1
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Syahdi RR, Jasial S, Maeda I, Miyao T. Bridging Structure- and Ligand-Based Virtual Screening through Fragmented Interaction Fingerprint. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:38957-38969. [PMID: 39310180 PMCID: PMC11411525 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c05433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) and structure-based virtual screening (SBVS), and their combinations, are frequently conducted in modern drug discovery campaigns. As a form of combination, an amalgamation of methods from ligand- and structure-based information, termed hybrid VS approaches, has been extensively investigated such as using interaction fingerprints (IFPs) in combination with machine learning (ML) models. This approach has the potential to prioritize active compounds in terms of protein-ligand binding and ligand structural characteristics, which is assumed to be difficult using either one of the approaches. Herein, we present an IFP, named the fragmented interaction fingerprint (FIFI), for hybrid VS approaches. FIFI is constructed from the extended connectivity fingerprint atom environments of a ligand proximal to the protein residues in the binding site. Each unique ligand substructure within each amino acid residue is encoded as a bit in FIFI while retaining sequence order. From the retrospective evaluation of activity prediction using a limited number and variety of active compounds for six biological targets, FIFI consistently showed higher prediction accuracy than that using previously proposed IFPs. For the same data sets, the screening performance of LBVS, SBVS sequential VS, parallel VS, and other hybrid VS approaches was investigated. Compared to these approaches, FIFI in combination with ML showed overall stable and high prediction accuracy, except for one target: the kappa opioid receptor, where the extended connectivity fingerprint combined with ML models showed better performance than other approaches by wide margins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezi Riadhi Syahdi
- Graduate
School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute
of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Swarit Jasial
- Graduate
School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute
of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
- Data
Science Center, Nara Institute of Science
and Technology, 8916-5
Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Itsuki Maeda
- Graduate
School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute
of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Miyao
- Graduate
School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute
of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
- Data
Science Center, Nara Institute of Science
and Technology, 8916-5
Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan
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2
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Wasilko DJ, Gerstenberger BS, Farley KA, Li W, Alley J, Schnute ME, Unwalla RJ, Victorino J, Crouse KK, Ding R, Sahasrabudhe PV, Vincent F, Frisbie RK, Dermenci A, Flick A, Choi C, Chinigo G, Mousseau JJ, Trujillo JI, Nuhant P, Mondal P, Lombardo V, Lamb D, Hogan BJ, Minhas GS, Segala E, Oswald C, Windsor IW, Han S, Rappas M, Cooke RM, Calabrese MF, Berstein G, Thorarensen A, Wu H. Structural basis for CCR6 modulation by allosteric antagonists. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7574. [PMID: 39217154 PMCID: PMC11365967 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) is a potential target for chronic inflammatory diseases. Previously, we reported an active CCR6 structure in complex with its cognate chemokine CCL20, revealing the molecular basis of CCR6 activation. Here, we present two inactive CCR6 structures in ternary complexes with different allosteric antagonists, CCR6/SQA1/OXM1 and CCR6/SQA1/OXM2. The oxomorpholine analogues, OXM1 and OXM2 are highly selective CCR6 antagonists which bind to an extracellular pocket and disrupt the receptor activation network. An energetically favoured U-shaped conformation in solution that resembles the bound form is observed for the active analogues. SQA1 is a squaramide derivative with close-in analogues reported as antagonists of chemokine receptors including CCR6. SQA1 binds to an intracellular pocket which overlaps with the G protein site, stabilizing a closed pocket that is a hallmark of inactive GPCRs. Minimal communication between the two allosteric pockets is observed, in contrast to the prevalent allosteric cooperativity model of GPCRs. This work highlights the versatility of GPCR antagonism by small molecules, complementing previous knowledge of CCR6 activation, and sheds light on drug discovery targeting CCR6.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Wei Li
- Inflammation and Immunology Research, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer Alley
- Inflammation and Immunology Research, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Jorge Victorino
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Kimberly K Crouse
- Inflammation and Immunology Research, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ru Ding
- Inflammation and Immunology Research, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Fabien Vincent
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Chulho Choi
- Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel Lamb
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
- Nxera Pharma UK Limited, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | - Barbara J Hogan
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
- Nxera Pharma UK Limited, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Elena Segala
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christine Oswald
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ian W Windsor
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Seungil Han
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA
| | - Mathieu Rappas
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
- Nxera Pharma UK Limited, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert M Cooke
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Gabriel Berstein
- Inflammation and Immunology Research, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Huixian Wu
- Discovery Sciences, Medicine Design, Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT, USA.
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3
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Puls K, Olivé-Marti AL, Hongnak S, Lamp D, Spetea M, Wolber G. Discovery of Novel, Selective, and Nonbasic Agonists for the Kappa-Opioid Receptor Determined by Salvinorin A-Based Virtual Screening. J Med Chem 2024; 67:13788-13801. [PMID: 39088801 PMCID: PMC11345774 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
Modulating the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) is a promising strategy for treating various human diseases. KOR agonists show potential for treating pain, pruritus, and epilepsy, while KOR antagonists show potential for treating depression, anxiety, and addiction. The diterpenoid Salvinorin A (SalA), a secondary metabolite of Salvia divinorum, is a potent and selective KOR agonist. Unlike typical opioids, SalA lacks a basic nitrogen, which encouraged us to search for nonbasic KOR ligands. Through structure-based virtual screening using 3D pharmacophore models based on the binding mode of SalA, we identified novel, nonbasic, potent, and selective KOR agonists. In vitro studies confirmed two virtual hits, SalA-VS-07 and SalA-VS-08, as highly selective for the KOR and showing G protein-biased KOR agonist activity. Both KOR ligands share a novel spiro-moiety and a nonbasic scaffold. Our findings provide novel starting points for developing therapeutics aimed at treating pain and other conditions in which KOR is a central player.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Puls
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Aina-Leonor Olivé-Marti
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for
Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Siriwat Hongnak
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for
Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - David Lamp
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for
Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mariana Spetea
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for
Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gerhard Wolber
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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4
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Drakopoulos A, Koszegi Z, Seier K, Hübner H, Maurel D, Sounier R, Granier S, Gmeiner P, Calebiro D, Decker M. Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of New δ Opioid Receptor-Selective Fluorescent Probes and Applications in Single-Molecule Microscopy of Wild-Type Receptors. J Med Chem 2024; 67:12618-12631. [PMID: 39044606 PMCID: PMC11386433 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The delta opioid receptor (δOR or DOR) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) showing a promising profile as a drug target for nociception and analgesia. Herein, we design and synthesize new fluorescent antagonist probes with high δOR selectivity that are ideally suited for single-molecule microscopy (SMM) applications in unmodified, untagged receptors. Using our new probes, we investigated wild-type δOR localization and mobility at low physiological receptor densities for the first time. Furthermore, we investigate the potential formation of δOR homodimers, as such a receptor organization might exhibit distinct pharmacological activity, potentially paving the way for innovative pharmacological therapies. Our findings indicate that the majority of δORs labeled with these probes exist as freely diffusing monomers on the cell surface in a simple cell model. This discovery advances our understanding of OR behavior and offers potential implications for future therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios Drakopoulos
- Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Zsombor Koszegi
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, U.K
| | - Kerstin Seier
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 9, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Harald Hübner
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Damien Maurel
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 34094 Cedex 5 Montpellier, France
| | - Rémy Sounier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 34094 Cedex 5 Montpellier, France
| | - Sébastien Granier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, 34094 Cedex 5 Montpellier, France
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Davide Calebiro
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham, B15 2TT Birmingham, U.K
| | - Michael Decker
- Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Institut für Pharmazie und Lebensmittelchemie, Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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5
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Tchekalarova J, Pechlivanova D, Rangelov M, Todorova N, Stoyanova T, Assenov B, Todorov P. A novel cinnamic and caffeic acid-conjugated peptide analogs with anticonvulsant and analgesic potency: Comparative analyses of trans/cis isomers. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22236. [PMID: 39032052 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
The novel cinnamic acid (CA) (H4-CA, H5-CA, and H7-CA) and caffeic acid (KA) (H4-KA, H5-KA, and H7-KA) hemorphin analogs have recently been synthesized and their trans isomers have been tested for antiseizure and antinociceptive activity. In the present study, the cis forms of these compounds were tested and compared with their trans isomers in seizure and nociception tests in mice. The cis-H5-CA and H7-CA compounds showed efficacy against psychomotor seizures, whereas the trans isomers were ineffective. Both the cis and trans KA isomers were ineffective in the 6-Hz test. In the maximal electroshock (MES) test, the cis isomers showed superior antiseizure activity to the trans forms of CA and KA conjugates, respectively. The suppression of seizure propagation by cis-H5-CA and the cis-H5-KA was reversed by a kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist. Naloxone and naltrindole were not effective. The cis-isomers of CA conjugates and cis-H7-KA produced significantly stronger antinociceptive effects than their trans-isomers. The cis-H5-CA antinociception was blocked by naloxone in the acute phase and by naloxone and KOR antagonists in the inflammatory phase of the formalin test. The antinociception of the KA conjugates was not abolished by opioid receptor blockade. None of the tested conjugates affected the thermal nociceptive threshold. The results of the docking analysis also suggest a model-specific mechanism related to the activity of the cis-isomers of CA and KA conjugates in relation to opioid receptors. Our findings pave the way for the further development of novel opioid-related antiseizure and antinociceptive therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Tchekalarova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Daniela Pechlivanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Medicine Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Miroslav Rangelov
- Institute of Organic Chemistry with centre of phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nadezda Todorova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tsveta Stoyanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Borislav Assenov
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Medicine Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petar Todorov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia, Bulgaria
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6
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Stein C. Effects of pH on opioid receptor activation and implications for drug design. Biophys J 2024:S0006-3495(24)00446-6. [PMID: 38970252 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors are integral membrane proteins that transduce chemical signals from the extracellular matrix into the cell. Traditional drug design has considered ligand-receptor interactions only under normal conditions. However, studies on opioids indicate that such interactions are very different in diseased tissues. In such microenvironments, protons play an important role in structural and functional alterations of both ligands and receptors. The pertinent literature strongly suggests that future drug design should take these aspects into account in order to reduce adverse side effects while preserving desired effects of novel compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Stein
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Experimental Anaesthesiology, Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Liu H, Guo S, Dai A, Xu P, Li X, Huang S, He X, Wu K, Zhang X, Yang D, Xie X, Xu HE. Structural and functional evidence that GPR30 is not a direct estrogen receptor. Cell Res 2024; 34:530-533. [PMID: 38744981 PMCID: PMC11217264 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-024-00963-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shimeng Guo
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Antao Dai
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiyu Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sijie Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinheng He
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xin Xie
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, China.
