1
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Strauss A, Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Lee J, Abreu N, Selvakumar P, Salas-Estrada L, Kristt M, Arefin A, Huynh K, Marx DC, Gilliland K, Melancon BJ, Filizola M, Meyerson J, Levitz J. Structural basis of positive allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation and internalization. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6498. [PMID: 39090128 PMCID: PMC11294631 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50548-x] [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: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are neuromodulatory family C G protein coupled receptors which assemble as dimers and allosterically couple extracellular ligand binding domains (LBDs) to transmembrane domains (TMDs) to drive intracellular signaling. Pharmacologically, mGluRs can be targeted at the LBDs by glutamate and synthetic orthosteric compounds or at the TMDs by allosteric modulators. Despite the potential of allosteric compounds as therapeutics, an understanding of the functional and structural basis of their effects is limited. Here we use multiple approaches to dissect the functional and structural effects of orthosteric versus allosteric ligands. We find, using electrophysiological and live cell imaging assays, that both agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) can drive activation and internalization of group II and III mGluRs. The effects of PAMs are pleiotropic, boosting the maximal response to orthosteric agonists and serving independently as internalization-biased agonists across mGluR subtypes. Motivated by this and intersubunit FRET analyses, we determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of mGluR3 in the presence of either an agonist or antagonist alone or in combination with a PAM. These structures reveal PAM-driven re-shaping of intra- and inter-subunit conformations and provide evidence for a rolling TMD dimer interface activation pathway that controls G protein and beta-arrestin coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Tri-Institutional Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | | | - Joon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Nohely Abreu
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Purushotham Selvakumar
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Leslie Salas-Estrada
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Melanie Kristt
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anisul Arefin
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Kevin Huynh
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Dagan C Marx
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Kristen Gilliland
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Bruce J Melancon
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Joel Meyerson
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Tri-Institutional Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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2
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Belkacemi K, Rondard P, Pin JP, Prézeau L. Heterodimers Revolutionize the Field of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Neuroscience 2024:S0306-4522(24)00270-7. [PMID: 38936459 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Identified 40 years ago, the metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors play key roles in modulating many synapses in the brain, and are still considered as important drug targets to treat various brain diseases. Eight genes encoding mGlu subunits have been identified. They code for complex receptors composed of a large extracellular domain where glutamate binds, connected to a G protein activating membrane domain. They are covalently linked dimers, a quaternary structure needed for their activation by glutamate. For many years they have only been considered as homodimers, then limiting the number of mGlu receptors to 8 subtypes composed of twice the same subunit. Twelve years ago, mGlu subunits were shown to also form heterodimers with specific subunits combinations, increasing the family up to 19 different potential dimeric receptors. Since then, a number of studies brought evidence for the existence of such heterodimers in the brain, through various approaches. Structural and molecular dynamic studies helped understand their peculiar activation process. The present review summarizes the approaches used to study their activation process and their pharmacological properties and to demonstrate their existence in vivo. We will highlight how the existence of mGlu heterodimers revolutionizes the mGlu receptor field, opening new possibilities for therapeutic intervention for brain diseases. As illustrated by the number of possible mGlu heterodimers, this study will highlight the need for further research to fully understand their role in physiological and pathological conditions, and to develop more specific therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawthar Belkacemi
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France.
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Inserm, Montpellier, France.
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3
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Zhu X, Luo M, An K, Shi D, Hou T, Warshel A, Bai C. Exploring the activation mechanism of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2401079121. [PMID: 38739800 PMCID: PMC11126994 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2401079121] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Homomeric dimerization of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) is essential for the modulation of their functions and represents a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to address central nervous system diseases. Yet, the scarcity of detailed molecular and energetic data on mGlu2 impedes our in-depth comprehension of their activation process. Here, we employ computational simulation methods to elucidate the activation process and key events associated with the mGlu2, including a detailed analysis of its conformational transitions, the binding of agonists, Gi protein coupling, and the guanosine diphosphate (GDP) release. Our results demonstrate that the activation of mGlu2 is a stepwise process and several energy barriers need to be overcome. Moreover, we also identify the rate-determining step of the mGlu2's transition from the agonist-bound state to its active state. From the perspective of free-energy analysis, we find that the conformational dynamics of mGlu2's subunit follow coupled rather than discrete, independent actions. Asymmetric dimerization is critical for receptor activation. Our calculation results are consistent with the observation of cross-linking and fluorescent-labeled blot experiments, thus illustrating the reliability of our calculations. Besides, we also identify potential key residues in the Gi protein binding position on mGlu2, mGlu2 dimer's TM6-TM6 interface, and Gi α5 helix by the change of energy barriers after mutation. The implications of our findings could lead to a more comprehensive grasp of class C G protein-coupled receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Zhu
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, People’s Republic of China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengqi Luo
- College of Management, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke An
- Chenzhu (MoMeD) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310005, People's Republic of China
| | - Danfeng Shi
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, People’s Republic of China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Arieh Warshel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089-1062
| | - Chen Bai
- Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong518172, People’s Republic of China
- Chenzhu (MoMeD) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310005, People's Republic of China
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4
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Ma S, Yin X, Pin JP, Rondard P, Yi P, Liu J. Absence of calcium-sensing receptor basal activity due to inter-subunit disulfide bridges. Commun Biol 2024; 7:501. [PMID: 38664468 PMCID: PMC11045811 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06189-3] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors naturally oscillate between inactive and active states, often resulting in receptor constitutive activity with important physiological consequences. Among the class C G protein-coupled receptors that typically sense amino-acids and their derivatives, the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) tightly controls blood calcium levels. Its constitutive activity has not yet been studied. Here, we demonstrate the importance of the inter-subunit disulfide bridges in maintaining the inactive state of CaSR, resulting in undetectable constitutive activity, unlike the other class C receptors. Deletion of these disulfide bridges results in strong constitutive activity that is abolished by mutations preventing amino acid binding. It shows that this inter-subunit disulfide link is necessary to limit the agonist effect of amino acids on CaSR. Furthermore, human genetic mutations deleting these bridges and associated with hypocalcemia result in elevated CaSR constitutive activity. These results highlight the physiological importance of fine tuning the constitutive activity of G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Ma
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xueliang Yin
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France.
| | - Ping Yi
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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5
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Di Marino D, Conflitti P, Motta S, Limongelli V. Structural basis of dimerization of chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6439. [PMID: 37833254 PMCID: PMC10575954 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42082-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are prominent drug targets responsible for extracellular-to-intracellular signal transduction. GPCRs can form functional dimers that have been poorly characterized so far. Here, we show the dimerization mechanism of the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 by means of an advanced free-energy technique named coarse-grained metadynamics. Our results reproduce binding events between the GPCRs occurring in the minute timescale, revealing a symmetric and an asymmetric dimeric structure for each of the three investigated systems, CCR5/CCR5, CXCR4/CXCR4, and CCR5/CXCR4. The transmembrane helices TM4-TM5 and TM6-TM7 are the preferred binding interfaces for CCR5 and CXCR4, respectively. The identified dimeric states differ in the access to the binding sites of the ligand and G protein, indicating that dimerization may represent a fine allosteric mechanism to regulate receptor activity. Our study offers structural basis for the design of ligands able to modulate the formation of CCR5 and CXCR4 dimers and in turn their activity, with therapeutic potential against HIV, cancer, and immune-inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Di Marino
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences - New York-Marche Structural Biology Centre (NY-MaSBiC), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
- Neuronal Death and Neuroprotection Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research-IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Conflitti
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Euler Institute, Via G. Buffi 13, CH-6900, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Motta
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Vittorio Limongelli
- Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Euler Institute, Via G. Buffi 13, CH-6900, Lugano, Switzerland.
