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Jefferson RE, Oggier A, Füglistaler A, Camviel N, Hijazi M, Villarreal AR, Arber C, Barth P. Computational design of dynamic receptor-peptide signaling complexes applied to chemotaxis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2875. [PMID: 37208363 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38491-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering protein biosensors that sensitively respond to specific biomolecules by triggering precise cellular responses is a major goal of diagnostics and synthetic cell biology. Previous biosensor designs have largely relied on binding structurally well-defined molecules. In contrast, approaches that couple the sensing of flexible compounds to intended cellular responses would greatly expand potential biosensor applications. Here, to address these challenges, we develop a computational strategy for designing signaling complexes between conformationally dynamic proteins and peptides. To demonstrate the power of the approach, we create ultrasensitive chemotactic receptor-peptide pairs capable of eliciting potent signaling responses and strong chemotaxis in primary human T cells. Unlike traditional approaches that engineer static binding complexes, our dynamic structure design strategy optimizes contacts with multiple binding and allosteric sites accessible through dynamic conformational ensembles to achieve strongly enhanced signaling efficacy and potency. Our study suggests that a conformationally adaptable binding interface coupled to a robust allosteric transmission region is a key evolutionary determinant of peptidergic GPCR signaling systems. The approach lays a foundation for designing peptide-sensing receptors and signaling peptide ligands for basic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Jefferson
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aurélien Oggier
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Füglistaler
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Camviel
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology UNIL-CHUV, University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mahdi Hijazi
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ana Rico Villarreal
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Caroline Arber
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology UNIL-CHUV, University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Barth
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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2
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Sanematsu K, Yamamoto M, Nagasato Y, Kawabata Y, Watanabe Y, Iwata S, Takai S, Toko K, Matsui T, Wada N, Shigemura N. Prediction of dynamic allostery for the transmembrane domain of the sweet taste receptor subunit, TAS1R3. Commun Biol 2023; 6:340. [PMID: 37012338 PMCID: PMC10070457 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04705-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The sweet taste receptor plays an essential role as an energy sensor by detecting carbohydrates. However, the dynamic mechanisms of receptor activation remain unclear. Here, we describe the interactions between the transmembrane domain of the G protein-coupled sweet receptor subunit, TAS1R3, and allosteric modulators. Molecular dynamics simulations reproduced species-specific sensitivity to ligands. We found that a human-specific sweetener, cyclamate, interacted with the mouse receptor as a negative allosteric modulator. Agonist-induced allostery during receptor activation was found to destabilize the intracellular part of the receptor, which potentially interfaces with the Gα subunit, through ionic lock opening. A common human variant (R757C) of the TAS1R3 exhibited a reduced response to sweet taste, in support of our predictions. Furthermore, histidine residues in the binding site acted as pH-sensitive microswitches to modulate the sensitivity to saccharin. This study provides important insights that may facilitate the prediction of dynamic activation mechanisms for other G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Sanematsu
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
- Oral Health/Brain Health/Total Health Research Center, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
- Research and Development Center for Five-Sense Devices, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Masato Yamamoto
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Department of General Dentistry, Division of Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuki Nagasato
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Bioresources and Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yuko Kawabata
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yu Watanabe
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Shusuke Iwata
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
- Research and Development Center for Five-Sense Devices, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Shingo Takai
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Toko
- Research and Development Center for Five-Sense Devices, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Study, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Toshiro Matsui
- Research and Development Center for Five-Sense Devices, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
- Department of Bioresources and Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Graduate School of Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Naohisa Wada
- Department of General Dentistry, Division of Interdisciplinary Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Noriatsu Shigemura
- Section of Oral Neuroscience, Graduate School of Dental Science, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
- Research and Development Center for Five-Sense Devices, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
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3