| | - H Eric Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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8
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Gisemba SA, Ferracane MJ, Murray TF, Aldrich JV. A Bicyclic Analog of the Linear Peptide Arodyn Is a Potent and Selective Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist. Molecules 2024; 29:3109. [PMID: 38999061 PMCID: PMC11243530 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29133109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonists have potential therapeutic applications in the treatment of stress-induced relapse to substance abuse and mood disorders. The dynorphin A analog arodyn (Ac[Phe1,2,3,Arg4,D-Ala8]dynorphin A-(1-11)-NH2) exhibits potent and selective kappa opioid receptor antagonism. Multiple cyclizations in longer peptides, such as dynorphin and its analogs, can extend the conformational constraint to additional regions of the peptide beyond what is typically constrained by a single cyclization. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of a bicyclic arodyn analog with two constraints in the opioid peptide sequence. The peptide, designed based on structure-activity relationships of monocyclic arodyn analogs, was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis and cyclized by sequential ring-closing metathesis (RCM) in the C- and N-terminal sequences. Molecular modeling studies suggest similar interactions of key aromatic and basic residues in the bicyclic peptide with KOR as found in the cryoEM structure of KOR-bound dynorphin, despite substantial differences in the backbone conformations of the two peptides. The bicyclic peptide's affinities at KOR and mu opioid receptors (MOR) were determined in radioligand binding assays, and its KOR antagonism was determined in the [35S]GTPγS assay in KOR-expressing cells. The bicyclic analog retains KOR affinity and selectivity (Ki = 26 nM, 97-fold selectivity over MOR) similar to arodyn and exhibits potent KOR antagonism in the dynorphin-stimulated [35S]GTPγS assay. This bicyclic peptide represents a promising advance in preparing cyclic opioid peptide ligands and opens avenues for the rational design of additional bicyclic opioid peptide analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon A Gisemba
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Thomas F Murray
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68102, USA
| | - Jane V Aldrich
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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9
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Szwabowski GL, Griffing M, Mugabe EJ, O’Malley D, Baker LN, Baker DL, Parrill AL. G Protein-Coupled Receptor-Ligand Pose and Functional Class Prediction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6876. [PMID: 38999982 PMCID: PMC11241240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) transmembrane protein family members play essential roles in physiology. Numerous pharmaceuticals target GPCRs, and many drug discovery programs utilize virtual screening (VS) against GPCR targets. Improvements in the accuracy of predicting new molecules that bind to and either activate or inhibit GPCR function would accelerate such drug discovery programs. This work addresses two significant research questions. First, do ligand interaction fingerprints provide a substantial advantage over automated methods of binding site selection for classical docking? Second, can the functional status of prospective screening candidates be predicted from ligand interaction fingerprints using a random forest classifier? Ligand interaction fingerprints were found to offer modest advantages in sampling accurate poses, but no substantial advantage in the final set of top-ranked poses after scoring, and, thus, were not used in the generation of the ligand-receptor complexes used to train and test the random forest classifier. A binary classifier which treated agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists as active and all other ligands as inactive proved highly effective in ligand function prediction in an external test set of GPR31 and TAAR2 candidate ligands with a hit rate of 82.6% actual actives within the set of predicted actives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Daniel L. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; (G.L.S.); (M.G.); (E.J.M.); (D.O.); (L.N.B.)
| | - Abby L. Parrill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA; (G.L.S.); (M.G.); (E.J.M.); (D.O.); (L.N.B.)
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10
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Vu LY, Luo D, Johnson K, Denehy ED, Songrady JC, Martin J, Trivedi R, Alsum AR, Shaykin JD, Chaudhary CL, Woloshin EJ, Kornberger L, Bhuiyan N, Parkin S, Jiang Q, Che T, Alilain W, Turner JR, Bardo MT, Prisinzano TE. Searching for Synthetic Opioid Rescue Agents: Identification of a Potent Opioid Agonist with Reduced Respiratory Depression. J Med Chem 2024; 67:9173-9193. [PMID: 38810170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
While in the process of designing more effective synthetic opioid rescue agents, we serendipitously identified a new chemotype of potent synthetic opioid. Here, we report that conformational constraint of a piperazine ring converts a mu opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist into a potent MOR agonist. The prototype of the series, which we have termed atoxifent (2), possesses potent in vitro agonist activity. In mice, atoxifent displayed long-lasting antinociception that was reversible with naltrexone. Repeated dosing of atoxifent produced antinociceptive tolerance and a level of withdrawal like that of fentanyl. In rats, while atoxifent produced complete loss of locomotor activity like fentanyl, it failed to produce deep respiratory depression associated with fentanyl-induced lethality. Assessment of brain biodistribution demonstrated ample distribution of atoxifent into the brain with a Tmax of approximately 0.25 h. These results indicate enhanced safety for atoxifent-like molecules compared to fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loan Y Vu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Kai Johnson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Emily D Denehy
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Judy C Songrady
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jocelyn Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Riya Trivedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Alexia R Alsum
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jakob D Shaykin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Chhabi Lal Chaudhary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Eric J Woloshin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Lindsay Kornberger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Nazmul Bhuiyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sean Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Qianru Jiang
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Tao Che
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Warren Alilain
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Jill R Turner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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11
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Li Z, Huang R, Xia M, Chang N, Guo W, Liu J, Dong F, Liu B, Varghese A, Aslam A, Patterson TA, Hong H. Decoding the κ Opioid Receptor (KOR): Advancements in Structural Understanding and Implications for Opioid Analgesic Development. Molecules 2024; 29:2635. [PMID: 38893511 PMCID: PMC11173883 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The opioid crisis in the United States is a significant public health issue, with a nearly threefold increase in opioid-related fatalities between 1999 and 2014. In response to this crisis, society has made numerous efforts to mitigate its impact. Recent advancements in understanding the structural intricacies of the κ opioid receptor (KOR) have improved our knowledge of how opioids interact with their receptors, triggering downstream signaling pathways that lead to pain relief. This review concentrates on the KOR, offering crucial structural insights into the binding mechanisms of both agonists and antagonists to the receptor. Through comparative analysis of the atomic details of the binding site, distinct interactions specific to agonists and antagonists have been identified. These insights not only enhance our understanding of ligand binding mechanisms but also shed light on potential pathways for developing new opioid analgesics with an improved risk-benefit profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Li
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.H.); (M.X.)
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.H.); (M.X.)
| | - Nancy Chang
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA;
| | - Wenjing Guo
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Jie Liu
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Fan Dong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Bailang Liu
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Ann Varghese
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Aasma Aslam
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Tucker A. Patterson
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA; (Z.L.); (W.G.); (J.L.); (F.D.); (B.L.); (A.V.); (A.A.)
| | - Huixiao Hong
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.H.); (M.X.)