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6
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Bueschbell B, Magalhães PR, Barreto CA, Melo R, Schiedel AC, Machuqueiro M, Moreira IS. The World of GPCR dimers - Mapping dopamine receptor D 2 homodimers in different activation states and configuration arrangements. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4336-4353. [PMID: 37711187 PMCID: PMC10497915 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to dimerize, but the molecular and structural basis of GPCR dimers is not well understood. In this study, we developed a computational framework to generate models of symmetric and asymmetric GPCR dimers using different monomer activation states and identified their most likely interfaces with molecular details. We chose the dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) homodimer as a case study because of its biological relevance and the availability of structural information. Our results showed that transmembrane domains 4 and 5 (TM4 and TM5) are mostly found at the dimer interface of the D2R dimer and that these interfaces have a subset of key residues that are mostly nonpolar from TM4 and TM5, which was in line with experimental studies. In addition, TM2 and TM3 appear to be relevant for D2R dimers. In some cases, the inactive configuration is unaffected by the partnered protomer, whereas in others, the active protomer adopts the properties of an inactive receptor. Additionally, the β-arrestin configuration displayed the properties of an active receptor in the absence of an agonist, suggesting that a switch to another meta-state during dimerization occurred. Our findings are consistent with the experimental data, and this method can be adapted to study heterodimers and potentially extended to include additional proteins such as G proteins or β-arrestins. In summary, this approach provides insight into the impact of the conformational status of partnered protomers on the overall quaternary GPCR macromolecular structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bueschbell
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIs-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro R. Magalhães
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8 bdg, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos A.V. Barreto
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIs-Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Melo
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Anke C. Schiedel
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, D-53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Miguel Machuqueiro
- BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8 bdg, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Irina S. Moreira
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
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7
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Strauss A, Gonzalez-Hernandez AJ, Lee J, Abreu N, Selvakumar P, Salas-Estrada L, Kristt M, Marx DC, Gilliland K, Melancon BJ, Filizola M, Meyerson J, Levitz J. Structural basis of allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation and desensitization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.13.552748. [PMID: 37645747 PMCID: PMC10461995 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.13.552748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are neuromodulatory family C G protein coupled receptors which assemble as dimers and allosterically couple extracellular ligand binding domains (LBDs) to transmembrane domains (TMDs) to drive intracellular signaling. Pharmacologically, mGluRs can be targeted either at the LBDs by glutamate and synthetic orthosteric compounds or at the TMDs by allosteric modulators. Despite the potential of allosteric TMD-targeting compounds as therapeutics, an understanding of the functional and structural basis of their effects on mGluRs is limited. Here we use a battery of approaches to dissect the distinct functional and structural effects of orthosteric versus allosteric ligands. We find using electrophysiological and live cell imaging assays that both agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) can drive activation and desensitization of mGluRs. The effects of PAMs are pleiotropic, including both the ability to boost the maximal response to orthosteric agonists and to serve independently as desensitization-biased agonists across mGluR subtypes. Conformational sensors reveal PAM-driven inter-subunit re-arrangements at both the LBD and TMD. Motivated by this, we determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of mGluR3 in the presence of either an agonist or antagonist alone or in combination with a PAM. These structures reveal PAM-driven re-shaping of intra- and inter-subunit conformations and provide evidence for a rolling TMD dimer interface activation pathway that controls G protein and beta-arrestin coupling. Highlights -Agonists and PAMs drive mGluR activation, desensitization, and endocytosis-PAMs are desensitization-biased and synergistic with agonists-Four combinatorial ligand conditions reveal an ensemble of full-length mGluR structures with novel interfaces-Activation and desensitization involve rolling TMD interfaces which are re-shaped by PAM.
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8
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Liu L, Lin L, Shen C, Rondard P, Pin JP, Xu C, Liu J. Asymmetric activation of dimeric GABA B and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2023; 325:C79-C89. [PMID: 37184233 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00150.2022] [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: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of membrane proteins and are important drug targets. GPCRs are allosteric machines that transduce an extracellular signal to the cell by activating heterotrimeric G proteins. Herein, we summarize the recent advancements in the molecular activation mechanism of the γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors, the most important class C GPCRs that modulate synaptic transmission in the brain. Both are mandatory dimers, this quaternary structure being needed for their function The structures of these receptors in different conformations and in complexes with G proteins have revealed their asymmetric activation. This asymmetry is further highlighted by the recent discovery of mGlu heterodimers, where the eight mGlu subunits can form specific and functional heterodimers. Finally, the development of allosteric modulators has revealed new possibilities for regulating the function of these receptors by targeting the transmembrane dimer interface. This family of receptors never ceases to astonish and serve as models to better understand the diversity and asymmetric functioning of GPCRs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABAB) and metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors form constitutive dimers, which are required for their function. They serve as models to better understand the diversity and activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The structures of these receptors in different conformations and in complexes with G proteins have revealed their asymmetric activation. This asymmetry is further highlighted by the recent discovery of specific and functional mGlu heterodimers. Allosteric modulators can be developed to target the transmembrane interface and modulate the asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Lin
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Cangsong Shen
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Chanjuan Xu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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9
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Kinetic fingerprinting of metabotropic glutamate receptors. Commun Biol 2023; 6:104. [PMID: 36707695 PMCID: PMC9883448 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04468-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Dimeric metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are abundantly expressed in neurons. In mammals, eight subunit isoforms, mGluR1-8, have been identified, forming the groups I, II, and III. We investigated receptor dimerization and kinetics of these mGluR isoforms in excised membrane patches by FRET and confocal patch-clamp fluorometry. We show that 5 out of 8 homodimeric receptors develop characteristic glutamate-induced on- and off-kinetics, as do 11 out of 28 heterodimers. Glutamate-responsive heterodimers were identified within each group, between groups I and II as well as between groups II and III, but not between groups I and III. The glutamate-responsive heterodimers showed heterogeneous activation and deactivation kinetics. Interestingly, mGluR7, not generating a kinetic response in homodimers, showed fast on-kinetics in mGluR2/7 and mGluR3/7 while off-kinetics retained the speed of mGluR2 or mGluR3 respectively. In conclusion, glutamate-induced conformational changes in heterodimers appear within each group and between groups if one group II subunit is present.
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10
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The transmembrane domains of GPCR dimers as targets for drug development. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103419. [PMID: 36309194 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can form homodimers or heterodimers that modulate specific signal transduction pathways to regulate a wide range of physiological and pathological functions. As such, GPCR dimers are novel drug targets for disorders including depression, hypertension, diabetes, and vascular dementia. The interaction between two receptors in a GPCR dimer involves a conformational change in the transmembrane domain (TMD). It has been demonstrated that the TMD has an important role in GPCR dimer formation and stability in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, increasing evidence shows that the TMD of GPCRs affects the function of dimers. Therefore, the TMD of GPCRs is an emerging target for the development of drugs to treat diseases that involve GPCR dimerization.
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11
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Chen X, Yuan Y, Chen Y, Yu J, Wang J, Chen J, Guo Y, Pu X. Biased Activation Mechanism Induced by GPCR Heterodimerization: Observations from μOR/δOR Dimers. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:5581-5600. [PMID: 36377848 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
GPCRs regulate multiple intracellular signaling cascades. Biasedly activating one signaling pathway over the others provides additional clinical utility to optimize GPCR-based therapies. GPCR heterodimers possess different functions from their monomeric states, including their selectivity to different transducers. However, the biased signaling mechanism induced by the heterodimerization remains unclear. Motivated by the issue, we select an important GPCR heterodimer (μOR/δOR heterodimer) as a case and use microsecond Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulation coupled with potential of mean force and protein structure network (PSN) to probe mechanisms regarding the heterodimerization-induced constitutive β-arrestin activity and efficacy change of the agonist DAMGO. The results show that only the lowest energy state of the μOR/δOR heterodimer, which adopts a slightly outward shift of TM6 and an ICL2 conformation close to the receptor core, can selectively accommodate β-arrestins. PSN further reveals important roles of H8, ICL1, and ICL2 in regulating the constitutive β-arrestin-biased activity for the apo μOR/δOR heterodimer. In addition, the heterodimerization can allosterically alter the binding mode of DAMGO mainly by means of W7.35. Consequently, DAMGO transmits the structural signal mainly through TM6 and TM7 in the dimer, rather than TM3 similar to the μOR monomer, thus changing the efficacy of DAMGO from a balanced agonist to the β-arrestin-biased one. On the other side, the binding of DAMGO to the heterodimer can stabilize μOR/δOR heterodimers through a stronger interaction of TM1/TM1 and H8/H8, accordingly enhancing the interaction of μOR with δOR and the binding affinity of the dimer to the β-arrestin. The agonist DAMGO does not change main compositions of the regulation network from the dimer interface to the transducer binding pocket of the μOR protomer, but induces an increase in the structural communication of the network, which should contribute to the enhanced β-arrestin coupling. Our observations, for the first time, reveal the molecular mechanism of the biased signaling induced by the heterodimerization for GPCRs, which should be beneficial to more comprehensively understand the GPCR bias signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- College of Management, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu610041, China
| | - Yichi Chen
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
| | - Jin Yu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California92697, United States
| | - Jingzhou Wang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
| | - Jianfang Chen
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
| | - Yanzhi Guo
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
| | - Xuemei Pu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu610064, China
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12
