the intrinsic conformational flexibility and the need to stabilize the proteins in solution. Stabilization by mutagenesis was very successful for structural biology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, it requires heavy protein engineering and may introduce structural deviations. Here we describe the use of specific calixarenes-based detergents for native GPCR stabilization. Wild type, full length human adenosine A_2A receptor was used to exemplify the approach. We could stabilize native, glycosylated, non-aggregated and homogenous A_2AR that maintained its ligand binding capacity. The benefit of the preparation for fragment screening, using the Saturation-Transfer Difference nuclear magnetic resonance (STD-NMR) experiment is reported. The binding of the agonist adenosine and the antagonist caffeine were observed and competition experiments with CGS-21680 and ZM241385 were performed, demonstrating the feasibility of the STD-based fragment screening on the native A_2A receptor. Interestingly, adenosine was shown to bind a second binding site in the presence of the agonist CGS-21680 which corroborates published results obtained with molecular dynamics simulation. Fragment-like compounds identified using STD-NMR showed antagonistic effects on A_2AR in the cAMP cellular assay. Taken together, our study shows that stabilization of native GPCRs represents an attractive approach for STD-based fragment screening and drug design.

Discovery of Novel Adenosine Receptor Antagonists through a Combined Structure- and Ligand-Based Approach Followed by Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Ligand Binding Mode

An intense effort is made by pharmaceutical and academic research laboratories to identify and develop selective antagonists for each adenosine receptor (AR) subtype as potential clinical candidates for "soft" treatment of various diseases. Crystal structures of subtypes A_2A and A₁ARs offer exciting opportunities for structure-based drug design. In the first part of the present work, Maybridge HitFinder library of 14400 compounds was utilized to apply a combination of structure-based against the crystal structure of A_2AAR and ligand-based methodologies. The docking poses were rescored by CHARMM energy minimization and calculation of the desolvation energy using Poisson-Boltzmann equation electrostatics. Out of the eight selected and tested compounds, five were found positive hits (63% success). Although the project was initially focused on targeting A_2AAR, the identified antagonists exhibited low micromolar or micromolar affinity against A_2A/A₃, ARs, or A₃AR, respectively. Based on these results, 19 compounds characterized by novel chemotypes were purchased and tested. Sixteen of them were identified as AR antagonists with affinity toward combinations of the AR family isoforms (A_2A/A₃, A₁/A₃, A₁/A_2A/A₃, and A₃). The second part of this work involves the performance of hundreds of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of complexes between the ARs and a total of 27 ligands to resolve the binding interactions of the active compounds, which were not achieved by docking calculations alone. This computational work allowed the prediction of stable and unstable complexes which agree with the experimental results of potent and inactive compounds, respectively. Of particular interest is that the 2-amino-thiophene-3-carboxamides, 3-acylamino-5-aryl-thiophene-2-carboxamides, and carbonyloxycarboximidamide derivatives were found to be selective and possess a micromolar to low micromolar affinity for the A₃ receptor.

In Silico 3D Modeling of Binding Activities

In silico three-dimensional (3D) molecular modeling tools based upon the receptor/enzyme-ligand docking simulation in protein crystal structures and/or homology modeling of receptors have been reliably used in pharmacological research and development for decades. Molecular docking methodologies are helpful for revealing facets of activation and inactivation, thus improving mechanistic understanding and predicting molecular ligand binding activity, and they can have a high level of accuracy, and have also been explored and applied in chemical risk assessment. This computational approach is, however, only applicable for chemical hazard identification situations where the specific target receptor for a given chemical is known and the crystal structure/homology model of the receptor is available.

Understanding the molecular basis of agonist/antagonist mechanism of human mu opioid receptor through gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics method

The most powerful analgesic and addictive properties of opiate alkaloids are mediated by the μ opioid receptor (MOR). The MOR has been extensively investigated as a drug target in the twentieth century, with numerous compounds of varying efficacy being identified. We employed molecular dynamics and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics techniques to identify the binding mechanisms of MORs to BU72 (agonist) and β-funaltrexamine (antagonist). Our approach theoretically suggests that the 34 residues (Lys209–Phe221 and Ile301–Cys321) of the MORs were the key regions enabling the two compounds to bind to the active site of the MORs. When the MORs were in the holo form, the key region was in the open conformation. When the MORs were in the apo form, the key region was in the closed conformation. The key region might be responsible for the selectivity of new MOR agonists and antagonists.