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12
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Lalji HM, Bailey CP, Husbands SM, Bailey SJ. Effects of sex and hydration status on kappa opioid receptor-mediated diuresis in rats. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 134:792-804. [PMID: 38584299 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.14008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the function of the kappa opioid receptor (KOP) is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic interventions that target KOP for the treatment of pain, stress-related disorders and other indications. Activation of KOP produces diuretic effects in rodents and man. Sex is a vital factor to consider when assessing drug response in pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this study, the diuretic effect of the KOP agonist, U50488 (1-10 mg/kg), was investigated in both adult female and male Wistar rats that were either normally hydrated or water-loaded. The KOP antagonist norbinaltorphimine (norBNI, 10 mg/kg) was administered 24 h prior to U50488 to confirm the involvement of KOP. U50488 elicited a significant diuretic response at doses ≥ 3 mg/kg in both female and male rats independent of hydration status. U50488 diuretic effects were inhibited by norBNI pre-administration. Water-loading reduced data variability for urine volume in males, but not in females, compared with normally hydrated rats. Sex differences were also evident in U50488 eliciting a significant increase in sodium and potassium ion excretion only in males. This may suggest different mechanisms of U50488 diuretic action in males where renal excretion mechanisms are directly affected more than in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sarah J Bailey
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
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13
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Eliasof A, Liu-Chen LY, Li Y. Peptide-derived ligands for the discovery of safer opioid analgesics. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103950. [PMID: 38514040 PMCID: PMC11127667 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Drugs targeting the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) remain the most efficacious analgesics for the treatment of pain, but activation of MOR with current opioid analgesics also produces harmful side effects, notably physical dependence, addiction, and respiratory depression. Opioid peptides have been accepted as promising candidates for the development of safer and more efficacious analgesics. To develop peptide-based opioid analgesics, strategies such as modification of endogenous opioid peptides, development of multifunctional opioid peptides, G protein-biased opioid peptides, and peripherally restricted opioid peptides have been reported. This review seeks to provide an overview of the opioid peptides that produce potent antinociception with much reduced side effects in animal models and highlight the potential advantages of peptides as safer opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbe Eliasof
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Yangmei Li
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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14
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Li Z, Ye R, He Q, Lu J, Sun Y, Sun X, Tang S, Hu S, Chai J, Kong L, Liu X, Chen J, Fang Y, Lan Y, Xie Q, Liu J, Shao L, Fu W, Wang Y, Li W. Discovery of an Ortho-Substituted N-Cyclopropylmethyl-7α-phenyl-6,14- endoethano-tetrahydronorthebaine Derivative as a Selective and Potent Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist with Subsided Sedative Effect. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38647397 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Research into kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists with attenuated central-nervous-system side effects is a critical focus for developing productive and safe analgesics. Herein, a series of ortho-substituted N-cyclopropylmethyl-7α-phenyl-6,14-endoethano-tetrahydronorthebaines were designed, synthesized, and subjected to bioassays. Compound 7a exhibited high subtype selectivity and potent agonistic activity toward KOR (KOR, Ki = 3.9 nM, MOR/KOR = 270, DOR/KOR = 1075; [35S]GTPγS binding, EC50 = 3.4 nM). Additionally, this compound exhibited robust and persistent antinociceptive effects in rodent models with different animal strains (hot plate test, ED50 = 0.20-0.30 mg/kg, i.p.; abdominal constriction test, ED50 = 0.20-0.60 mg/kg, i.p.), with its KOR-mediated mechanism for antinociception firmly established. Notably, compound 7a, unlike conventional KOR agonists, displayed minimal sedation and aversion at the antinociceptive ED50 dose. This feature addresses a crucial limitation in existing KOR agonists, positioning compound 7a as a promising novel therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Rufeng Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qian He
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiashuo Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yanting Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xiujian Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Siyuan Tang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shuyang Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jingrui Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Linghui Kong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaoning Liu
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai 264117, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yun Fang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yingjie Lan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiong Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinggen Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
- Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Liming Shao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai 264117, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai 201203, China
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15
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Chen YL, Lai YH, Huang EYK, Wang HJ, Hung HY. Nalbuphine-6-glucuronide is a potent analgesic with superior safety profiles by altering binding affinity and selectivity for mu-/kappa-opioid receptors. Life Sci 2024; 340:122441. [PMID: 38253309 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Although nalbuphine, a semi-synthetic analgesic compound, is less potent than morphine in terms of alleviating severe pain, our recent findings have revealed that nalbuphine-6-glucuronide (N6G), one of the glucuronide metabolites of nalbuphine, promotes a significantly more robust analgesic effect than its parent drug. Nevertheless, despite these promising observations, the precise mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of nalbuphine glucuronides have yet to be determined. In this study, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms associated with the analgesic effects of nalbuphine glucuronides. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between the central and peripheral compartments of nalbuphine and its derivatives. The analgesic responses of these compounds were evaluated based on multiple behavioral tests involving thermal and mechanical stimuli. Radioligand binding assays were also performed to determine the binding affinity and selectivity of these compounds for different opioid receptors. The results of these tests consistently confirmed that the heightened analgesic effects of N6G are mediated through its enhanced binding affinity for both mu- and kappa-opioid receptors, even comparable to those of morphine. Notably, N6G exhibited fewer side effects and did not induce sudden death, thereby highlighting its superior safety profile. Additionally, pharmacokinetic studies indicated that N6G could cross the blood-brain barrier when administered peripherally, offering pain relief. Overall, N6G provides great analgesic efficacy and enhanced safety. These findings highlight the potential value of nalbuphine glucuronides, particularly N6G, as promising candidates for the development of novel analgesic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Lun Chen
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yen-Hsun Lai
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Eagle Yi-Kung Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hong-Jaan Wang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
| | - Hao-Yuan Hung
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Pharmacology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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16
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Katayama K, Suno R. Holistic concepts in GPCR dynamics. Biophys Physicobiol 2024; 21:e210011. [PMID: 38803340 PMCID: PMC11128305 DOI: 10.2142/biophysico.bppb-v21.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kota Katayama
- Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
- OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8555, Japan
| | - Ryoji Suno
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
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17
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Kim SK, Suebka S, Gin A, Nguyen PD, Tang Y, Su J, Goddard WA. Methotrexate Inhibits the Binding of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Receptor Binding Domain to the Host-Cell Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) Receptor. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:348-362. [PMID: 38357278 PMCID: PMC10863433 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus mutates, finding effective drugs becomes more challenging. In this study, we use ultrasensitive frequency locked microtoroid optical resonators in combination with in silico screening to search for COVID-19 drugs that can stop the virus from attaching to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor in the lungs. We found 29 promising candidates that could block the binding site and selected four of them that were likely to bind very strongly. We tested three of these candidates using frequency locked optical whispering evanescent resonator (FLOWER), a label-free sensing method based on microtoroid resonators. FLOWER has previously been used for sensing single macromolecules. Here we show, for the first time, that FLOWER can provide accurate binding affinities and sense the inhibition effect of small molecule drug candidates without labels, which can be prohibitive in drug discovery. One of the candidates, methotrexate, showed binding to the spike protein 1.8 million times greater than that to the receptor binding domain (RBD) binding to hACE2, making it difficult for the virus to enter cells. We tested methotrexate against different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and found that it is effective against all four of the tested variants. People taking methotrexate for other conditions have also shown protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Normally, it is assumed that methotrexate inhibits the replication and release of the virus. However, our findings suggest that it may also block the virus from entering cells. These studies additionally demonstrate the possibility of extracting candidate ligands from large databases, followed by direct receptor-ligand binding experiments on the best candidates using microtoroid resonators, thus creating a workflow that enables the rapid discovery of new drug candidates for a variety of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Kyung Kim
- Materials
and Process Simulation Center, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Sartanee Suebka
- Wyant
College of Optical Sciences, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Adley Gin
- Wyant
College of Optical Sciences, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Phuong-Diem Nguyen
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Yisha Tang
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Judith Su
- Wyant
College of Optical Sciences, The University
of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - William A. Goddard
- Materials
and Process Simulation Center, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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18
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Todorov P, Georgieva S, Peneva P, Nikolov S, Rangelov M, Todorova N, Pechlivanova D, Tchekalarova J. Synthesis, molecular docking, electrochemical and fluorimetric analysis of new caffeic and cinnamic acid-conjugated hemorphin derivatives designed as potential anticonvulsant and antinociceptive agents. Bioorg Chem 2024; 143:107063. [PMID: 38150935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Based on the pharmacophore model of opioid receptors, our team recently synthesized a series of short-chain hemorphin peptide analogs containing non-natural amino acids. They demonstrated anticonvulsant and antinociceptive activity with low neurotoxicity. In the present study, a series of novel bioconjugates of N-modified hemorphin analogs containing second pharmacophore cinnamic acids (CA) or caffeic (KA) were synthesized by a traditional solid-phase Fmoc chemistry method for peptide synthesis. Electrochemical and fluorimetric analysis, in vivo anticonvulsant and antinociceptive activity in mice were conducted on the compounds. The three CA acid- (H4-CA, H5-CA, and H7-CA) and three KA acid- (H4-KA, H5-KA, and H7-KA) conjugated hemorphin derivatives exhibited potency at the highest doses of 2 µg/5 µl, administered by intracerebroventricular (icv) mode, against seizure spread in the maximal electroshock test (MES) in mice. The KA-conjugated H5-KA derivate, at the lowest dose, was the only compound that suppressed clonic seizures in the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazol (scPTZ) test. Except for the H5-CA, all tested CA acid- and KA acid-conjugated peptide derivates had the potency to increase the latency for clonic seizures in a dose-dependent mode. The activity against the psychomotor seizures in the 6-Hz test was detected only for the H4-CA (0.5 µg) and H4-KA (0.5 µg and 1 µg), respectively. All investigated peptides showed a more pronounced antinociceptive effect in the "intraplantar formalin" test compared to the "hot plate" test. Shorter chain analogs showed a better antinociceptive profile against tonic pain. The data suggest a DOR and KOR-mediated mechanism of action. According to the docking analysis, H7-CA showed a different antinociceptive profile than other investigated peptides. The novel peptide derivates did not exhibit neurotoxicity in the rotarod test. Our findings suggest that conjugated CA and KA morphine peptides can be used to develop novel morphine-related analogs with anticonvulsant and antinociceptive activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petar Todorov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria.
| | - Stela Georgieva
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petia Peneva
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Spas Nikolov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Miroslav Rangelov
- Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nadezhda Todorova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Daniela Pechlivanova
- Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 1407 Sofia, Bulgaria; Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Jana Tchekalarova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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19
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Tache S, Kerr PL, Sirbu C. The Foundational Science of Endogenous Opioids and Their Receptors. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 35:9-26. [PMID: 38874716 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45493-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
The function of endogenous opioids spans from initiating behaviors that are critical for survival, to responding to rapidly changing environmental conditions. A network of interconnected systems throughout the body characterizes the endogenous opioid system (EOS). EOS receptors for beta-endorphin, enkephalin, dynorphin, and endomorphin underpin the diverse functions of the EOS across biological systems. This chapter presents a succinct yet comprehensive summary of the structure of the EOS, EOS receptors, and their relationship to other biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Tache
- Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Patrick L Kerr
- West Virginia University School of Medicine-Charleston, Charleston, WV, USA.