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Liu J, Tang H, Xu C, Zhou S, Zhu X, Li Y, Prézeau L, Xu T, Pin JP, Rondard P, Ji W, Liu J. Biased signaling due to oligomerization of the G protein-coupled platelet-activating factor receptor. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6365. [PMID: 36289206 PMCID: PMC9606269 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34056-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets that mediate various signaling pathways by activating G proteins and engaging β-arrestin proteins. Despite its importance for the development of therapeutics with fewer side effects, the underlying mechanism that controls the balance between these signaling modes of GPCRs remains largely unclear. Here, we show that assembly into dimers and oligomers can largely influence the signaling mode of the platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR). Single-particle analysis results show that PAFR can form oligomers at low densities through two possible dimer interfaces. Stabilization of PAFR oligomers through cross-linking increases G protein activity, and decreases β-arrestin recruitment and agonist-induced internalization significantly. Reciprocally, β-arrestin prevents PAFR oligomerization. Our results highlight a mechanism involved in the control of receptor signaling, and thereby provide important insights into the relationship between GPCR oligomerization and downstream signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junke Liu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China ,grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, Cedex France
| | - Hengmin Tang
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Chanjuan Xu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Shengnan Zhou
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Xunying Zhu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Laurent Prézeau
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, Cedex France
| | - Tao Xu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, Cedex France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- grid.121334.60000 0001 2097 0141Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, Cedex France
| | - Wei Ji
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- grid.33199.310000 0004 0368 7223Cellular Signaling laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430074 Wuhan, Hubei China ,grid.9227.e0000000119573309Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 510005 Guangzhou, China
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13
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Goolam MA, Brown AP, Edwards KT, Gregory KJ, Leach K, Conigrave AD. Cell Surface Calcium-Sensing Receptor Heterodimers: Mutant Gene Dosage Affects Ca 2+ Sensing but Not G Protein Interaction. J Bone Miner Res 2022; 37:1787-1807. [PMID: 35848051 PMCID: PMC9545990 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The calcium-sensing receptor is a homodimeric class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that senses extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+ o ) via a dimeric extracellular Venus flytrap (VFT) unit that activates G protein-dependent signaling via twin Cysteine-rich domains linked to transmembrane heptahelical (HH) bundles. It plays a key role in the regulation of human calcium and thus mineral metabolism. However, the nature of interactions between VFT units and HH bundles, and the impacts of heterozygous or homozygous inactivating mutations, which have implications for disorders of calcium metabolism are not yet clearly defined. Herein we generated CaSR-GABAB1 and CaSR-GABAB2 chimeras subject to GABAB -dependent endoplasmic reticulum sorting to traffic mutant heterodimers to the cell surface. Transfected HEK-293 cells were assessed for Ca2+ o -stimulated Ca2+ i mobilization using mutations in either the VFT domains and/or HH bundle intraloop-2 or intraloop-3. When the same mutation was present in both VFT domains of receptor dimers, analogous to homozygous neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT), receptor function was markedly impaired. Mutant heterodimers containing one wild-type (WT) and one mutant VFT domain, however, corresponding to heterozygous familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type-1 (FHH-1), supported maximal signaling with reduced Ca2+ o potency. Thus two WT VFT domains were required for normal Ca2+ o potency and there was a pronounced gene-dosage effect. In contrast, a single WT HH bundle was insufficient for maximal signaling and there was no functional difference between heterodimers in which the mutation was present in one or both intraloops; ie, no gene-dosage effect. Finally, we observed that the Ca2+ o -stimulated CaSR operated exclusively via signaling in-trans and not via combined in-trans and in-cis signaling. We consider how receptor asymmetry may support the underlying mechanisms. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahvash A Goolam
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alice P Brown
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberly T Edwards
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Karen J Gregory
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katie Leach
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arthur D Conigrave
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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14
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Homodimerized cytoplasmic domain of PD-L1 regulates its complex glycosylation in living cells. Commun Biol 2022; 5:887. [PMID: 36042378 PMCID: PMC9427764 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03845-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether membrane-anchored PD-L1 homodimerizes in living cells is controversial. The biological significance of the homodimer waits to be expeditiously explored. However, characterization of the membrane-anchored full-length PD-L1 homodimer is challenging, and unconventional approaches are needed. By using genetically incorporated crosslinkers, we showed that full length PD-L1 forms homodimers and tetramers in living cells. Importantly, the homodimerized intracellular domains of PD-L1 play critical roles in its complex glycosylation. Further analysis identified three key arginine residues in the intracellular domain of PD-L1 as the regulating unit. In the PD-L1/PD-L1-3RE homodimer, mutations result in a decrease in the membrane abundance and an increase in the Golgi of wild-type PD-L1. Notably, PD-1 binding to abnormally glycosylated PD-L1 on cancer cells was attenuated, and subsequent T-cell induced toxicity increased. Collectively, our study demonstrated that PD-L1 indeed forms homodimers in cells, and the homodimers play important roles in PD-L1 complex glycosylation and T-cell mediated toxicity. Membrane-anchored PD-L1 homodimerizes in cells. N-glycosylation of PD-L1 regulates its homodimerization. The formation of PD-L1 homodimers further regulates their glycan processing, localization to the plasma membrane, and binding to PD-1.
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15
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G protein coupling and activation of the metabotropic GABA B heterodimer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4612. [PMID: 35941188 PMCID: PMC9360005 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32213-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABABR), a class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heterodimer, plays a crucial role in the central nervous system. Cryo-electron microscopy studies revealed a drastic conformational change upon activation and a unique G protein (GP) binding mode. However, little is known about the mechanism for GP coupling and activation for class C GPCRs. Here, we use molecular metadynamics computations to predict the mechanism by which the inactive GP induces conformational changes in the GABABR transmembrane domain (TMD) to form an intermediate pre-activated state. We find that the inactive GP first interacts with TM3, which further leads to the TMD rearrangement and deeper insertion of the α5 helix that causes the Gα subunit to open, releasing GDP, and forming the experimentally observed activated structure. This mechanism provides fresh insights into the mechanistic details of class C GPCRs activation expected to be useful for designing selective agonists and antagonists. Despite its crucial role in the central nervous system, little is known about the activation mechanism of GABAB receptor. Here, the authors predict that the inactive G protein induces conformational changes of the receptor to form an intermediate state.
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16
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Gómez-Santacana X, Panarello S, Rovira X, Llebaria A. Photoswitchable allosteric modulators for metabotropic glutamate receptors. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 66:102266. [PMID: 35870289 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu) are a family of class C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with important biological functions and widespread expression. The mechanisms of mGlu activation and the development of allosteric modulators for these dimeric proteins have attracted singular attention including the use of light regulated ligands. Photopharmacology involves the integration of a photoactive moiety into the ligand structure that following specific illumination undergoes a structural rearrangement and changes its biological activity. The use of light-regulated allosteric ligands offers the opportunity to manipulate mGlu signalling with spatiotemporal precision, unattainable with classical pharmacological approaches. In this review, we will discuss some of the innovations that have been made in the allosteric photopharmacology of mGlu receptors to date. We discuss the prospects of these molecular tools in the control of mGluRs and the new perspectives in understanding mGlu mechanisms, pharmacology and (patho)physiology that can ultimately result in innovative drug discovery concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Panarello
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Rovira
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amadeu Llebaria
- MCS, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
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17
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Schamber MR, Vafabakhsh R. Mechanism of sensitivity modulation in the calcium-sensing receptor via electrostatic tuning. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2194. [PMID: 35459864 PMCID: PMC9033857 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29897-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Transfer of information across membranes is fundamental to the function of all organisms and is primarily initiated by transmembrane receptors. For many receptors, how ligand sensitivity is fine-tuned and how disease associated mutations modulate receptor conformation to allosterically affect receptor sensitivity are unknown. Here we map the activation of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) - a dimeric class C G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and responsible for maintaining extracellular calcium in vertebrates. We show that CaSR undergoes unique conformational rearrangements compared to other class C GPCRs owing to specific structural features. Moreover, by analyzing disease associated mutations, we uncover a large permissiveness in the architecture of the extracellular domain of CaSR, with dynamics- and not specific receptor topology- determining the effect of a mutation. We show a structural hub at the dimer interface allosterically controls CaSR activation via focused electrostatic repulsion. Changes in the surface charge distribution of this hub, which is highly variable between organisms, finely tune CaSR sensitivity. This is potentially a general tuning mechanism for other dimeric receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Schamber
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Reza Vafabakhsh
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
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18
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Zhang R, Li D, Mao H, Wei X, Xu M, Zhang S, Jiang Y, Wang C, Xin Q, Chen X, Li G, Ji B, Yan M, Cai X, Dong B, Randeva HS, Liu C, Chen J. Disruption of 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor and orexin receptor 1 heterodimer formation affects novel G protein-dependent signaling pathways and has antidepressant effects in vivo. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:122. [PMID: 35338110 PMCID: PMC8956632 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) heterodimers are new targets for the treatment of depression. Increasing evidence supports the importance of serotonergic and orexin-producing neurons in numerous physiological processes, possibly via a crucial interaction between 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) and orexin receptor 1 (OX1R). However, little is known about the function of 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers. It is unclear how the transmembrane domains (TMs) of the dimer affect its function and whether its modulation mediates antidepressant-like effects. Here, we examined the mechanism of 5-HT1AR/OX1R dimerization and downstream G protein-dependent signaling. We found that 5-HT1AR and OX1R form constitutive heterodimers that induce novel G protein-dependent signaling, and that this heterodimerization does not affect recruitment of β-arrestins to the complex. In addition, we found that the structural interface of the active 5-HT1AR/OX1R dimer transforms from TM4/TM5 in the basal state to TM6 in the active conformation. We also used mutation analyses to identify key residues at the interface (5-HT1AR R1514.40, 5-HT1AR Y1985.41, and OX1R L2305.54). Injection of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats with TM4/TM5 peptides improved their depression-like emotional status and decreased the number of endogenous 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers in the rat brain. These antidepressant effects may be mediated by upregulation of BDNF levels and enhanced phosphorylation and activation of CREB in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. This study provides evidence that 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimers are involved in the pathological process of depression. Peptides including TMs of the 5-HT1AR/OX1R heterodimer interface are candidates for the development of compounds with fast-acting antidepressant-like effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumin Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Dandan Li