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Paradis JS, Feng X, Murat B, Jefferson RE, Sokrat B, Szpakowska M, Hogue M, Bergkamp ND, Heydenreich FM, Smit MJ, Chevigné A, Bouvier M, Barth P. Computationally designed GPCR quaternary structures bias signaling pathway activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6826. [PMID: 36369272 PMCID: PMC9652377 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34382-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication across membranes controls critical cellular processes and is achieved by receptors translating extracellular signals into selective cytoplasmic responses. While receptor tertiary structures can be readily characterized, receptor associations into quaternary structures are challenging to study and their implications in signal transduction remain poorly understood. Here, we report a computational approach for predicting receptor self-associations, and designing receptor oligomers with various quaternary structures and signaling properties. Using this approach, we designed chemokine receptor CXCR4 dimers with reprogrammed binding interactions, conformations, and abilities to activate distinct intracellular signaling proteins. In agreement with our predictions, the designed CXCR4s dimerized through distinct conformations and displayed different quaternary structural changes upon activation. Consistent with the active state models, all engineered CXCR4 oligomers activated the G protein Gi, but only specific dimer structures also recruited β-arrestins. Overall, we demonstrate that quaternary structures represent an important unforeseen mechanism of receptor biased signaling and reveal the existence of a bias switch at the dimer interface of several G protein-coupled receptors including CXCR4, mu-Opioid and type-2 Vasopressin receptors that selectively control the activation of G proteins vs β-arrestin-mediated pathways. The approach should prove useful for predicting and designing receptor associations to uncover and reprogram selective cellular signaling functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine S Paradis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Xiang Feng
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Brigitte Murat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Robert E Jefferson
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Badr Sokrat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Martyna Szpakowska
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Mireille Hogue
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Nick D Bergkamp
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Franziska M Heydenreich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Martine J Smit
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andy Chevigné
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Immuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada.
| | - Patrick Barth
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland.
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4
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Caniceiro AB, Bueschbell B, Schiedel AC, Moreira IS. Class A and C GPCR Dimers in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:2081-2141. [PMID: 35339177 PMCID: PMC9886835 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220327221830] [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: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect over 30 million people worldwide with an ascending trend. Most individuals suffering from these irreversible brain damages belong to the elderly population, with onset between 50 and 60 years. Although the pathophysiology of such diseases is partially known, it remains unclear upon which point a disease turns degenerative. Moreover, current therapeutics can treat some of the symptoms but often have severe side effects and become less effective in long-term treatment. For many neurodegenerative diseases, the involvement of G proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs), which are key players of neuronal transmission and plasticity, has become clearer and holds great promise in elucidating their biological mechanism. With this review, we introduce and summarize class A and class C GPCRs, known to form heterodimers or oligomers to increase their signalling repertoire. Additionally, the examples discussed here were shown to display relevant alterations in brain signalling and had already been associated with the pathophysiology of certain neurodegenerative diseases. Lastly, we classified the heterodimers into two categories of crosstalk, positive or negative, for which there is known evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B. Caniceiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; ,These authors contributed equally to this work.
| | - Beatriz Bueschbell
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal; ,These authors contributed equally to this work.
| | - Anke C. Schiedel
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, D-53121 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Irina S. Moreira
- University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; ,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal,Address correspondence to this author at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; E-mail:
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5
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Computational design of transmembrane proteins. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 74:102381. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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6
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Bueschbell B, Manga P, Schiedel AC. The Many Faces of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 143, an Atypical Intracellular Receptor. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:873777. [PMID: 35495622 PMCID: PMC9039016 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.873777] [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: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