| | - Cristian Sirbu
- Center for Cancer Research, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, WV, USA
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20
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Muratspahić E, Deibler K, Han J, Tomašević N, Jadhav KB, Olivé-Marti AL, Hochrainer N, Hellinger R, Koehbach J, Fay JF, Rahman MH, Hegazy L, Craven TW, Varga BR, Bhardwaj G, Appourchaux K, Majumdar S, Muttenthaler M, Hosseinzadeh P, Craik DJ, Spetea M, Che T, Baker D, Gruber CW. Design and structural validation of peptide-drug conjugate ligands of the kappa-opioid receptor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8064. [PMID: 38052802 PMCID: PMC10698194 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43718-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing number of GPCR structures and recent advances in peptide design, the development of efficient technologies allowing rational design of high-affinity peptide ligands for single GPCRs remains an unmet challenge. Here, we develop a computational approach for designing conjugates of lariat-shaped macrocyclized peptides and a small molecule opioid ligand. We demonstrate its feasibility by discovering chemical scaffolds for the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) with desired pharmacological activities. The designed De Novo Cyclic Peptide (DNCP)-β-naloxamine (NalA) exhibit in vitro potent mixed KOR agonism/mu-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonism, nanomolar binding affinity, selectivity, and efficacy bias at KOR. Proof-of-concept in vivo efficacy studies demonstrate that DNCP-β-NalA(1) induces a potent KOR-mediated antinociception in male mice. The high-resolution cryo-EM structure (2.6 Å) of the DNCP-β-NalA-KOR-Gi1 complex and molecular dynamics simulations are harnessed to validate the computational design model. This reveals a network of residues in ECL2/3 and TM6/7 controlling the intrinsic efficacy of KOR. In general, our computational de novo platform overcomes extensive lead optimization encountered in ultra-large library docking and virtual small molecule screening campaigns and offers innovation for GPCR ligand discovery. This may drive the development of next-generation therapeutics for medical applications such as pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edin Muratspahić
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kristine Deibler
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Novo Nordisk Research Center Seattle, Novo Nordisk A/S, 530 Fairview Ave N #5000, Seattle, WA, 97403, USA
| | - Jianming Han
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Nataša Tomašević
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kirtikumar B Jadhav
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aina-Leonor Olivé-Marti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadine Hochrainer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roland Hellinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Koehbach
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty for Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jonathan F Fay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Mohammad Homaidur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Lamees Hegazy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Saint Louis College of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Timothy W Craven
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Balazs R Varga
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Gaurav Bhardwaj
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kevin Appourchaux
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Susruta Majumdar
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Markus Muttenthaler
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Parisa Hosseinzadeh
- Department of Bioengineering, Knight Campus, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mariana Spetea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Tao Che
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - David Baker
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Christian W Gruber
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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21
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Fairbanks CA, Peterson CD. The opioid receptor: emergence through millennia of pharmaceutical sciences. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:960389. [PMID: 38028425 PMCID: PMC10646403 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.960389] [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: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout history humanity has searched for an optimal approach to the use of opioids that maximizes analgesia while minimizing side effects. This review reflects upon the conceptualization of the opioid receptor and the critical role that the pharmaceutical sciences played in its revelation. Opium-containing formulations have been delivered by various routes of administration for analgesia and other therapeutic indications for millennia. The concept of a distinct site of opium action evolved as practitioners developed innovative delivery methods, such as intravenous administration, to improve therapeutic outcomes. The introduction of morphine and synthetic opioids engendered the prevalent assumption of a common opioid receptor. Through consideration of structure-activity relationships, spatial geometry, and pharmacological differences of known ligands, the idea of multiple opioid receptors emerged. By accessing the high-affinity property of naloxone, the opioid receptor was identified in central and peripheral nervous system tissue. The endogenous opioid neuropeptides were subsequently discovered. Application of mu-, delta-, and kappa- opioid receptor-selective ligands facilitated the pharmacological characterization and distinctions between the three receptors, which were later cloned and sequenced. Opioid receptor signal transduction pathways were described and attributed to specific physiological outcomes. The crystal structures of mu, delta, kappa, and nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptors bound to receptor-selective ligands have been elucidated. Comparison of these structures reveal locations of ligand binding and engagement of signal transduction pathways. Expanding knowledge regarding the structure and actions of the opioid receptor fuels contemporary strategies for driving the activity of opioid receptors toward maximizing therapeutic and minimizing adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A. Fairbanks
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Cristina D. Peterson
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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22
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Tchekalarova J, Todorov P, Rangelov M, Stoyanova T, Todorova N. Additive Anticonvulsant Profile and Molecular Docking Analysis of 5,5'-Diphenylhydantoin Schiff Bases and Phenytoin. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2912. [PMID: 38001914 PMCID: PMC10669120 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Four 5,5'-diphenylhydantoin Schiff bases possessing different aromatic species (SB1-SB4) were recently synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic and electrochemical tools. The present study aimed to ascertain the anticonvulsant activity of the novel phenytoin derivatives SB1-Ph, SB2-Ph, SB3-Ph, and SB4-Ph, containing different electron-donor and electron-acceptor groups, and their possible mechanism of action. The SB2-Ph exhibited the highest potency to suppress the seizure spread with ED50 = 8.29 mg/kg, comparable to phenytoin (ED50 = 5.96 mg/kg). While SB2-Ph did not produce neurotoxicity and sedation, it decreased locomotion and stereotypy compared to control. When administered in combination, the four Schiff bases decreased the phenytoin ED50 by more than 2× and raised the protective index by more than 7× (phenytoin+SB2-Ph). The strongest correlation between in-vivo and docking study results was found for ligands' interaction energies with kappa and delta receptors. These data, combined with the worst interaction energies of our ligands with the mu receptor, suggest that the primary mechanism of their action involves the kappa and delta receptors, where the selectivity to the kappa receptor leads to higher biological effects. Our findings suggest that the four Schiff bases might be promising candidates with potential applications as a safe and effective adjuvant in epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Tchekalarova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Petar Todorov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 1756 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Miroslav Rangelov
- Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Tsveta Stoyanova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Nadezhda Todorova
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
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23
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Kellogg GE, Cen Y, Dukat M, Ellis KC, Guo Y, Li J, May AE, Safo MK, Zhang S, Zhang Y, Desai UR. Merging cultures and disciplines to create a drug discovery ecosystem at Virginia commonwealth university: Medicinal chemistry, structural biology, molecular and behavioral pharmacology and computational chemistry. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023; 28:255-269. [PMID: 36863508 PMCID: PMC10619687 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The Department of Medicinal Chemistry, together with the Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has evolved, organically with quite a bit of bootstrapping, into a unique drug discovery ecosystem in response to the environment and culture of the university and the wider research enterprise. Each faculty member that joined the department and/or institute added a layer of expertise, technology and most importantly, innovation, that fertilized numerous collaborations within the University and with outside partners. Despite moderate institutional support with respect to a typical drug discovery enterprise, the VCU drug discovery ecosystem has built and maintained an impressive array of facilities and instrumentation for drug synthesis, drug characterization, biomolecular structural analysis and biophysical analysis, and pharmacological studies. Altogether, this ecosystem has had major impacts on numerous therapeutic areas, such as neurology, psychiatry, drugs of abuse, cancer, sickle cell disease, coagulopathy, inflammation, aging disorders and others. Novel tools and strategies for drug discovery, design and development have been developed at VCU in the last five decades; e.g., fundamental rational structure-activity relationship (SAR)-based drug design, structure-based drug design, orthosteric and allosteric drug design, design of multi-functional agents towards polypharmacy outcomes, principles on designing glycosaminoglycans as drugs, and computational tools and algorithms for quantitative SAR (QSAR) and understanding the roles of water and the hydrophobic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen E Kellogg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA.
| | - Yana Cen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Malgorzata Dukat
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Keith C Ellis
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Youzhong Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Aaron E May
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Martin K Safo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Shijun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA
| | - Umesh R Desai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0540, USA.