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Huiling Mao
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaonan Wei
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - MingDong Xu
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yunlu Jiang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qing Xin
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Physiology, Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Guorong Li
- grid.410585.d0000 0001 0495 1805School of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Bingyuan Ji
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Maocai Yan
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280School of Pharmacy, Jining Medical University, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Cai
- grid.268079.20000 0004 1790 6079Department of Physiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Bo Dong
- grid.460018.b0000 0004 1769 9639Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Harpal S. Randeva
- grid.7372.10000 0000 8809 1613Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Chuanxin Liu
- grid.449428.70000 0004 1797 7280Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Neurobiology Institute, Jining Medical University, Jining, China. .,Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
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19
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Berto L, Dumazer A, Malhaire F, Cannone G, Kutti Ragunath V, Goudet C, Lebon G. [Recent advances in the structural biology of the class C G protein-coupled receptors: The metabotropic Glutamate receptor 5]. Biol Aujourdhui 2022; 215:85-94. [PMID: 35275053 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2021013] [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: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Class C GPCRs, that include metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu), taste receptors, GABAB receptor and Calcium-sensing receptor, are unusual in terms of their molecular architecture and allosteric regulation. They all form obligatory dimers, dimerization being fundamental for their function. More specifically, the mGlu are activated by the main excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate. mGlu activation by glutamate binding in the venus flytrap domain (VFT) triggers conformational changes that are transmitted, through the Cystein-Rich Domain (CRD), to the conserved fold of 7 transmembrane helices (7TM), that couples to intracellular G protein. mGlu activity can also be allosterically modulated by positive (PAM) or negative (NAM) allosteric modulators binding to the 7TM. Recent progress in cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) has allowed unprecedented advances in deciphering the structural and molecular basis of their activation mechanism. The agonist induces a large movement between the subunits, bringing the 7TMs together and stabilizing a 7TM conformation structurally similar to the inactive state. The diversity of inactive conformations for the class C was unexpected but allows PAM stabilising a 7TM active conformation independent of the conformational changes induced by agonists, representing an alternative mode of mGlu activation. Here we present and discuss recent structural characterisation of mGlu receptors, highlighting findings that make the class C of GPCR unique. Understanding the structural basis of mGlu dimer signaling represents a landmark achievement and paves the way for structural investigation of GPCR dimer signaling in general. Structural information will open new avenues for structure-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Berto
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Anaëlle Dumazer
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Fanny Malhaire
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Cyril Goudet
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
| | - Guillaume Lebon
- IGF, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34094 Montpellier, France
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20
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Mullin BH, Pavlos NJ, Brown SJ, Walsh JP, McKellar RA, Wilson SG, Ward BK. Functional Assessment of Calcium-Sensing Receptor Variants Confirms Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcaemia. J Endocr Soc 2022; 6:bvac025. [PMID: 35356007 PMCID: PMC8962451 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvac025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Context In the clinic it is important to differentiate primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) from the more benign, inherited disorder, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH). Since the conditions may sometimes overlap biochemically, identification of calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene variants causative of FHH (but not PHPT) is the most decisive diagnostic aid. When novel variants are identified, bioinformatics and functional assessment are required to establish pathogenicity. Objective We identified 3 novel CASR transmembrane domain missense variants, Thr699Asn, Arg701Gly, and Thr808Pro, in 3 probands provisionally diagnosed with FHH and examined the variants using bioinformatics and functional analysis. Methods Bioinformatics assessment utilized wANNOVAR software. For functional characterization, each variant was cloned into a mammalian expression vector; wild-type and variant receptors were transfected into HEK293 cells, and their expression and cellular localization were assessed by Western blotting and confocal immunofluorescence, respectively. Receptor activation in HEK293 cells was determined using an IP-One ELISA assay following stimulation with Ca++ ions. Results Bioinformatics analysis of the variants was unable to definitively assign pathogenicity. Compared with wild-type receptor, all variants demonstrated impaired expression of mature receptor reaching the cell surface and diminished activation at physiologically relevant Ca++ concentrations. Conclusion Three CASR missense variants identified in probands provisionally diagnosed with FHH result in receptor inactivation and are therefore likely causative of FHH. Inactivation may be due to inadequate processing/trafficking of mature receptor and/or conformational changes induced by the variants affecting receptor signaling. This study demonstrates the value of functional studies in assessing genetic variants identified in hypercalcemic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Mullin
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Nathan J Pavlos
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Suzanne J Brown
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - John P Walsh
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Ross A McKellar
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Scott G Wilson
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Bryan K Ward
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
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21
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Liu L, Fan Z, Rovira X, Xue L, Roux S, Brabet I, Xin M, Pin JP, Rondard P, Liu J. Allosteric ligands control the activation of a class C GPCR heterodimer by acting at the transmembrane interface. eLife 2021; 10:70188. [PMID: 34866572 PMCID: PMC8700296 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the most promising drug targets. They often form homo- and heterodimers with allosteric cross-talk between receptor entities, which contributes to fine-tuning of transmembrane signaling. Specifically controlling the activity of GPCR dimers with ligands is a good approach to clarify their physiological roles and validate them as drug targets. Here, we examined the mode of action of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that bind at the interface of the transmembrane domains of the heterodimeric GABAB receptor. Our site-directed mutagenesis results show that mutations of this interface impact the function of the three PAMs tested. The data support the inference that they act at the active interface between both transmembrane domains, the binding site involving residues of the TM6s of the GABAB1 and the GABAB2 subunit. Importantly, the agonist activity of these PAMs involves a key region in the central core of the GABAB2 transmembrane domain, which also controls the constitutive activity of the GABAB receptor. This region corresponds to the sodium ion binding site in class A GPCRs that controls the basal state of the receptors. Overall, these data reveal the possibility of developing allosteric compounds able to specifically modulate the activity of GPCR homo- and heterodimers by acting at their transmembrane interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Zhiran Fan
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xavier Rovira
- MCS, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Li Xue
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Salomé Roux
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Brabet
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Mingxia Xin
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jean-Philippe Pin
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Rondard
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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22
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Kowalski-Jahn M, Schihada H, Turku A, Huber T, Sakmar TP, Schulte G. Frizzled BRET sensors based on bioorthogonal labeling of unnatural amino acids reveal WNT-induced dynamics of the cysteine-rich domain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj7917. [PMID: 34757789 PMCID: PMC8580317 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Frizzleds (FZD1–10) are G protein–coupled receptors containing an extracellular cysteine-rich domain (CRD) binding Wingless/Int-1 lipoglycoproteins (WNTs). Despite the role of WNT/FZD signaling in health and disease, our understanding of how WNT binding is translated into receptor activation and transmembrane signaling remains limited. Current hypotheses dispute the roles for conformational dynamics. To clarify how WNT binding to FZD translates into receptor dynamics, we devised conformational FZD-CRD biosensors based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Using FZD with N-terminal nanoluciferase (Nluc) and fluorescently labeled unnatural amino acids in the linker domain and extracellular loop 3, we show that WNT-3A and WNT-5A induce similar CRD conformational rearrangements despite promoting distinct signaling pathways and that CRD dynamics are not required for WNT/β-catenin signaling. Thus, these FZD-CRD biosensors provide insights into binding, activation, and signaling processes in FZDs. The sensor design is broadly applicable to explore ligand-induced dynamics also in other membrane receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kowalski-Jahn
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ainoleena Turku
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Huber
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thomas P. Sakmar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, S-17164 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
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23
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McCullock TW, Kammermeier PJ. The evidence for and consequences of metabotropic glutamate receptor heterodimerization. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108801. [PMID: 34547332 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are an essential component of the mammalian central nervous system. These receptors modulate neuronal excitability in response to extracellular glutamate through the activation of intracellular heterotrimeric G proteins. Like most other class C G protein-coupled receptors, mGluRs function as obligate dimer proteins, meaning they need to form dimer complexes before becoming functional receptors. All mGluRs possess the ability to homodimerize, but studies over the past ten years have demonstrated these receptors are also capable of forming heterodimers in specific patterns. These mGluR heterodimers appear to have their own unique biophysical behavior and pharmacology with both native and synthetic compounds with few rules having been identified that allow for prediction of the consequences of any particular mGluR pair forming heterodimers. Here, we review the relevant literature demonstrating the existence and consequences of mGluR heterodimerization. By collecting biophysical and pharmacological data of several mGluR heterodimers we demonstrate the lack of generalizable behavior of these complexes indicating that each individual dimeric pair needs to be investigated independently. Additionally, by combining sequence alignment and structural analysis, we propose that interactions between the β4-A Helix Loop and the D Helix in the extracellular domain of these receptors are the structural components that dictate heterodimerization compatibility. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of mGluR heterodimerization from the viewpoints of further developing our understanding of neuronal physiology and leveraging mGluRs as a therapeutic target for the treatment of pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler W McCullock
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 711, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
| | - Paul J Kammermeier
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 711, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA.