Probing the Hydrophobic Binding Pocket of G-Protein-Coupled Lysophosphatidylserine Receptor GPR34/LPS1 by Docking-Aided Structure-Activity Analysis

The ligands of certain G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified as endogenous lipids, such as lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS). Here, we analyzed the molecular basis of the structure-activity relationship of ligands of GPR34, one of the LysoPS receptor subtypes, focusing on recognition of the long-chain fatty acid moiety by the hydrophobic pocket. By introducing benzene ring(s) into the fatty acid moiety of 2-deoxy-LysoPS, we explored the binding site's preference for the hydrophobic shape. A tribenzene-containing fatty acid surrogate with modifications of the terminal aromatic moiety showed potent agonistic activity toward GPR34. Computational docking of these derivatives with a homology modeling/molecular dynamics-based virtual binding site of GPR34 indicated that a kink in the benzene-based lipid surrogates matches the L-shaped hydrophobic pocket of GPR34. A tetrabenzene-based lipid analogue bearing a bulky tert-butyl group at the 4-position of the terminal benzene ring exhibited potent GPR34 agonistic activity, validating the present hydrophobic binding pocket model.

Nanodiscs for INPHARMA NMR Characterization of GPCRs: Ligand Binding to the Human A2A Adenosine Receptor

G-protein-coupled-receptors (GPCRs) are of fundamental importance for signal transduction through cell membranes. This makes them important drug targets, but structure-based drug design (SBDD) is still hampered by the limitations for structure determination of unmodified GPCRs. We show that the interligand NOEs for pharmacophore mapping (INPHARMA) method can provide valuable information on ligand poses inside the binding site of the unmodified human A_2A adenosine receptor reconstituted in nanodiscs. By comparing experimental INPHARMA spectra with back-calculated spectra based on ligand poses obtained from molecular dynamics simulations, a complex structure for A_2A R with the low-affinity ligand 3-pyrrolidin-1-ylquinoxalin-2-amine was determined based on the X-ray structure of ligand ZM-241,358 in complex with a modified A_2A R.

Estimation of kinetic and thermodynamic ligand-binding parameters using computational strategies

Kinetic and thermodynamic ligand–protein binding parameters are gaining growing importance as key information to consider in drug discovery. The determination of the molecular structures, using particularly x-ray and NMR techniques, is crucial for understanding how a ligand recognizes its target in the final binding complex. However, for a better understanding of the recognition processes, experimental studies of ligand–protein interactions are needed. Even though several techniques can be used to investigate both thermodynamic and kinetic profiles for a ligand–protein complex, these procedures are very often laborious, time consuming and expensive. In the last 10 years, computational approaches have enormous potential in providing insights into each of the above effects and in parsing their contributions to the changes in both kinetic and thermodynamic binding parameters. The main purpose of this review is to summarize the state of the art of computational strategies for estimating the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of a ligand–protein binding.

Structure-Based Scaffold Repurposing for G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Transformation of Adenosine Derivatives into 5HT2B/5HT2C Serotonin Receptor Antagonists

Adenosine derivatives developed to activate adenosine receptors (ARs) revealed micromolar activity at serotonin 5HT_2B and 5HT_2C receptors (5HTRs). We explored the structure-activity relationship at 5HT₂Rs and modeled receptor interactions in order to optimize affinity and simultaneously reduce AR affinity. Depending on N⁶ substitution, small 5'-alkylamide modification maintained 5HT_2BR affinity, which was enhanced upon ribose substitution with rigid bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane (North (N)-methanocarba), e.g., N⁶-dicyclopropylmethyl 4'-CH₂OH derivative 14 (K_i 11 nM). 5'-Methylamide 23 was 170-fold selective as antagonist for 5HT_2BR vs 5HT_2CR. 5'-Methyl 25 and ethyl 26 esters potently antagonized 5HT₂Rs with moderate selectivity in comparison to ARs; related 6-N,N-dimethylamino analogue 30 was 5HT₂R-selective. 5' position flexibility of substitution was indicated in 5HT_2BR docking. Both 5'-ester and 5'-amide derivatives displayed in vivo t_1/2 of 3-4 h. Thus, we used G protein-coupled receptor modeling to repurpose nucleoside scaffolds in favor of binding at nonpurine receptors as novel 5HT₂R antagonists, with potential for cardioprotection, liver protection, or central nervous system activity.