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24
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Funes M, Tosso RD, Machado ND, Fernández MA, Garro M, Díaz DD, Hikawczuk VJ, Enriz RD. Antinociceptive effect of cyclic and linear diterpenoids as new atypical agonists of κ-opioid receptors obtained from four species of the Baccharis genus, and vehiculated in nanometric niosomes. Fitoterapia 2023; 169:105622. [PMID: 37524126 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
New natural analgesic compounds that act in KORs are important alternatives for potential therapeutical use in medicine. In this work, we report and compare here the antinociceptive activity displayed by cyclic and linear diterpenes, obtained from the genus Baccharis. The antinociceptive activities determined were relatively strong, in comparison whit morphine. The antinociceptive mechanism of action was made through naloxone administration (a non-selective antagonist of opioid receptors). The more active compounds were vehiculized successfully in niosomes at nanometric scale. The observed antinociceptive activity for Bartemidiolide oxide (BARTO), obtain from Baccharis artemisioides, was greater than Flabeloic acid dimer (DACD), the first compound isolated from Baccharis flabellata that was reported possessing antinociceptive effects. We also conducted docking calculations and molecular dynamics simulations, which suggested that the newly identified diterpenes might share the molecular action mechanism reported for Salvinorin A (SalA). Molecular simulations have allowed us to appreciate some subtle differences between molecular interactions of these ligands stabilizing their respective complexes; such information might be useful for designing and searching for new inhibitors of KORs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Funes
- Pharmacognosy, School of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina; Multidisciplinary Institute for Biological Research (IMIBIO-CONICET), Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
| | - Rodrigo D Tosso
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Biological Research (IMIBIO-CONICET), Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - Noelia D Machado
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos y Química Aplicada (IPQA-UNC-CONICET), Avda. Vélez Sársfield 1611, Córdoba X5016GCA, Argentina
| | - Mariana A Fernández
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-Química de Córdoba (INFIQC-CONICET), Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - María Garro
- Pharmacognosy, School of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - David Díaz Díaz
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de la Laguna, La Laguna, Spain; Instituto Universitario de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de la Laguna, La Laguna, Spain; Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätstr. 31, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Virginia Juan Hikawczuk
- Organic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, San Luis, Argentina
| | - Ricardo D Enriz
- Pharmacognosy, School of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina; Multidisciplinary Institute for Biological Research (IMIBIO-CONICET), Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
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25
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Salas-Estrada L, Provasi D, Qiu X, Kaniskan HÜ, Huang XP, DiBerto JF, Lamim Ribeiro JM, Jin J, Roth BL, Filizola M. De Novo Design of κ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists Using a Generative Deep-Learning Framework. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5056-5065. [PMID: 37555591 PMCID: PMC10466374 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Likely effective pharmacological interventions for the treatment of opioid addiction include attempts to attenuate brain reward deficits during periods of abstinence. Pharmacological blockade of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has been shown to abolish brain reward deficits in rodents during withdrawal, as well as to reduce the escalation of opioid use in rats with extended access to opioids. Although KOR antagonists represent promising candidates for the treatment of opioid addiction, very few potent selective KOR antagonists are known to date and most of them exhibit significant safety concerns. Here, we used a generative deep-learning framework for the de novo design of chemotypes with putative KOR antagonistic activity. Molecules generated by models trained with this framework were prioritized for chemical synthesis based on their predicted optimal interactions with the receptor. Our models and proposed training protocol were experimentally validated by binding and functional assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Salas-Estrada
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Davide Provasi
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xing Qiu
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Husnu Ümit Kaniskan
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- National
Institute of Mental Health, Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, Department
of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jeffrey F. DiBerto
- National
Institute of Mental Health, Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, Department
of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - João Marcelo Lamim Ribeiro
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
- Mount
Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Oncological
Sciences and Neuroscience, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Bryan L. Roth
- National
Institute of Mental Health, Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, Department
of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina
School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Division
of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department
of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School
of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, United States
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26
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Provasi D, Filizola M. Enhancing Opioid Bioactivity Predictions through Integration of Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Drug Discovery Strategies with Transfer and Deep Learning Techniques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552065. [PMID: 37609329 PMCID: PMC10441297 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has cast a shadow over public health, necessitating immediate action to address its devastating consequences. To effectively combat this crisis, it is crucial to discover better opioid drugs with reduced addiction potential. Artificial intelligence-based and other machine learning tools, particularly deep learning models, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential to advance drug discovery. However, utilizing these tools poses challenges, especially when training samples are insufficient to achieve adequate prediction performance. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of transfer learning using combined ligand-based and structure-based molecular descriptors from the entire opioid receptor (OR) subfamily in building robust deep learning models for enhanced bioactivity prediction of opioid ligands at each individual OR subtype. Our studies hold the potential to greatly advance opioid research by enabling the rapid identification of novel chemical probes with specific bioactivities, which can aid in the study of receptor function and contribute to the future development of improved opioid therapeutics.
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27
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Terenius L, Oasa S, Sezgin E, Ma Y, Horne D, Radmiković M, Jovanović-Talisman T, Martin-Fardon R, Vukojevic V. Naltrexone blocks alcohol-induced effects on kappa-opioid receptors in the plasma membrane. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3091960. [PMID: 37503185 PMCID: PMC10371157 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3091960/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Naltrexone (NTX), a homologue of the opiate antidote naloxone, is an orally active long-acting mu-opioid receptor (MOP) antagonist used in the treatment of opiate dependence. NTX is also found to relieve craving for alcohol and is one of the few FDA-approved drugs for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Reports that NTX blocks the actions of endogenous opioids released by alcohol are not convincing, suggesting that NTX interferes with alcohol actions by affecting opioid receptors. MOP and kappa-opioid receptor (KOP) are structurally related but functionally different. MOP is mainly located in interneurons activated by enkephalins while KOP is located in longer projections activated by dynorphins. While the actions of NTX on MOP are well established, the interaction with KOP and addiction is not well understood. We used sensitive fluorescence-based methods to study the influence of alcohol on KOP and the interaction between KOP and NTX. Here we report that alcohol interacts with KOP and its environment in the plasma membrane. These interactions are affected by NTX and are exerted both on KOP directly and on the plasma membrane (lipid) structures ("off-target"). The actions of NTX are stereospecific. Selective KOP antagonists, recently in early clinical trials for major depressive disorder, block the receptor but do not show the full action profile of NTX. The therapeutic effect of NTX treatment in AUD may be due to direct actions on KOP and the receptor environment.
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28
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Nakamoto K, Tokuyama S. Stress-Induced Changes in the Endogenous Opioid System Cause Dysfunction of Pain and Emotion Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11713. [PMID: 37511469 PMCID: PMC10380691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early life stress, such as child abuse and neglect, and psychosocial stress in adulthood are risk factors for psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. Furthermore, exposure to these stresses affects the sensitivity to pain stimuli and is associated with the development of chronic pain. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of stress-induced depression, anxiety, and pain control remain unclear. Endogenous opioid signaling is reportedly associated with analgesia, reward, addiction, and the regulation of stress responses and anxiety. Stress alters the expression of various opioid receptors in the central nervous system and sensitivity to opioid receptor agonists and antagonists. μ-opioid receptor-deficient mice exhibit attachment disorders and autism-like behavioral expression patterns, while those with δ-opioid receptor deficiency exhibit anxiety-like behavior. In contrast, deficiency and antagonists of the κ-opioid receptor suppress the stress response. These findings strongly suggest that the expression and dysfunction of the endogenous opioid signaling pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of stress-induced psychiatric disorders and chronic pain. In this review, we summarize the latest basic and clinical research studies on the effects of endogenous opioid signaling on early-life stress, psychosocial stress-induced psychiatric disorders, and chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Nakamoto
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8586, Japan
| | - Shogo Tokuyama
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, 1-1-3 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8586, Japan
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29
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Sánchez ML, Rodríguez FD, Coveñas R. Involvement of the Opioid Peptide Family in Cancer Progression. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1993. [PMID: 37509632 PMCID: PMC10377280 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071993] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptides mediate cancer progression favoring the mitogenesis, migration, and invasion of tumor cells, promoting metastasis and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, and facilitating angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis. Tumor cells overexpress peptide receptors, crucial targets for developing specific treatments against cancer cells using peptide receptor antagonists and promoting apoptosis in tumor cells. Opioids exert an antitumoral effect, whereas others promote tumor growth and metastasis. This review updates the findings regarding the involvement of opioid peptides (enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphins) in cancer development. Anticancer therapeutic strategies targeting the opioid peptidergic system and the main research lines to be developed regarding the topic reviewed are suggested. There is much to investigate about opioid peptides and cancer: basic information is scarce, incomplete, or absent in many tumors. This knowledge is crucial since promising anticancer strategies could be developed alone or in combination therapies with chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Lisardo Sánchez
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Francisco D Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Coveñas
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla and León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Group GIR-USAL: BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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30
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Kong L, Ning K, Liu X, Lu J, Chen B, Ye R, Li Z, Jiang S, Tang S, Chai JR, Fang Y, Lan Y, Mai X, Xie Q, Liu J, Shao L, Fu W, Wang Y, Li W. Reversal of subtype-selectivity and function by the introduction of a para-benzamidyl substituent to N-cyclopropylmethyl nornepenthone. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 258:115589. [PMID: 37413884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115589] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
The discovery and development of novel μ-opioid receptor (MOR) antagonists is a significant area to combat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). In this work, a series of para-substituted N-cyclopropylmethyl-nornepenthone derivatives were designed and synthesized and pharmacologically assayed. Compound 6a was identified as a selective MOR antagonist both in vitro and in vivo. Its molecular basis was elucidated using molecular docking and MD simulations. A subpocket on the extracellular side of the TM2 domain of MOR, in particular the residue Y2.64, was proposed to be responsible for the reversal of subtype selectivity and functional reversal of this compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Kong
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Kuan Ning
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiashuo Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Baiyu Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Rongrong Ye
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, 201418, China
| | - Zixiang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Shuang Jiang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Siyuan Tang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jing-Rui Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yun Fang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yingjie Lan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiaobo Mai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qiong Xie
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jinggen Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Liming Shao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, No. 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Wei Fu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, 264117, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, No. 826 Zhangheng Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Lambert DG. Opioids and opioid receptors; understanding pharmacological mechanisms as a key to therapeutic advances and mitigation of the misuse crisis. BJA OPEN 2023; 6:100141. [PMID: 37588171 PMCID: PMC10430815 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjao.2023.100141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are a mainstay in acute pain management and produce their effects and side effects (e.g., tolerance, opioid-use disorder and immune suppression) by interaction with opioid receptors. I will discuss opioid pharmacology in some controversial areas of enquiry of anaesthetic relevance. The main opioid target is the µ (mu,MOP) receptor but other members of the opioid receptor family, δ (delta; DOP) and κ (kappa; KOP) opioid receptors also produce analgesic actions. These are naloxone-sensitive. There is important clinical development relating to the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (NOP) receptor, an opioid receptor that is not naloxone-sensitive. Better understanding of the drivers for opioid effects and side effects may facilitate separation of side effects and production of safer drugs. Opioids bind to the receptor orthosteric site to produce their effects and can engage monomer or homo-, heterodimer receptors. Some ligands can drive one intracellular pathway over another. This is the basis of biased agonism (or functional selectivity). Opioid actions at the orthosteric site can be modulated allosterically and positive allosteric modulators that enhance opioid action are in development. As well as targeting ligand-receptor interaction and transduction, modulating receptor expression and hence function is also tractable. There is evidence for epigenetic associations with different types of pain and also substance misuse. As long as the opioid narrative is defined by the 'opioid crisis' the drive to remove them could gather pace. This will deny use where they are effective, and access to morphine for pain relief in low income countries.