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24
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Tse LH, Wong YH. Modeling the Heterodimer Interfaces of Melatonin Receptors. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:725296. [PMID: 34690701 PMCID: PMC8529217 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.725296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin receptors are Class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that regulate a plethora of physiological activities in response to the rhythmic secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland. Melatonin is a key regulator in the control of circadian rhythm and has multiple functional roles in retinal physiology, memory, immunomodulation and tumorigenesis. The two subtypes of human melatonin receptors, termed MT1 and MT2, utilize overlapping signaling pathways although biased signaling properties have been reported in some cellular systems. With the emerging concept of GPCR dimerization, melatonin receptor heterodimers have been proposed to participate in system-biased signaling. Here, we used computational approaches to map the dimerization interfaces of known heterodimers of melatonin receptors, including MT1/MT2, MT1/GPR50, MT2/GPR50, and MT2/5-HT2C. By homology modeling and membrane protein docking analyses, we have identified putative preferred interface interactions within the different pairs of melatonin receptor dimers and provided plausible structural explanations for some of the unique pharmacological features of specific heterodimers previously reported. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of melatonin receptor heterodimers may enable the development of new therapeutic approaches against aliments involving these heterodimeric receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lap Hang Tse
- Division of Life Science and the Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, SAR China
| | - Yung Hou Wong
- Division of Life Science and the Biotechnology Research Institute, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, SAR China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Neuroscience Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, SAR China.,Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, SAR China
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25
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Jang J, Kim SK, Guthrie B, Goddard WA. Synergic Effects in the Activation of the Sweet Receptor GPCR Heterodimer for Various Sweeteners Predicted Using Molecular Metadynamics Simulations. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:12250-12261. [PMID: 34613740 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The sweet taste is elicited by activation of the TAS1R2/1R3 heterodimer G protein-coupled receptor. This is a therapeutic target for treatment of obesity and metabolic dysfunctions. Sweetener blends provide attractive strategies to lower the sugar level while preserving the attractive taste of food. To understand the synergic effect of various sweetener blend combinations of artificial and natural sweeteners, we carried out our molecular dynamics studies using predicted structures of the TAS1R2/1R3 heterodimer and predicted structures for the sweeteners. We used as a measure of activation the intracellular ionic lock distance between transmembrane helices 3 and 6 of TAS1R3. We find that full synergic combinations [rebaudioside A (Reb-A)/acesulfame K and Reb-A/sucralose] and partial synergic combinations (sucralose/acesulfame K) show significantly more negative changes in the free energy compared to single-ligand cases, while a pair known to be suppressive (saccharin and acesulfame K) shows significantly less changes than for the single-ligand case. This study provides an atomistic understanding of the mechanism for synergy and identifies new combinations of sweeteners to reduce the caloric content for treating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaewan Jang
- Materials and Process Simulation Center (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Soo-Kyung Kim
- Materials and Process Simulation Center (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Brian Guthrie
- Cargill Global Core Research, Wayzata, Minnesota 55391, United States
| | - William A Goddard
- Materials and Process Simulation Center (139-74), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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26
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On the human taste perception: Molecular-level understanding empowered by computational methods. Trends Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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27
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Allosteric modulators enhance agonist efficacy by increasing the residence time of a GPCR in the active state. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5426. [PMID: 34521824 PMCID: PMC8440590 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25620-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Much hope in drug development comes from the discovery of positive allosteric modulators (PAM) that display target subtype selectivity and act by increasing agonist potency and efficacy. How such compounds can allosterically influence agonist action remains unclear. Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu) are G protein-coupled receptors that represent promising targets for brain diseases, and for which PAMs acting in the transmembrane domain have been developed. Here, we explore the effect of a PAM on the structural dynamics of mGlu2 in optimized detergent micelles using single molecule FRET at submillisecond timescales. We show that glutamate only partially stabilizes the extracellular domains in the active state. Full activation is only observed in the presence of a PAM or the Gi protein. Our results provide important insights on the role of allosteric modulators in mGlu activation, by stabilizing the active state of a receptor that is otherwise rapidly oscillating between active and inactive states. Here, the authors use smFRET to assess the structural dynamics of metabotropic glutamate receptor mGlu2 and show that a positive allosteric modulator or the Gi protein stabilize mGlu2 in the glutamate-induced active state, leading to the full activation of the receptor.
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28
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Chen X, Wang L, Cui Q, Ding Z, Han L, Kou Y, Zhang W, Wang H, Jia X, Dai M, Shi Z, Li Y, Li X, Geng Y. Structural insights into the activation of human calcium-sensing receptor. eLife 2021; 10:68578. [PMID: 34467854 PMCID: PMC8476121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that maintains Ca2+ homeostasis in serum. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structures of the CaSR in the inactive and agonist+PAM bound states. Complemented with previously reported structures of CaSR, we show that in addition to the full inactive and active states, there are multiple intermediate states during the activation of CaSR. We used a negative allosteric nanobody to stabilize the CaSR in the fully inactive state and found a new binding site for Ca2+ ion that acts as a composite agonist with L-amino acid to stabilize the closure of active Venus flytraps. Our data show that agonist binding leads to compaction of the dimer, proximity of the cysteine-rich domains, large-scale transitions of seven-transmembrane domains, and inter- and intrasubunit conformational changes of seven-transmembrane domains to accommodate downstream transducers. Our results reveal the structural basis for activation mechanisms of CaSR and clarify the mode of action of Ca2+ ions and L-amino acid leading to the activation of the receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Chen
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Cui
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanyu Ding
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Han
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongjun Kou
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqing Zhang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Haonan Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomin Jia
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mei Dai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenzhong Shi
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuying Li
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiyang Li
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Geng
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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29
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Agonists and allosteric modulators promote signaling from different metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 conformations. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109648. [PMID: 34469715 PMCID: PMC8424648 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are dimeric G-protein-coupled receptors activated by the main excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate. mGluR activation by agonists binding in the venus flytrap domain is regulated by positive (PAM) or negative (NAM) allosteric modulators binding to the 7-transmembrane domain (7TM). We report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of fully inactive and intermediate-active conformations of mGlu5 receptor bound to an antagonist and a NAM or an agonist and a PAM, respectively, as well as the crystal structure of the 7TM bound to a photoswitchable NAM. The agonist induces a large movement between the subunits, bringing the 7TMs together and stabilizing a 7TM conformation structurally similar to the inactive state. Using functional approaches, we demonstrate that the PAM stabilizes a 7TM active conformation independent of the conformational changes induced by agonists, representing an alternative mode of mGlu activation. These findings provide a structural basis for different mGluR activation modes. Cryo-EM analysis of thermostabilized mGlu5 receptor bound to inhibitors or activators X-ray structure of trans-Alloswitch-1 bound to thermostable mGlu5 7TMs Photopharmacology provides insight into allosteric regulation of mGlu5 7TMs Multiple conformations of mGlu5 receptor activate G protein
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30
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31
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Nguyen KDQ, Vigers M, Sefah E, Seppälä S, Hoover JP, Schonenbach NS, Mertz B, O'Malley MA, Han S. Homo-oligomerization of the human adenosine A 2A receptor is driven by the intrinsically disordered C-terminus. eLife 2021; 10:e66662. [PMID: 34269678 PMCID: PMC8328514 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have long been shown to exist as oligomers with functional properties distinct from those of the monomeric counterparts, but the driving factors of oligomerization remain relatively unexplored. Herein, we focus on the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), a model GPCR that forms oligomers both in vitro and in vivo. Combining experimental and computational approaches, we discover that the intrinsically disordered C-terminus of A2AR drives receptor homo-oligomerization. The formation of A2AR oligomers declines progressively with the shortening of the C-terminus. Multiple interaction types are responsible for A2AR oligomerization, including disulfide linkages, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. These interactions are enhanced by depletion interactions, giving rise to a tunable network of bonds that allow A2AR oligomers to adopt multiple interfaces. This study uncovers the disordered C-terminus as a prominent driving factor for the oligomerization of a GPCR, offering important insight into the effect of C-terminus modification on receptor oligomerization of A2AR and other GPCRs reconstituted in vitro for biophysical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanh Dinh Quoc Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Michael Vigers
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Eric Sefah
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Jennifer Paige Hoover
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Nicole Star Schonenbach
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Blake Mertz
- C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry, West Virginia UniversityMorgantownUnited States
| | - Michelle Ann O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
| | - Songi Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraUnited States
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32
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Seven AB, Barros-Álvarez X, de Lapeyrière M, Papasergi-Scott MM, Robertson MJ, Zhang C, Nwokonko RM, Gao Y, Meyerowitz JG, Rocher JP, Schelshorn D, Kobilka BK, Mathiesen JM, Skiniotis G. G-protein activation by a metabotropic glutamate receptor. Nature 2021; 595:450-454. [PMID: 34194039 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03680-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Family C G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) operate as obligate dimers with extracellular domains that recognize small ligands, leading to G-protein activation on the transmembrane (TM) domains of these receptors by an unknown mechanism1. Here we show structures of homodimers of the family C metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2) in distinct functional states and in complex with heterotrimeric Gi. Upon activation of the extracellular domain, the two transmembrane domains undergo extensive rearrangement in relative orientation to establish an asymmetric TM6-TM6 interface that promotes conformational changes in the cytoplasmic domain of one protomer. Nucleotide-bound Gi can be observed pre-coupled to inactive mGlu2, but its transition to the nucleotide-free form seems to depend on establishing the active-state TM6-TM6 interface. In contrast to family A and B GPCRs, G-protein coupling does not involve the cytoplasmic opening of TM6 but is facilitated through the coordination of intracellular loops 2 and 3, as well as a critical contribution from the C terminus of the receptor. The findings highlight the synergy of global and local conformational transitions to facilitate a new mode of G-protein activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpay B Seven