Membrane-Mediated Oligomerization of G Protein Coupled Receptors and Its Implications for GPCR Function

The dimerization or even oligomerization of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) causes ongoing, controversial debates about its functional role and the coupled biophysical, biochemical or biomedical implications. A continously growing number of studies hints to a relation between oligomerization and function of GPCRs and strengthens the assumption that receptor assembly plays a key role in the regulation of protein function. Additionally, progress in the structural analysis of GPCR-G protein and GPCR-ligand interactions allows to distinguish between actively functional and non-signaling complexes. Recent findings further suggest that the surrounding membrane, i.e., its lipid composition may modulate the preferred dimerization interface and as a result the abundance of distinct dimeric conformations. In this review, the association of GPCRs and the role of the membrane in oligomerization will be discussed. An overview of the different reported oligomeric interfaces is provided and their capability for signaling discussed. The currently available data is summarized with regard to the formation of GPCR oligomers, their structures and dependency on the membrane microenvironment as well as the coupling of oligomerization to receptor function.

DockBench as docking selector tool: the lesson learned from D3R Grand Challenge 2015

Structure-based drug design (SBDD) has matured within the last two decades as a valuable tool for the optimization of low molecular weight lead compounds to highly potent drugs. The key step in SBDD requires knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of the target-ligand complex, which is usually determined by X-ray crystallography. In the absence of structural information for the complex, SBDD relies on the generation of plausible molecular docking models. However, molecular docking protocols suffer from inaccuracies in the description of the interaction energies between the ligand and the target molecule, and often fail in the prediction of the correct binding mode. In this context, the appropriate selection of the most accurate docking protocol is absolutely relevant for the final molecular docking result, even if addressing this point is absolutely not a trivial task. D3R Grand Challenge 2015 has represented a precious opportunity to test the performance of DockBench, an integrate informatics platform to automatically compare RMDS-based molecular docking performances of different docking/scoring methods. The overall performance resulted in the blind prediction are encouraging in particular for the pose prediction task, in which several complex were predicted with a sufficient accuracy for medicinal chemistry purposes.

South (S)- and North (N)-Methanocarba-7-Deazaadenosine Analogues as Inhibitors of Human Adenosine Kinase

Adenosine kinase (AdK) inhibitors raise endogenous adenosine levels, particularly in disease states, and have potential for treatment of seizures, neurodegeneration, and inflammation. On the basis of the South (S) ribose conformation and molecular dynamics (MD) analysis of nucleoside inhibitors bound in AdK X-ray crystallographic structures, (S)- and North (N)-methanocarba (bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane) derivatives of known inhibitors were prepared and compared as human (h) AdK inhibitors. 5'-Hydroxy (34, MRS4202 (S); 55, MRS4380 (N)) and 5'-deoxy 38a (MRS4203 (S)) analogues, containing 7- and N(6)-NH phenyl groups in 7-deazaadenine, robustly inhibited AdK activity (IC50 ∼ 100 nM), while the 5'-hydroxy derivative 30 lacking the phenyl substituents was weak. Docking in the hAdK X-ray structure and MD simulation suggested a mode of binding similar to 5'-deoxy-5-iodotubercidin and other known inhibitors. Thus, a structure-based design approach for further potency enhancement is possible. The potent AdK inhibitors in this study are ready to be further tested in animal models of epilepsy.

New Trends in Inspecting GPCR-ligand Recognition Process: the Contribution of the Molecular Modeling Section (MMS) at the University of Padova

In this review, we present a survey of the recent advances carried out by our research groups in the field of ligand-GPCRs recognition process simulations recently implemented at the Molecular Modeling Section (MMS) of the University of Padova. We briefly describe a platform of tools we have tuned to aid the identification of novel GPCRs binders and the better understanding of their binding mechanisms, based on two extensively used computational techniques such as molecular docking and MD simulations. The developed methodologies encompass: (i) the selection of suitable protocols for docking studies, (ii) the exploration of the dynamical evolution of ligand-protein interaction networks, (iii) the detailed investigation of the role of water molecules upon ligand binding, and (iv) a glance at the way the ligand might go through prior reaching the binding site.