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32
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Ding H, Kiguchi N, Dobbins M, Romero-Sandoval EA, Kishioka S, Ko MC. Nociceptin Receptor-Related Agonists as Safe and Non-addictive Analgesics. Drugs 2023; 83:771-793. [PMID: 37209211 PMCID: PMC10948013 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
As clinical use of currently available opioid analgesics is often impeded by dose-limiting adverse effects, such as abuse liability and respiratory depression, new approaches have been pursued to develop safe, effective, and non-addictive pain medications. After the identification of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) peptide (NOP) receptor more than 25 years ago, NOP receptor-related agonists have emerged as a promising target for developing novel and effective opioids that modulate the analgesic and addictive properties of mu-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonists. In this review, we highlight the effects of the NOP receptor-related agonists compared with those of MOP receptor agonists in experimental rodent and more translational non-human primate (NHP) models and the development status of key NOP receptor-related agonists as potential safe and non-addictive analgesics. Several lines of evidence demonstrated that peptidic and non-peptidic NOP receptor agonists produce potent analgesic effects by intrathecal delivery in NHPs. Moreover, mixed NOP/MOP receptor partial agonists (e.g., BU08028, BU10038, and AT-121) display potent analgesic effects when administered intrathecally or systemically, without eliciting adverse effects, such as respiratory depression, itch behavior, and signs of abuse liability. More importantly, cebranopadol, a mixed NOP/opioid receptor agonist with full efficacy at NOP and MOP receptors, produces robust analgesic efficacy with reduced adverse effects, conferring promising outcomes in clinical studies. A balanced coactivation of NOP and MOP receptors is a strategy that warrants further exploration and refinement for the development of novel analgesics with a safer and effective profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiping Ding
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Norikazu Kiguchi
- Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, 640-8156, Japan
| | - MaryBeth Dobbins
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - E Alfonso Romero-Sandoval
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Shiroh Kishioka
- Faculty of Wakayama Health Care Sciences, Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care, Wakayama, 640-8392, Japan
| | - Mei-Chuan Ko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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33
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Han J, Zhang J, Nazarova AL, Bernhard SM, Krumm BE, Zhao L, Lam JH, Rangari VA, Majumdar S, Nichols DE, Katritch V, Yuan P, Fay JF, Che T. Ligand and G-protein selectivity in the κ-opioid receptor. Nature 2023; 617:417-425. [PMID: 37138078 PMCID: PMC10172140 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06030-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The κ-opioid receptor (KOR) represents a highly desirable therapeutic target for treating not only pain but also addiction and affective disorders1. However, the development of KOR analgesics has been hindered by the associated hallucinogenic side effects2. The initiation of KOR signalling requires the Gi/o-family proteins including the conventional (Gi1, Gi2, Gi3, GoA and GoB) and nonconventional (Gz and Gg) subtypes. How hallucinogens exert their actions through KOR and how KOR determines G-protein subtype selectivity are not well understood. Here we determined the active-state structures of KOR in a complex with multiple G-protein heterotrimers-Gi1, GoA, Gz and Gg-using cryo-electron microscopy. The KOR-G-protein complexes are bound to hallucinogenic salvinorins or highly selective KOR agonists. Comparisons of these structures reveal molecular determinants critical for KOR-G-protein interactions as well as key elements governing Gi/o-family subtype selectivity and KOR ligand selectivity. Furthermore, the four G-protein subtypes display an intrinsically different binding affinity and allosteric activity on agonist binding at KOR. These results provide insights into the actions of opioids and G-protein-coupling specificity at KOR and establish a foundation to examine the therapeutic potential of pathway-selective agonists of KOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianming Han
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antonina L Nazarova
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Bernhard
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian E Krumm
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jordy Homing Lam
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vipin A Rangari
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Susruta Majumdar
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - David E Nichols
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Center for New Technologies in Drug Discovery and Development, Bridge Institute, Michelson Center for Convergent Biosciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peng Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan F Fay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
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34
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Salas-Estrada L, Provasi D, Qui X, Kaniskan HÜ, Huang XP, DiBerto JF, Ribeiro JML, Jin J, Roth BL, Filizola M. De Novo Design of κ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists Using a Generative Deep Learning Framework. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.25.537995. [PMID: 37162828 PMCID: PMC10168226 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.25.537995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Likely effective pharmacological interventions for the treatment of opioid addiction include attempts to attenuate brain reward deficits during periods of abstinence. Pharmacological blockade of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has been shown to abolish brain reward deficits in rodents during withdrawal, as well as to reduce the escalation of opioid use in rats with extended access to opioids. Although KOR antagonists represent promising candidates for the treatment of opioid addiction, very few potent selective KOR antagonists are known to date and most of them exhibit significant safety concerns. Here, we used a generative deep learning framework for the de novo design of chemotypes with putative KOR antagonistic activity. Molecules generated by models trained with this framework were prioritized for chemical synthesis based on their predicted optimal interactions with the receptor. Our models and proposed training protocol were experimentally validated by binding and functional assays.
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35
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Szwabowski GL, Daigle BJ, Baker DL, Parrill AL. Structure-based pharmacophore modeling 2. Developing a novel framework for structure-based pharmacophore model generation and selection. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 122:108488. [PMID: 37121167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108488] [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: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacophore models are three-dimensional arrangements of molecular features required for biological activity that are used in ligand identification efforts for many biological targets, including G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Though GPCR are integral membrane proteins of considerable interest as targets for drug development, many of these receptors lack known ligands or experimentally determined structures necessary for ligand- or structure-based pharmacophore model generation, respectively. Thus, we here present a structure-based pharmacophore modeling approach that uses fragments placed with Multiple Copy Simultaneous Search (MCSS) to generate high-performing pharmacophore models in the context of experimentally determined, as well as modeled GPCR structures. Moreover, we have addressed the oft-neglected topic of pharmacophore model selection via development of a cluster-then-predict machine learning workflow. Herein score-based pharmacophore models were generated in experimentally determined and modeled structures of 13 class A GPCR and resulted in pharmacophore models exhibiting high enrichment factors when used to search a database containing 569 class A GPCR ligands. In addition, classification of pharmacophore models with the best performing cluster-then-predict logistic regression classifier resulted in positive predictive values (PPV) of 0.88 and 0.76 for selecting high enrichment pharmacophore models from among those generated in experimentally determined and modeled structures, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernie J Daigle
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Computer Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
| | - Daniel L Baker
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
| | - Abby L Parrill
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA.
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36
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El Daibani A, Paggi JM, Kim K, Laloudakis YD, Popov P, Bernhard SM, Krumm BE, Olsen RHJ, Diberto J, Carroll FI, Katritch V, Wünsch B, Dror RO, Che T. Molecular mechanism of biased signaling at the kappa opioid receptor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1338. [PMID: 36906681 PMCID: PMC10008561 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has emerged as an attractive drug target for pain management without addiction, and biased signaling through particular pathways of KOR may be key to maintaining this benefit while minimizing side-effect liabilities. As for most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), however, the molecular mechanisms of ligand-specific signaling at KOR have remained unclear. To better understand the molecular determinants of KOR signaling bias, we apply structure determination, atomic-level molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and functional assays. We determine a crystal structure of KOR bound to the G protein-biased agonist nalfurafine, the first approved KOR-targeting drug. We also identify an arrestin-biased KOR agonist, WMS-X600. Using MD simulations of KOR bound to nalfurafine, WMS-X600, and a balanced agonist U50,488, we identify three active-state receptor conformations, including one that appears to favor arrestin signaling over G protein signaling and another that appears to favor G protein signaling over arrestin signaling. These results, combined with mutagenesis validation, provide a molecular explanation of how agonists achieve biased signaling at KOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal El Daibani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joseph M Paggi
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kuglae Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Petr Popov
- iMolecule, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sarah M Bernhard
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian E Krumm
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Reid H J Olsen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey Diberto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Research Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bernhard Wünsch
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Ron O Dror
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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37
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Wang X, Neale C, Kim SK, Goddard WA, Ye L. Intermediate-state-trapped mutants pinpoint G protein-coupled receptor conformational allostery. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1325. [PMID: 36899002 PMCID: PMC10006191 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the roles of intermediate states in signaling is pivotal to unraveling the activation processes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the field is still struggling to define these conformational states with sufficient resolution to study their individual functions. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of enriching the populations of discrete states via conformation-biased mutants. These mutants adopt distinct distributions among five states that lie along the activation pathway of adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), a class A GPCR. Our study reveals a structurally conserved cation-π lock between transmembrane helix VI (TM6) and Helix8 that regulates cytoplasmic cavity opening as a "gatekeeper" for G protein penetration. A GPCR activation process based on the well-discerned conformational states is thus proposed, allosterically micro-modulated by the cation-π lock and a previously well-defined ionic interaction between TM3 and TM6. Intermediate-state-trapped mutants will also provide useful information in relation to receptor-G protein signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Chris Neale
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Soo-Kyung Kim
- Materials and Process Simulation Center (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - William A Goddard
- Materials and Process Simulation Center (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Libin Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA.
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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38
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Feng H, Elladki R, Jiang J, Wei GW. Machine-learning analysis of opioid use disorder informed by MOR, DOR, KOR, NOR and ZOR-based interactome networks. Comput Biol Med 2023; 157:106745. [PMID: 36924727 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD) continuously poses major public health challenges and social implications worldwide with dramatic rise of opioid dependence leading to potential abuse. Despite that a few pharmacological agents have been approved for OUD treatment, the efficacy of said agents for OUD requires further improvement in order to provide safer and more effective pharmacological and psychosocial treatments. Proteins including mu, delta, kappa, nociceptin, and zeta opioid receptors are the direct targets of opioids and play critical roles in therapeutic treatments. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the these receptors increase the complexity in the drug development process for an effective opioid addiction treatment. The report below presents a PPI-network informed machine-learning study of OUD. We have examined more than 500 proteins in the five opioid receptor networks and subsequently collected 74 inhibitor datasets. Machine learning models were constructed by pairing gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) algorithm with two advanced natural language processing (NLP)-based autoencoder and Transformer fingerprints for molecules. With these models, we systematically carried out evaluations of screening and repurposing potential of more than 120,000 drug candidates for four opioid receptors. In addition, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties were also considered in the screening of potential drug candidates. Our machine-learning tools determined a few inhibitor compounds with desired potency and ADMET properties for nociceptin opioid receptors. Our approach offers a valuable and promising tool for the pharmacological development of OUD treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsong Feng
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
| | - Rana Elladki
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jian Jiang
- Research Center of Nonlinear Science, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan, 430200, PR China
| | - Guo-Wei Wei
- Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, MI 48824, USA.