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ximena Barros-Álvarez
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, 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
| | - Michael J Robertson
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chensong Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robert M Nwokonko
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, 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 Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Jesper M Mathiesen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - 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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33
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Structures of human mGlu2 and mGlu7 homo- and heterodimers. Nature 2021; 594:589-593. [PMID: 34135509 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03641-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) are involved in the modulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability in the central nervous system1. These receptors probably exist as both homo- and heterodimers that have unique pharmacological and functional properties2-4. Here we report four cryo-electron microscopy structures of the human mGlu subtypes mGlu2 and mGlu7, including inactive mGlu2 and mGlu7 homodimers; mGlu2 homodimer bound to an agonist and a positive allosteric modulator; and inactive mGlu2-mGlu7 heterodimer. We observed a subtype-dependent dimerization mode for these mGlus, as a unique dimer interface that is mediated by helix IV (and that is important for limiting receptor activity) exists only in the inactive mGlu2 structure. The structures provide molecular details of the inter- and intra-subunit conformational changes that are required for receptor activation, which distinguish class C G-protein-coupled receptors from those in classes A and B. Furthermore, our structure and functional studies of the mGlu2-mGlu7 heterodimer suggest that the mGlu7 subunit has a dominant role in controlling dimeric association and G-protein activation in the heterodimer. These insights into mGlu homo- and heterodimers highlight the complex landscape of mGlu dimerization and activation.
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34
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Lin S, Han S, Cai X, Tan Q, Zhou K, Wang D, Wang X, Du J, Yi C, Chu X, Dai A, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Zhou Y, Liu H, Liu J, Yang D, Wang MW, Zhao Q, Wu B. Structures of G i-bound metabotropic glutamate receptors mGlu2 and mGlu4. Nature 2021; 594:583-588. [PMID: 34135510 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03495-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) have key roles in modulating cell excitability and synaptic transmission in response to glutamate (the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system)1. It has previously been suggested that only one receptor subunit within an mGlu homodimer is responsible for coupling to G protein during receptor activation2. However, the molecular mechanism that underlies the asymmetric signalling of mGlus remains unknown. Here we report two cryo-electron microscopy structures of human mGlu2 and mGlu4 bound to heterotrimeric Gi protein. The structures reveal a G-protein-binding site formed by three intracellular loops and helices III and IV that is distinct from the corresponding binding site in all of the other G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) structures. Furthermore, we observed an asymmetric dimer interface of the transmembrane domain of the receptor in the two mGlu-Gi structures. We confirmed that the asymmetric dimerization is crucial for receptor activation, which was supported by functional data; this dimerization may provide a molecular basis for the asymmetric signal transduction of mGlus. These findings offer insights into receptor signalling of class C GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuling Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiuxiang Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexiu Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor 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
| | - Dejian Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinwei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Du
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cuiying Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Chu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Antao Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Liu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,The National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China. .,School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. .,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiang Zhao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,Zhongshan Branch, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China.
| | - Beili Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor 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. .,School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
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35
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Zhou Y, Meng J, Xu C, Liu J. Multiple GPCR Functional Assays Based on Resonance Energy Transfer Sensors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:611443. [PMID: 34041234 PMCID: PMC8141573 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.611443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent one of the largest membrane protein families that participate in various physiological and pathological activities. Accumulating structural evidences have revealed how GPCR activation induces conformational changes to accommodate the downstream G protein or β-arrestin. Multiple GPCR functional assays have been developed based on Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) sensors to monitor the conformational changes in GPCRs, GPCR/G proteins, or GPCR/β-arrestin, especially over the past two decades. Here, we will summarize how these sensors have been optimized to increase the sensitivity and compatibility for application in different GPCR classes using various labeling strategies, meanwhile provide multiple solutions in functional assays for high-throughput drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Zhou
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiyong Meng
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chanjuan Xu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
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36
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Thibado JK, Tano JY, Lee J, Salas-Estrada L, Provasi D, Strauss A, Marcelo Lamim Ribeiro J, Xiang G, Broichhagen J, Filizola M, Lohse MJ, Levitz J. Differences in interactions between transmembrane domains tune the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors. eLife 2021; 10:e67027. [PMID: 33880992 PMCID: PMC8102066 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) form a family of neuromodulatory G-protein-coupled receptors that contain both a seven-helix transmembrane domain (TMD) and a large extracellular ligand-binding domain (LBD) which enables stable dimerization. Although numerous studies have revealed variability across subtypes in the initial activation steps at the level of LBD dimers, an understanding of inter-TMD interaction and rearrangement remains limited. Here, we use a combination of single molecule fluorescence, molecular dynamics, functional assays, and conformational sensors to reveal that distinct TMD assembly properties drive differences between mGluR subtypes. We uncover a variable region within transmembrane helix 4 (TM4) that contributes to homo- and heterodimerization in a subtype-specific manner and tunes orthosteric, allosteric, and basal activation. We also confirm a critical role for a conserved inter-TM6 interface in stabilizing the active state during orthosteric or allosteric activation. Together this study shows that inter-TMD assembly and dynamic rearrangement drive mGluR function with distinct properties between subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordana K Thibado
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical SciencesNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Joon Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | - Leslie Salas-Estrada
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Davide Provasi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Alexa Strauss
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical BiologyNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Guoqing Xiang
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Martin J Lohse
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- ISAR Bioscience InstitutePlanegg-MunichGermany
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical SciencesNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell MedicineNew YorkUnited States
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical BiologyNew YorkUnited States
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37
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Franco R, Cordomí A, Llinas Del Torrent C, Lillo A, Serrano-Marín J, Navarro G, Pardo L. Structure and function of adenosine receptor heteromers. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:3957-3968. [PMID: 33580270 PMCID: PMC11072997 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03761-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine is one of the most ancient signaling molecules and has receptors in both animals and plants. In mammals there are four specific receptors, A1, A2A, A2B, and A3, which belong to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Evidence accumulated in the last 20 years indicates that GPCRs are often expressed as oligomeric complexes formed by a number of equal (homomers) or different (heteromers) receptors. This review presents the data showing the occurrence of heteromers formed by A1 and A2A, A2A and A2B, and A2A and A3 receptors highlighting (i) their tetrameric structural arrangements, and (ii) the functional diversity that those heteromers provide to adenosinergic signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Franco
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Catalonia, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos iii, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Arnau Cordomí
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus Universitari, 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Claudia Llinas Del Torrent
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus Universitari, 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Alejandro Lillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Serrano-Marín
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, School of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Catalonia, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Navarro
- Centro de Investigación en Red, Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), Instituto de Salud Carlos iii, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratori de Medicina Computacional, Unitat de Bioestadística, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Campus Universitari, 08193, Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
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38
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Marlow B, Kuenze G, Li B, Sanders CR, Meiler J. Structural determinants of cholesterol recognition in helical integral membrane proteins. Biophys J 2021; 120:1592-1604. [PMID: 33640379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is an integral component of mammalian membranes. It has been shown to modulate membrane fluidity and dynamics and alter integral membrane protein function. However, understanding the molecular mechanisms of how cholesterol impacts protein function is complicated by limited and conflicting structural data. Because of the nature of the crystallization and cryo-EM structure determination, it is difficult to distinguish between specific and biologically relevant interactions and a nonspecific association. The only widely recognized search algorithm for cholesterol-integral-membrane-protein interaction sites is sequence based, i.e., searching for the so-called "Cholesterol Recognition/interaction Amino acid Consensus" motif. Although these motifs are present in numerous integral membrane proteins, there is inconclusive evidence to support their necessity or sufficiency for cholesterol binding. Here, we leverage the increasing number of experimental cholesterol-integral-membrane-protein structures to systematically analyze putative interaction sites based on their spatial arrangement and evolutionary conservation. This analysis creates three-dimensional representations of general cholesterol interaction sites that form clusters across multiple integral membrane protein classes. We also classify cholesterol-integral-membrane-protein interaction sites as either likely-specific or nonspecific. Information gleaned from our characterization will eventually enable a structure-based approach to predict and design cholesterol-integral-membrane-protein interaction sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennica Marlow
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Chemical and Physical Biology Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Georg Kuenze
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University Medical School, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bian Li
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Charles R Sanders
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Jens Meiler
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Chemical and Physical Biology Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University Medical School, Leipzig, Germany.