Structurally Enabled Discovery of Adenosine A2A Receptor Antagonists

Over the past decade there has been a revolution in the field of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structural biology. Many years of innovative research from different areas have come together to fuel this significant change in the fortunes of this field, which for many years was characterized by the paucity of high-resolution structures. The determination to succeed has been in part due to the recognized importance of these proteins as drug targets, and although the pharmaceutical industry has been focusing on these receptors, it can be justifiably argued and demonstrated that many of the approved and commercially successful GPCR drugs can be significantly improved to increase efficacy and/or reduce undesired side effects. In addition, many validated targets in this class remain to be drugged. It is widely recognized that application of structure-based drug design approaches can help medicinal chemists a long way toward discovering better drugs. The achievement of structural biologists in providing high-resolution insight is beginning to transform drug discovery efforts, and there are a number of GPCR drugs that have been discovered by use of structural information that are in clinical development. This review aims to highlight the key developments that have brought success to GPCR structure resolution efforts and exemplify the practical application of structural information for the discovery of adenosine A_2A receptor antagonists that have potential to treat multiple conditions.

Understanding the molecular basis of agonist/antagonist mechanism of GPER1/GPR30 through structural and energetic analyses

The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest superfamily of membrane proteins in charge to pass the cell signaling after binding with their cognate ligands to the cell interior. In breast cancer, a GPCR named GPER1 plays a key role in the process of growth and the proliferation of cancer cells. In a previous study, theoretical methods were applied to construct a model of GPER1, which later was submitted to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to perform a docking calculation. Based on this preceding work, it is known that GPER1 is sensitive to structural differences in its binding site. However, due to the nature of that past study, conformational changes linked to the ligand binding were not observed. Therefore, in this study, in order to explore the conformational changes coupled to the agonist/antagonist binding, MD simulations of about 0.25μs were performed for the free and bound states, summarizing 0.75μs of MD simulation in total. For the bound states, one agonist (G-1) and antagonist (G-15) were chosen since is widely known that these two molecules cause an impact on GPER1 mobility. Based on the conformational ensemble generated through MD simulations, we found that despite G-1 and G-15 being stabilized by similar map of residues, the structural differences between both ligands impact the hydrogen bond pattern not only at the GPER1 binding site but also along the seven-helix bundle, causing significant differences in the conformational mobility along the extracellular and cytoplasmic domain, and to a lesser degree in the curvatures of helix 2, helix 3 and helix 7 between the free and bound states, which is in agreement with reported literature, and might be linked to microscopic characteristics of the activated-inactivated transition. Furthermore, binding free energy calculations using the MM/GBSA method for the bound states, followed by an alanine scanning analysis allowed us to identify some important residues for the complex stabilization.

Towards predictive docking at aminergic G-protein coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are hard to crystallize. However, attempts to predict their structure have boomed as a result of advancements in crystallographic techniques. This trend has allowed computer-aided molecular modeling of GPCRs. We analyzed the performance of four molecular modeling programs in pose evaluation of re-docked antagonists / inverse agonists to 11 original crystal structures of aminergic GPCRs using an induced fit-docking procedure. AutoDock and Glide were used for docking. AutoDock binding energy function, GlideXP, Prime MM-GB/SA, and YASARA binding function were used for pose scoring. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) of the best pose ranged from 0.09 to 1.58 Å, and median RMSD of the top 60 poses ranged from 1.47 to 3.83 Å. However, RMSD of the top pose ranged from 0.13 to 7.33 Å and ranking of the best pose ranged from the 1st to 60th out of 60 poses. Moreover, analysis of ligand-receptor interactions of top poses revealed substantial differences from interactions found in crystallographic structures. Bad ranking of top poses and discrepancies between top docked poses and crystal structures render current simple docking methods unsuitable for predictive modeling of receptor-ligand interactions. Prime MM-GB/SA optimized for 3NY9 by multiple linear regression did not work well at 3NY8 and 3NYA, structures of the same receptor with different ligands. However, 9 of 11 trajectories of molecular dynamics simulations by Desmond of top poses converged with trajectories of crystal structures. Key interactions were properly detected for all structures. This procedure also worked well for cross-docking of tested β2-adrenergic antagonists. Thus, this procedure represents a possible way to predict interactions of antagonists with aminergic GPCRs.