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39
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Akins NS, Salahuddin MF, Pandey P, Kim SJ, Mahdi F, Khan MIH, Moss EM, Worth CJ, Keane MM, Chittiboyina AG, Doerksen RJ, Paris JJ, Le HV. Alleviation of Cocaine Withdrawal and Pertinent Interactions between Salvinorin-Based Antagonists and Kappa Opioid Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:958-976. [PMID: 36795782 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00806] [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: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) is involved in the regulation of both the reward and mood processes. Recent reports find that the use of drugs of abuse increases the production of dynorphin and the overall activation of KOR. Long-acting KOR antagonists, such as norbinaltorphimine (nor-BNI), JDTic, and 5'-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI), have been shown to stop depressive and anxiety-related disorders, which are the common side effects of withdrawal that can lead to a relapse in drug use. Unfortunately, these prototypical KOR antagonists are known to induce selective KOR antagonism that is delayed by hours and extremely prolonged, and their use in humans comes with serious safety concerns because they possess a large window for potential drug-drug interactions. Furthermore, their persistent pharmacodynamic activities can hinder the ability to reverse unanticipated side effects immediately. Herein, we report our studies of the lead selective, salvinorin-based KOR antagonist (1) as well as nor-BNI on C57BL/6N male mice for spontaneous cocaine withdrawal. Assessment of pharmacokinetics showed that 1 is a short-acting compound with an average half-life of 3.75 h across different compartments (brain, spinal cord, liver, and plasma). Both 1 (5 mg/kg) and nor-BNI (5 mg/kg) were shown to reduce spontaneous withdrawal behavior in mice, with 1 producing additional anti-anxiety-like behavior in a light-dark transition test (however, no mood-related effects of 1 or nor-BNI were observed at the current dosing in an elevated plus maze or a tail suspension test). Our results support the study of selective, short-acting KOR antagonists for the treatment of psychostimulant withdrawal and the associated negative mood states that contribute to relapse. Furthermore, we identified pertinent interactions between 1 and KOR via computational studies, including induced-fit docking, mutagenesis, and molecular dynamics simulations, to gain insight into the design of future selective, potent, and short-acting salvinorin-based KOR antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Akins
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Mohammed F Salahuddin
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Pankaj Pandey
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Seong Jong Kim
- Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Fakhri Mahdi
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Md Imdadul H Khan
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Emaya M Moss
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Charlie J Worth
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Madeline M Keane
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Amar G Chittiboyina
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Robert J Doerksen
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States.,Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Jason J Paris
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States.,Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
| | - Hoang V Le
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States.,Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677, United States
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Costanzo G, Patamia V, Turnaturi R, Parenti C, Zagni C, Lombino J, Amata E, Marrazzo A, Pasquinucci L, Rescifina A. Design, synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of N-substituted benzomorphans, analogs of LP2, as novel MOR ligands. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 101:1382-1392. [PMID: 36813756 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14220] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
6,7-Benzomorphans have been investigated in medicinal chemistry for developing new drugs. This nucleus could be considered a versatile scaffold. The physicochemical properties of benzomorphan N-substituent are crucial in achieving a definite pharmacological profile at opioid receptors. Thus, the dual-target MOR/DOR ligands LP1 and LP2 were obtained through N-substituent modifications. Specifically, LP2, bearing as N-substituent the (2R/S)-2-methoxy-2- phenylethyl group, is a dual-target MOR/DOR agonist and is successful in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To obtain new opioid ligands, we focused on the design and synthesis of LP2 analogs. First, the 2-methoxyl group of LP2 was replaced by an ester or acid functional group. Then, spacers of different lengths were introduced at N-substituent. In-vitro, their affinity profile versus opioid receptors has been performed through competition binding assays. Molecular modeling studies were conducted to deeply analyze the binding mode and the interactions between the new ligands and all opioid receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Costanzo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rita Turnaturi
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carmela Parenti
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Zagni
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Jessica Lombino
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amata
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Agostino Marrazzo
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lorella Pasquinucci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Szwabowski GL, Cole JA, Baker DL, Parrill AL. Structure-based pharmacophore modeling 1. Automated random pharmacophore model generation. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 121:108429. [PMID: 36804368 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacophores are three-dimensional arrangements of molecular features required for biological activity that are often used in virtual screening efforts to prioritize ligands for experimental testing. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are integral membrane proteins of considerable interest as targets for ligand discovery and drug development. Ligand-based pharmacophore models can be constructed to identify structural commonalities between known bioactive ligands for targets including GPCR. However, structure-based pharmacophores (which only require an experimentally determined or modeled structure for a protein target) have gained more attention to aid in virtual screening efforts as the number of publicly available experimentally determined GPCR structures have increased (140 unique GPCR represented as of October 24, 2022). Thus, the goal of this study was to develop a method of structure-based pharmacophore model generation applicable to ligand discovery for GPCR that have few known ligands. Pharmacophore models were generated within the active sites of 8 class A GPCR crystal structures via automated annotation of 5 randomly selected functional group fragments to sample diverse combinations of pharmacophore features. Each of the 5000 generated pharmacophores was then used to search a database containing active and decoy/inactive compounds for 30 class A GPCR and scored using enrichment factor and goodness-of-hit metrics to assess performance. Application of this method to the set of 8 class A GPCR produced pharmacophore models possessing the theoretical maximum enrichment factor value in both resolved structures (8 of 8 cases) and homology models (7 of 8 cases), indicating that generated pharmacophore models can prove useful in the context of virtual screening.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith A Cole
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
| | - Daniel L Baker
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
| | - Abby L Parrill
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA.
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42
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Murali S, Aradhyam GK. Structure-function relationship and physiological role of apelin and its G protein coupled receptor. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:127-143. [PMID: 36919024 PMCID: PMC9995629 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01044-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Apelin receptor (APJR) is a class A peptide (apelin) binding G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays a significant role in regulating blood pressure, cardiac output, and maintenance of fluid homeostasis. It is activated by a wide range of endogenous peptide isoforms of apelin and elabela. The apelin peptide isoforms contain distinct structural features that aid in ligand recognition and activation of the receptor. Site-directed mutagenesis and structure-based studies have revealed the involvement of extracellular and transmembrane regions of the receptor in binding to the peptide isoforms. The structural features of APJR activation of the receptor as well as mediating G-protein and β-arrestin-mediated signaling are delineated by multiple mutagenesis studies. There is increasing evidence that the structural requirements of APJR to activate G-proteins and β-arrestins are different, leading to biased signaling. APJR also responds to mechanical stimuli in a ligand-independent manner. A multitude of studies has focused on developing both peptide and non-peptide agonists and antagonists specific to APJR. Apelin/elabela-activated APJR orchestrates major signaling pathways such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs), protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), and p70S. This review focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of apelin, elabela, APJR, and their interactions involved in the binding and activation of the downstream signaling cascade. We also focus on the diverse signaling profile of APJR and its ligands and their involvement in various physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashree Murali
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Gopala Krishna Aradhyam
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
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43
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Wang Y, Zhuang Y, DiBerto JF, Zhou XE, Schmitz GP, Yuan Q, Jain MK, Liu W, Melcher K, Jiang Y, Roth BL, Xu HE. Structures of the entire human opioid receptor family. Cell 2023; 186:413-427.e17. [PMID: 36638794 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are effective analgesics, but their use is beset by serious side effects, including addiction and respiratory depression, which contribute to the ongoing opioid crisis. The human opioid system contains four opioid receptors (μOR, δOR, κOR, and NOPR) and a set of related endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs), which show distinct selectivity toward their respective opioid receptors (ORs). Despite being key to the development of safer analgesics, the mechanisms of molecular recognition and selectivity of EOPs to ORs remain unclear. Here, we systematically characterize the binding of EOPs to ORs and present five structures of EOP-OR-Gi complexes, including β-endorphin- and endomorphin-bound μOR, deltorphin-bound δOR, dynorphin-bound κOR, and nociceptin-bound NOPR. These structures, supported by biochemical results, uncover the specific recognition and selectivity of opioid peptides and the conserved mechanism of opioid receptor activation. These results provide a structural framework to facilitate rational design of safer opioid drugs for pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Youwen Zhuang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jeffrey F DiBerto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - X Edward Zhou
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Gavin P Schmitz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Qingning Yuan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Manish K Jain
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Weiyi Liu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Yi Jiang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - H Eric Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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Puls K, Wolber G. Solving an Old Puzzle: Elucidation and Evaluation of the Binding Mode of Salvinorin A at the Kappa Opioid Receptor. Molecules 2023; 28:718. [PMID: 36677775 PMCID: PMC9861206 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural product Salvinorin A (SalA) was the first nitrogen-lacking agonist discovered for the opioid receptors and exhibits high selectivity for the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) turning SalA into a promising analgesic to overcome the current opioid crisis. Since SalA's suffers from poor pharmacokinetic properties, particularly the absence of gastrointestinal bioavailability, fast metabolic inactivation, and subsequent short duration of action, the rational design of new tailored analogs with improved clinical usability is highly desired. Despite being known for decades, the binding mode of SalA within the KOR remains elusive as several conflicting binding modes of SalA were proposed hindering the rational design of new analgesics. In this study, we rationally determined the binding mode of SalA to the active state KOR by in silico experiments (docking, molecular dynamics simulations, dynophores) in the context of all available mutagenesis studies and structure-activity relationship (SAR) data. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive evaluation of SalA's binding mode since the determination of the active state KOR crystal structure. SalA binds above the morphinan binding site with its furan pointing toward the intracellular core while the C2-acetoxy group is oriented toward the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2). SalA is solely stabilized within the binding pocket by hydrogen bonds (C210ECL2, Y3127.35, Y3137.36) and hydrophobic contacts (V1182.63, I1393.33, I2946.55, I3167.39). With the disruption of this interaction pattern or the establishment of additional interactions within the binding site, we were able to rationalize the experimental data for selected analogs. We surmise the C2-substituent interactions as important for SalA and its analogs to be experimentally active, albeit with moderate frequency within MD simulations of SalA. We further identified the non-conserved residues 2.63, 7.35, and 7.36 responsible for the KOR subtype selectivity of SalA. We are confident that the elucidation of the SalA binding mode will promote the understanding of KOR activation and facilitate the development of novel analgesics that are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerhard Wolber
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Santino F, Gentilucci L. Design of κ-Opioid Receptor Agonists for the Development of Potential Treatments of Pain with Reduced Side Effects. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28010346. [PMID: 36615540 PMCID: PMC9822356 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has recently emerged as an alternative therapeutic target for the development of pain medications, without deleterious side effects associated with the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). However, modulation of KOR is currently under investigation for the treatment of depression, mood disorders, psychiatric comorbidity, and specific drug addictions. However, KOR agonists also trigger adverse effects including sedation, dysphoria, and hallucinations. In this respect, there is currently much debate on alternative paradigms. Recent effort has been devoted in search of biased ligands capable of selectively activating favorable signaling over signaling associated with unwanted side effects. On the other hand, the use of partial agonists is expected to allow the analgesia to be produced at dosages lower than those required to produce the adverse effects. More empirically, the unwanted central effects can be also avoided by using peripherally restricted agonists. In this review, we discuss the more recent trends in the design of KOR-selective, biased or partial, and finally, peripherally acting agonists. Special emphasis is given on the discussion of the most recent approaches for controlling functional selectivity of KOR-specific ligands.