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39
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Orgován Z, Ferenczy GG, Keserű GM. Allosteric Molecular Switches in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:81-93. [PMID: 32686363 PMCID: PMC7818470 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu) are class C G protein-coupled receptors of eight subtypes that are omnipresently expressed in the central nervous system. mGlus have relevance in several psychiatric and neurological disorders, therefore they raise considerable interest as drug targets. Allosteric modulators of mGlus offer advantages over orthosteric ligands owing to their increased potential to achieve subtype selectivity, and this has prompted discovery programs that have produced a large number of reported allosteric mGlu ligands. However, the optimization of allosteric ligands into drug candidates has proved to be challenging owing to induced-fit effects, flat or steep structure-activity relationships and unexpected changes in theirpharmacology. Subtle structural changes identified as molecular switches might modulate the functional activity of allosteric ligands. Here we review these switches discovered in the metabotropic glutamate receptor family..
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Orgován
- Medicinal Chemistry Research GroupResearch Centre for Natural SciencesMagyar tudósok krt. 2Budapest1117Hungary
| | - György G. Ferenczy
- Medicinal Chemistry Research GroupResearch Centre for Natural SciencesMagyar tudósok krt. 2Budapest1117Hungary
| | - György M. Keserű
- Medicinal Chemistry Research GroupResearch Centre for Natural SciencesMagyar tudósok krt. 2Budapest1117Hungary
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40
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Liauw BWH, Afsari HS, Vafabakhsh R. Conformational rearrangement during activation of a metabotropic glutamate receptor. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:291-297. [PMID: 33398167 PMCID: PMC7904630 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00702-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) relay information across cell membranes through conformational coupling between the ligand-binding domain and cytoplasmic signaling domain. In dimeric class C GPCRs, the mechanism of this process, which involves propagation of local ligand-induced conformational changes over 12 nm through three distinct structural domains, is unknown. Here, we used single-molecule FRET (smFRET) and live-cell imaging and found that metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) interconverts between four conformational states, two of which were previously unknown, and activation proceeds through the conformational selection mechanism. Furthermore, the conformation of the ligand-binding domains and downstream domains are weakly coupled. We show that the intermediate states act as conformational checkpoints for activation and control allosteric modulation of signaling. Our results demonstrate a mechanism for activation of mGluRs where ligand binding controls the proximity of signaling domains, analogous to some receptor kinases. This design principle may be generalizable to other biological allosteric sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Reza Vafabakhsh
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
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41
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Gregory KJ, Goudet C. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. CXI. Pharmacology, Signaling, and Physiology of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 73:521-569. [PMID: 33361406 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.019133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors respond to glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain, mediating a modulatory role that is critical for higher-order brain functions such as learning and memory. Since the first mGlu receptor was cloned in 1992, eight subtypes have been identified along with many isoforms and splice variants. The mGlu receptors are transmembrane-spanning proteins belonging to the class C G protein-coupled receptor family and represent attractive targets for a multitude of central nervous system disorders. Concerted drug discovery efforts over the past three decades have yielded a wealth of pharmacological tools including subtype-selective agents that competitively block or mimic the actions of glutamate or act allosterically via distinct sites to enhance or inhibit receptor activity. Herein, we review the physiologic and pathophysiological roles for individual mGlu receptor subtypes including the pleiotropic nature of intracellular signal transduction arising from each. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of prototypical and commercially available orthosteric agonists and antagonists as well as allosteric modulators, including ligands that have entered clinical trials. Finally, we highlight emerging areas of research that hold promise to facilitate rational design of highly selective mGlu receptor-targeting therapeutics in the future. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The metabotropic glutamate receptors are attractive therapeutic targets for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Over the past three decades, intense discovery efforts have yielded diverse pharmacological tools acting either competitively or allosterically, which have enabled dissection of fundamental biological process modulated by metabotropic glutamate receptors and established proof of concept for many therapeutic indications. We review metabotropic glutamate receptor molecular pharmacology and highlight emerging areas that are offering new avenues to selectively modulate neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Gregory
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (K.J.G.) and Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), Montpellier, France (C.G.)
| | - Cyril Goudet
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia (K.J.G.) and Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), Montpellier, France (C.G.)
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42
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Ellaithy A, Gonzalez-Maeso J, Logothetis DA, Levitz J. Structural and Biophysical Mechanisms of Class C G Protein-Coupled Receptor Function. Trends Biochem Sci 2020; 45:1049-1064. [PMID: 32861513 PMCID: PMC7642020 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Groundbreaking structural and spectroscopic studies of class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), such as rhodopsin and the β2 adrenergic receptor, have provided a picture of how structural rearrangements between transmembrane helices control ligand binding, receptor activation, and effector coupling. However, the activation mechanism of other GPCR classes remains more elusive, in large part due to complexity in their domain assembly and quaternary structure. In this review, we focus on the class C GPCRs, which include metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB) receptors (GABABRs) most prominently. We discuss the unique biophysical questions raised by the presence of large extracellular ligand-binding domains (LBDs) and constitutive homo/heterodimerization. Furthermore, we discuss how recent studies have begun to unravel how these fundamental class C GPCR features impact the processes of ligand binding, receptor activation, signal transduction, regulation by accessory proteins, and crosstalk with other GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Ellaithy
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Javier Gonzalez-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Diomedes A Logothetis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, College of Science and Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joshua Levitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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43
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Toneatti R, Shin JM, Shah UH, Mayer CR, Saunders JM, Fribourg M, Arsenovic PT, Janssen WG, Sealfon SC, López-Giménez JF, Benson DL, Conway DE, González-Maeso J. Interclass GPCR heteromerization affects localization and trafficking. Sci Signal 2020; 13:eaaw3122. [PMID: 33082287 PMCID: PMC7717648 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aaw3122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Membrane trafficking processes regulate G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activity. Although class A GPCRs are capable of activating G proteins in a monomeric form, they can also potentially assemble into functional GPCR heteromers. Here, we showed that the class A serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2ARs) affected the localization and trafficking of class C metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) through a mechanism that required their assembly as heteromers in mammalian cells. In the absence of agonists, 5-HT2AR was primarily localized within intracellular compartments, and coexpression of 5-HT2AR with mGluR2 increased the intracellular distribution of the otherwise plasma membrane-localized mGluR2. Agonists for either 5-HT2AR or mGluR2 differentially affected trafficking through Rab5-positive endosomes in cells expressing each component of the 5-HT2AR-mGluR2 heterocomplex alone, or together. In addition, overnight pharmacological 5-HT2AR blockade with clozapine, but not with M100907, decreased mGluR2 density through a mechanism that involved heteromerization between 5-HT2AR and mGluR2. Using TAT-tagged peptides and chimeric constructs that are unable to form the interclass 5-HT2AR-mGluR2 complex, we demonstrated that heteromerization was necessary for the 5-HT2AR-dependent effects on mGluR2 subcellular distribution. The expression of 5-HT2AR also augmented intracellular localization of mGluR2 in mouse frontal cortex pyramidal neurons. Together, our data suggest that GPCR heteromerization may itself represent a mechanism of receptor trafficking and sorting.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acids/pharmacology
- Animals
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Clozapine/pharmacology
- Endosomes/metabolism
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Mice, 129 Strain
- Mice, Knockout
- Microscopy, Confocal
- Multiprotein Complexes/chemistry
- Multiprotein Complexes/metabolism
- Protein Multimerization
- Protein Transport/drug effects
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/chemistry
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/genetics
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A/metabolism
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/chemistry
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/genetics
- Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate/metabolism
- Serotonin Antagonists/pharmacology
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudy Toneatti
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Jong M Shin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Urjita H Shah
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Carl R Mayer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
| | - Justin M Saunders
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Miguel Fribourg
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Translational Transplant Research Center, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Paul T Arsenovic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
| | - William G Janssen
- Department Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Juan F López-Giménez
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Deanna L Benson
- Department Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Daniel E Conway
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23220, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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44
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Singh DR, Pandey K, Mishra AK, Pandey P, Vivcharuk V. Glutamate binding triggers monomerization of unliganded mGluR2 dimers. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 697:108632. [PMID: 33075300 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The Metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) is involved in several neurological and psychiatric disorders and is an attractive drug target. It is believed to form a strict dimer and the dimeric assembly is necessary for glutamate induced activation. Although many studies have focused on glutamate induced conformational changes, the dimerization propensity of mGluR2 with and without glutamate has never been investigated. Also, the role of the unstructured loop in dimerization of mGluR2 is not clear. Here, using Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based assay in live cells we show that mGluR2 does not form a "strict dimer" rather it exists in a dynamic monomer-dimer equilibrium. The unstructured loop moderately destabilizes the dimers. Furthermore, binding of glutamate to mGluR2 induces conformational change that promotes monomerization of mGluR2. In the absence of an unstructured loop, mGluR2 neither undergoes conformational change nor monomerizes upon binding to glutamate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deo R Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NYC, NY, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Kalpana Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NYC, NY, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India.