Binding of the Antagonist Caffeine to the Human Adenosine Receptor hA2AR in Nearly Physiological Conditions

Lipid composition may significantly affect membrane proteins function, yet its impact on the protein structural determinants is not well understood. Here we present a comparative molecular dynamics (MD) study of the human adenosine receptor type 2A (hA(2A)R) in complex with caffeine--a system of high neuro-pharmacological relevance--within different membrane types. These are POPC, mixed POPC/POPE and cholesterol-rich membranes. 0.8-μs MD simulations unambiguously show that the helical folding of the amphipathic helix 8 depends on membrane contents. Most importantly, the distinct cholesterol binding into the cleft between helix 1 and 2 stabilizes a specific caffeine-binding pose against others visited during the simulation. Hence, cholesterol presence (~33%-50% in synaptic membrane in central nervous system), often neglected in X-ray determination of membrane proteins, affects the population of the ligand binding poses. We conclude that including a correct description of neuronal membranes may be very important for computer-aided design of ligands targeting hA(2A)R and possibly other GPCRs.

Molecular modeling of the human P2Y14 receptor: A template for structure-based design of selective agonist ligands

The P2Y14 receptor (P2Y14R) is a Gi protein-coupled receptor that is activated by uracil nucleotides UDP and UDP-glucose. The P2Y14R structure has yet to be solved through X-ray crystallography, but the recent agonist-bound crystal structure of the P2Y12R provides a potentially suitable template for its homology modeling for rational structure-based design of selective and high-affinity ligands. In this study, we applied ligand docking and molecular dynamics refinement to a P2Y14R homology model to qualitatively explain structure-activity relationships of previously published synthetic nucleotide analogues and to probe the quality of P2Y14R homology modeling as a template for structure-based design. The P2Y14R model supports the hypothesis of a conserved binding mode of nucleotides in the three P2Y12-like receptors involving functionally conserved residues. We predict phosphate group interactions with R253(6.55), K277(7.35), Y256(6.58) and Q260(6.62), nucleobase (anti-conformation) π-π stacking with Y102(3.33) and the role of F191(5.42) as a means for selectivity among P2Y12-like receptors. The glucose moiety of UDP-glucose docked in a secondary subpocket at the P2Y14R homology model. Thus, P2Y14R homology modeling may allow detailed prediction of interactions to facilitate the design of high affinity, selective agonists as pharmacological tools to study the P2Y14R.

Molecular docking screening using agonist-bound GPCR structures: probing the A2A adenosine receptor

Crystal structures of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have recently revealed the molecular basis of ligand binding and activation, which has provided exciting opportunities for structure-based drug design. The A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) is a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases, but progress in this area is limited by the lack of novel agonist scaffolds. We carried out docking screens of 6.7 million commercially available molecules against active-like conformations of the A2AAR to investigate whether these structures could guide the discovery of agonists. Nine out of the 20 predicted agonists were confirmed to be A2AAR ligands, but none of these activated the ARs. The difficulties in discovering AR agonists using structure-based methods originated from limited atomic-level understanding of the activation mechanism and a chemical bias toward antagonists in the screened library. In particular, the composition of the screened library was found to strongly reduce the likelihood of identifying AR agonists, which reflected the high ligand complexity required for receptor activation. Extension of this analysis to other pharmaceutically relevant GPCRs suggested that library screening may not be suitable for targets requiring a complex receptor-ligand interaction network. Our results provide specific directions for the future development of novel A2AAR agonists and general strategies for structure-based drug discovery.

Understanding the conformation transition in the activation pathway of β2 adrenergic receptor via a targeted molecular dynamics simulation

The conformation transition in the activation pathway of β2 adrenergic receptor was explored mainly using a target molecular dynamics simulation.

Exploring the binding properties of agonists interacting with human TGR5 using structural modeling, molecular docking and dynamics simulations

TGR5, act as a potential pharmacological target in the treatment of type II diabetes. In the computational study, structural modeling and binding site prediction of TGR5 receptor was performed. Two well-known agonists of TGR5 used to investigate the mode and mechanism of binding.