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Zhao J, Carbone J, Farruggia G, Janecka A, Gentilucci L, Calonghi N. Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity against Cancer Cells of Indole-Aryl-Amide Derivatives. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 28:molecules28010265. [PMID: 36615458 PMCID: PMC9822155 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Indoles constitute a large family of heterocyclic compounds widely occurring in nature which are present in a number of bioactive natural and synthetic compounds, including anticancer agents or atypical opioid agonists. As a result, exponential increases in the development of novel methods for the synthesis of indole-containing compounds have been reported in the literature. A series of indole-aryl amide derivatives 1-7 containing tryptamine or an indolylacetic acid nucleus were designed, synthesized, and evaluated as opioid ligands. These new indole derivatives showed negligible to very low affinity for μ- and δ-opioid receptor (OR). On the other hand, compounds 2, 5 and 7 showed Ki values in the low μM range for κ-OR. Since indoles are well known for their anticancer potential, their effect against a panel of tumor cell lines was tested. The target compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity in HT29, HeLa, IGROV-1, MCF7, PC-3, and Jurkat J6 cells. Some of the synthesized compounds showed good activity against the selected tumor cell lines, with the exception of IGROV1. In particular, compound 5 showed a noteworthy selectivity towards HT29 cells, a malignant colonic cell line, without affecting healthy human intestinal cells. Further studies revealed that 5 caused the cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and promoted apoptosis in HT29 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Zhao
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Jacopo Carbone
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanna Farruggia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Luca Gentilucci
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.G.); (N.C.); Tel.: +39-05-1209-9570 (L.G.); +39-05-1209-1231 (N.C.)
| | - Natalia Calonghi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.G.); (N.C.); Tel.: +39-05-1209-9570 (L.G.); +39-05-1209-1231 (N.C.)
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Robertson MJ, Papasergi-Scott MM, He F, Seven AB, Meyerowitz JG, Panova O, Peroto MC, Che T, Skiniotis G. Structure determination of inactive-state GPCRs with a universal nanobody. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:1188-1195. [PMID: 36396979 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00859-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has widened the field of structure-based drug discovery by allowing for routine determination of membrane protein structures previously intractable. Despite representing one of the largest classes of therapeutic targets, most inactive-state G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have remained inaccessible for cryo-EM because their small size and membrane-embedded nature impedes projection alignment for high-resolution map reconstructions. Here we demonstrate that the same single-chain camelid antibody (nanobody) recognizing a grafted intracellular loop can be used to obtain cryo-EM structures of inactive-state GPCRs at resolutions comparable or better than those obtained by X-ray crystallography. Using this approach, we obtained structures of neurotensin 1 receptor bound to antagonist SR48692, μ-opioid receptor bound to alvimopan, apo somatostatin receptor 2 and histamine receptor 2 bound to famotidine. We expect this rapid, straightforward approach to facilitate the broad exploration of GPCR inactive states without the need for extensive engineering and crystallization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Robertson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Makaía M Papasergi-Scott
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Feng He
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alpay B Seven
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Justin G Meyerowitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ouliana Panova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Maria Claudia Peroto
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Ślusarz MJ. Molecular insights into the mechanism of sugar-modified enkephalin binding to opioid receptors. Comput Biol Chem 2022; 101:107783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2022.107783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Wtorek K, Ghidini A, Gentilucci L, Adamska-Bartłomiejczyk A, Piekielna-Ciesielska J, Ruzza C, Sturaro C, Calò G, Pieretti S, Kluczyk A, McDonald J, Lambert DG, Janecka A. Synthesis, Biological Activity and Molecular Docking of Chimeric Peptides Targeting Opioid and NOP Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12700. [PMID: 36293553 PMCID: PMC9604311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, mixed opioid/NOP agonists came to the spotlight for their favorable functional profiles and promising outcomes in clinical trials as novel analgesics. This study reports on two novel chimeric peptides incorporating the fragment Tyr-c[D-Lys-Phe-Phe]Asp-NH2 (RP-170), a cyclic peptide with high affinity for µ and κ opioid receptors (or MOP and KOP, respectively), conjugated with the peptide Ac-RYYRIK-NH2, a known ligand of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOP), yielding RP-170-RYYRIK-NH2 (KW-495) and RP-170-Gly3-RYYRIK-NH2 (KW-496). In vitro, the chimeric KW-496 gained affinity for KOP, hence becoming a dual KOP/MOP agonist, while KW-495 behaved as a mixed MOP/NOP agonist with low nM affinity. Hence, KW-495 was selected for further in vivo experiments. Intrathecal administration of this peptide in mice elicited antinociceptive effects in the hot-plate test; this action was sensitive to both the universal opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and the selective NOP antagonist SB-612111. The rotarod test revealed that KW-495 administration did not alter the mice motor coordination performance. Computational studies have been conducted on the two chimeras to investigate the structural determinants at the basis of the experimental activities, including any role of the Gly3 spacer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Wtorek
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
| | - Alessia Ghidini
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Gentilucci
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Chiara Ruzza
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Sturaro
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Girolamo Calò
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Pieretti
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alicja Kluczyk
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - John McDonald
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK
| | - David G. Lambert
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Anna Janecka
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland
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Borowiecki P. Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Optically Active Ethereal Analog of iso-Moramide-A Novel Potentially Powerful Analgesic †. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911803. [PMID: 36233106 PMCID: PMC9569485 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To develop potent and safer analgesics, we designed and synthesized a novel enantiomerically enriched ethereal analog of (R)-iso-moramide, namely 2-[(2R)-2-(morpholin-4-yl)propoxy]-2,2-diphenyl-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one. The titled active agent can potentially serve as a powerful synthetic opiate with an improved affinity and selectivity toward opioid receptors (ORs). This hypothesis was postulated based on docking studies regarding the respective complexes between the designed ligand and µ-OR, δ-OR, and κ-OR. The key step of the elaborated asymmetric synthesis of novel analog involves lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic 1-(morpholin-4-yl)propan-2-ol, which was accomplished on a 10 g scale via an enantioselective transesterification employing vinyl acetate as an irreversible acyl donor in tert-butyl methyl ether (MTBE) as the co-solvent. Next, the obtained homochiral (S)-(+)-morpholino-alcohol (>99% ee) was functionalized into corresponding chloro-derivative using thionyl chloride (SOCl2) or the Appel reaction conditions. Further transformation with N-diphenylacetyl-1-pyrrolidine under phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) conditions using O2-saturated DMSO/NaOH mixture as an oxidant furnished the desired levorotatory isomer of the title product isolated in 26% total yield after three steps, and with 89% ee. The absolute configuration of the key-intermediate of (R)-(−)-iso-moramide was determined using a modified form of Mosher’s methodology. The preparation of the optically active dextrorotatory isomer of the titled product (87% ee) was carried out essentially by the same route, utilizing (R)-(−)-1-(morpholin-4-yl)propan-2-ol (98% ee) as a key intermediate. The spectroscopic characterization of the ethereal analog of iso-moramide and the enantioselective retention relationship of its enantiomers using HPLC on the cellulose-based chiral stationary phase were performed. Moreover, as a proof-of-principle, single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the synthesized 2-[(2R)-2-(morpholin-4-yl)propoxy]-2,2-diphenyl-1-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Borowiecki
- Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, Department of Drugs Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Koszykowa St. 75, 00-662 Warsaw, Poland
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