| | - Ashish K Mishra
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Pankaj Pandey
- Department of Zoology, Brahmanand College, Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Victor Vivcharuk
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NYC, NY, USA
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45
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Capturing Peptide-GPCR Interactions and Their Dynamics. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204724. [PMID: 33076289 PMCID: PMC7587574 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many biological functions of peptides are mediated through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Upon ligand binding, GPCRs undergo conformational changes that facilitate the binding and activation of multiple effectors. GPCRs regulate nearly all physiological processes and are a favorite pharmacological target. In particular, drugs are sought after that elicit the recruitment of selected effectors only (biased ligands). Understanding how ligands bind to GPCRs and which conformational changes they induce is a fundamental step toward the development of more efficient and specific drugs. Moreover, it is emerging that the dynamic of the ligand–receptor interaction contributes to the specificity of both ligand recognition and effector recruitment, an aspect that is missing in structural snapshots from crystallography. We describe here biochemical and biophysical techniques to address ligand–receptor interactions in their structural and dynamic aspects, which include mutagenesis, crosslinking, spectroscopic techniques, and mass-spectrometry profiling. With a main focus on peptide receptors, we present methods to unveil the ligand–receptor contact interface and methods that address conformational changes both in the ligand and the GPCR. The presented studies highlight a wide structural heterogeneity among peptide receptors, reveal distinct structural changes occurring during ligand binding and a surprisingly high dynamics of the ligand–GPCR complexes.
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46
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Kurth M, Lolicato F, Sandoval-Perez A, Amaya-Espinosa H, Teslenko A, Sinning I, Beck R, Brügger B, Aponte-Santamaría C. Cholesterol Localization around the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:9061-9078. [PMID: 32954729 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c05264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 2 plays a key role in the central nervous system. mGluR2 has been shown to be regulated by its surrounding lipid environment, especially by cholesterol, by an unknown mechanism. Here, using a combination of biochemical approaches, photo-cross-linking experiments, and molecular dynamics simulations we show the interaction of cholesterol with at least two, but potentially five more, preferential sites on the mGluR2 transmembrane domain. Our simulations demonstrate that surface matching, rather than electrostatic interactions with specific amino acids, is the main factor defining cholesterol localization. Moreover, the cholesterol localization observed here is similar to the sterol-binding pattern previously described in silico for other members of the mGluR family. Biochemical assays suggest little influence of cholesterol on trafficking or dimerization of mGluR2. Nevertheless, simulations revealed a significant reduction of residue-residue contacts together with an alteration in the internal mechanical stress at the cytoplasmic side of the helical bundle when cholesterol was present in the membrane. These alterations may be related to destabilization of the basal state of mGluR2. Due to the high sequence conservation of the transmembrane domains of mGluRs, the molecular interaction of cholesterol and mGluR2 described here is also likely to be relevant for other members of the mGLuR family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kurth
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabio Lolicato
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angelica Sandoval-Perez
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Helman Amaya-Espinosa
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alexandra Teslenko
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Irmgard Sinning
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rainer Beck
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Britta Brügger
- Biochemistry Center (BZH), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Camilo Aponte-Santamaría
- Max Planck Tandem Group in Computational Biophysics, University of Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.,Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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47
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Illuminating the allosteric modulation of the calcium-sensing receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:21711-21722. [PMID: 32817431 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922231117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many membrane receptors are regulated by nutrients. However, how these nutrients control a single receptor remains unknown, even in the case of the well-studied calcium-sensing receptor CaSR, which is regulated by multiple factors, including ions and amino acids. Here, we developed an innovative cell-free Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based conformational CaSR biosensor to clarify the main conformational changes associated with activation. By allowing a perfect control of ambient nutrients, this assay revealed that Ca2+ alone fully stabilizes the active conformation, while amino acids behave as pure positive allosteric modulators. Based on the identification of Ca2+ activation sites, we propose a molecular basis for how these different ligands cooperate to control CaSR activation. Our results provide important information on CaSR function and improve our understanding of the effects of genetic mutations responsible for human diseases. They also provide insights into how a receptor can integrate signals from various nutrients to better adapt to the cell response.
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48
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Vizurraga A, Adhikari R, Yeung J, Yu M, Tall GG. Mechanisms of adhesion G protein-coupled receptor activation. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:14065-14083. [PMID: 32763969 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.007423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (AGPCRs) are a thirty-three-member subfamily of Class B GPCRs that control a wide array of physiological processes and are implicated in disease. AGPCRs uniquely contain large, self-proteolyzing extracellular regions that range from hundreds to thousands of residues in length. AGPCR autoproteolysis occurs within the extracellular GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing (GAIN) domain that is proximal to the N terminus of the G protein-coupling seven-transmembrane-spanning bundle. GAIN domain-mediated self-cleavage is constitutive and produces two-fragment holoreceptors that remain bound at the cell surface. It has been of recent interest to understand how AGPCRs are activated in relation to their two-fragment topologies. Dissociation of the AGPCR fragments stimulates G protein signaling through the action of the tethered-peptide agonist stalk that is occluded within the GAIN domain in the holoreceptor form. AGPCRs can also signal independently of fragment dissociation, and a few receptors possess GAIN domains incapable of self-proteolysis. This has resulted in complex theories as to how these receptors are activated in vivo, complicating pharmacological advances. Currently, there is no existing structure of an activated AGPCR to support any of the theories. Further confounding AGPCR research is that many of the receptors remain orphans and lack identified activating ligands. In this review, we provide a detailed layout of the current theorized modes of AGPCR activation with discussion of potential parallels to mechanisms used by other GPCR classes. We provide a classification means for the ligands that have been identified and discuss how these ligands may activate AGPCRs in physiological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Vizurraga
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Rashmi Adhikari
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer Yeung
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Maiya Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gregory G Tall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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49
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Direct and indirect cholesterol effects on membrane proteins with special focus on potassium channels. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158706. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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50
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Shah UH, Toneatti R, Gaitonde SA, Shin JM, González-Maeso J. Site-Specific Incorporation of Genetically Encoded Photo-Crosslinkers Locates the Heteromeric Interface of a GPCR Complex in Living Cells. Cell Chem Biol 2020; 27:1308-1317.e4. [PMID: 32726588 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are critical mediators of cell signaling. Although capable of activating G proteins in a monomeric form, numerous studies reveal a possible association of class A GPCRs into dimers/oligomers. The relative location of individual protomers within these GPCR complexes remains a topic of intense debate. We previously reported that class A serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) and class C metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor (mGluR2) are able to form a GPCR heterocomplex. By introducing the photoactivatable unnatural amino acid p-azido-L-phenylalanine (azF) at selected individual positions along the transmembrane (TM) segments of mGluR2, we delineate the residues that physically interact at the heteromeric interface of the 5-HT2AR-mGluR2 complex. We show that 5-HT2AR crosslinked with azF incorporated at the intracellular end of mGluR2's TM4, while no crosslinking was observed at other positions along TM1 and TM4. Together, these findings provide important insights into the structural arrangement of the 5-HT2AR-mGluR2 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urjita H Shah
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Rudy Toneatti
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Supriya A Gaitonde
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Jong M Shin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Javier González-Maeso
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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