GPCRs transform extracellular stimuli into a physiological response by activating an intracellular signaling cascade initiated via binding to G proteins. Orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) hold the potential to pave the way for development of new, innovative therapeutic strategies. In this review we will introduce G protein-coupled receptor 143 (GPR143), an enigmatic receptor in terms of classification within the GPCR superfamily and localization. GPR143 has not been assigned to any of the GPCR families due to the lack of common structural motifs. Hence we will describe the most important motifs of classes A and B and compare them to the protein sequence of GPR143. While a precise function for the receptor has yet to be determined, the protein is expressed abundantly in pigment producing cells. Many GPR143 mutations cause X-linked Ocular Albinism Type 1 (OA1, Nettleship-Falls OA), which results in hypopigmentation of the eyes and loss of visual acuity due to disrupted visual system development and function. In pigment cells of the skin, loss of functional GPR143 results in abnormally large melanosomes (organelles in which pigment is produced). Studies have shown that the receptor is localized internally, including at the melanosomal membrane, where it may function to regulate melanosome size and/or facilitate protein trafficking to the melanosome through the endolysosomal system. Numerous additional roles have been proposed for GPR143 in determining cancer predisposition, regulation of blood pressure, development of macular degeneration and signaling in the brain, which we will briefly describe as well as potential ligands that have been identified. Furthermore, GPR143 is a promiscuous receptor that has been shown to interact with multiple other melanosomal proteins and GPCRs, which strongly suggests that this orphan receptor is likely involved in many different physiological actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Bueschbell
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Prashiela Manga
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Anke C. Schiedel
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- *Correspondence: Anke C. Schiedel,
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7
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Fu T, Li F, Zhang Y, Yin J, Qiu W, Li X, Liu X, Xin W, Wang C, Yu L, Gao J, Zheng Q, Zeng S, Zhu F. VARIDT 2.0: structural variability of drug transporter. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 50:D1417-D1431. [PMID: 34747471 PMCID: PMC8728241 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural variability data of drug transporter (DT) are key for research on precision medicine and rational drug use. However, these valuable data are not sufficiently covered by the available databases. In this study, a major update of VARIDT (a database previously constructed to provide DTs' variability data) was thus described. First, the experimentally resolved structures of all DTs reported in the original VARIDT were discovered from PubMed and Protein Data Bank. Second, the structural variability data of each DT were collected by literature review, which included: (a) mutation-induced spatial variations in folded state, (b) difference among DT structures of human and model organisms, (c) outward/inward-facing DT conformations and (d) xenobiotics-driven alterations in the 3D complexes. Third, for those DTs without experimentally resolved structural variabilities, homology modeling was further applied as well-established protocol to enrich such valuable data. As a result, 145 mutation-induced spatial variations of 42 DTs, 1622 inter-species structures originating from 292 DTs, 118 outward/inward-facing conformations belonging to 59 DTs, and 822 xenobiotics-regulated structures in complex with 57 DTs were updated to VARIDT (https://idrblab.org/varidt/ and http://varidt.idrblab.net/). All in all, the newly collected structural variabilities will be indispensable for explaining drug sensitivity/selectivity, bridging preclinical research with clinical trial, revealing the mechanism underlying drug-drug interaction, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Fu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China
| | - Fengcheng Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Jiayi Yin
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wenqi Qiu
- Department of Surgery, HKU-SZH & Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xuedong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Xingang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Wenwen Xin
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Chengzhao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Lushan Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jianqing Gao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingchuan Zheng
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, China
| | - Su Zeng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.,Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine of Zhejiang University, Alibaba-Zhejiang University Joint Research Center of Future Digital Healthcare, Hangzhou 330110, China
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8
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Bhunia SS, Saxena AK. Efficiency of Homology Modeling Assisted Molecular Docking in G-protein Coupled Receptors. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:269-294. [PMID: 32901584 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200908165250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular docking is in regular practice to assess ligand affinity on a target protein crystal structure. In the absence of protein crystal structure, the homology modeling or comparative modeling is the best alternative to elucidate the relationship details between a ligand and protein at the molecular level. The development of accurate homology modeling (HM) and its integration with molecular docking (MD) is essential for successful, rational drug discovery. OBJECTIVE The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are attractive therapeutic targets due to their immense role in human pharmacology. The GPCRs are membrane-bound proteins with the complex constitution, and the understanding of their activation and inactivation mechanisms is quite challenging. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid expansion in the number of solved G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) crystal structures; however, the majority of the GPCR structures remain unsolved. In this context, HM guided MD has been widely used for structure-based drug design (SBDD) of GPCRs. METHODS The focus of this review is on the recent (i) developments on HM supported GPCR drug discovery in the absence of GPCR crystal structures and (ii) application of HM in understanding the ligand interactions at the binding site, virtual screening, determining receptor subtype selectivity and receptor behaviour in comparison with GPCR crystal structures. RESULTS The HM in GPCRs has been extremely challenging due to the scarcity in template structures. In such a scenario, it is difficult to get accurate HM that can facilitate understanding of the ligand-receptor interactions. This problem has been alleviated to some extent by developing refined HM based on incorporating active /inactive ligand information and inducing protein flexibility. In some cases, HM proteins were found to outscore crystal structures. CONCLUSION The developments in HM have been highly operative to gain insights about the ligand interaction at the binding site and receptor functioning at the molecular level. Thus, HM guided molecular docking may be useful for rational drug discovery for the GPCRs mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shome S Bhunia
- Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Anil K Saxena
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow 226031, India
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9
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Bhattacharya P, Patel TN. A study of deregulated MMR pathways and anticancer potential of curcuma derivatives using computational approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10110. [PMID: 33980898 PMCID: PMC8115291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89282-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant derived products have steadily gained momentum in treatment of cancer over the past decades. Curcuma and its derivatives, in particular, have diverse medicinal properties including anticancer potential with proven safety as supported by numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. A defective Mis-Match Repair (MMR) is implicated in solid tumors but its role in haematologic malignancies is not keenly studied and the current literature suggests that it is limited. Nonetheless, there are multiple pathways interjecting the mismatch repair proteins in haematologic cancers that may have a direct or indirect implication in progression of the disease. Here, through computational analysis, we target proteins that are involved in rewiring of multiple signaling cascades via altered expression in cancer using various curcuma derivatives (Curcuma longa L. and Curcuma caesia Roxb.) which in turn, profoundly controls MMR protein function. These biomolecules were screened to identify their efficacy on selected targets (in blood-related cancers); aberrations of which adversely impacted mismatch repair machinery. The study revealed that of the 536 compounds screened, six of them may have the potential to regulate the expression of identified targets and thus revive the MMR function preventing genomic instability. These results reveal that there may be potential plant derived biomolecules that may have anticancer properties against the tumors driven by deregulated MMR-pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trupti N Patel
- Department of Integrative Biology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, India.
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10
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Panagiotopoulos AA, Papachristofi C, Kalyvianaki K, Malamos P, Theodoropoulos PA, Notas G, Calogeropoulou T, Castanas E, Kampa M. A simple open source bioinformatic methodology for initial exploration of GPCR ligands' agonistic/antagonistic properties. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2020; 8:e00600. [PMID: 32662237 PMCID: PMC7358596 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug development is an arduous procedure, necessitating testing the interaction of a large number of potential candidates with potential interacting (macro)molecules. Therefore, any method which could provide an initial screening of potential candidate drugs might be of interest for the acceleration of the procedure, by highlighting interesting compounds, prior to in vitro and in vivo validation. In this line, we present a method which may identify potential hits, with agonistic and/or antagonistic properties on GPCR receptors, integrating the knowledge on signaling events triggered by receptor activation (GPCRs binding to Gα,β,γ proteins, and activating Gα , exchanging GDP for GTP, leading to a decreased affinity of the Gα for the GPCR). We show that, by integrating GPCR-ligand and Gα -GDP or -GTP binding in docking simulation, which correctly predicts crystallographic data, we can discriminate agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists, through a linear function, based on the ΔG (Gibbs-free energy) of liganded-GPCR/Gα -GDP. We built our model using two Gαs (β2-adrenergic and prostaglandin-D2 ), four Gαi (μ-opioid, dopamine-D3, adenosine-A1, rhodopsin), and one Gαo (serotonin) receptors and validated it with a series of ligands on a recently deorphanized Gαi receptor (OXER1). This approach could be a valuable tool for initial in silico validation and design of GPRC-interacting ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Papachristofi
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantina Kalyvianaki
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Malamos
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | | | - George Notas
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | | | - Elias Castanas
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Marilena Kampa
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
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11
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Sutkeviciute I, Vilardaga JP. Structural insights into emergent signaling modes of G protein-coupled receptors. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:11626-11642. [PMID: 32571882 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.009348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of cell membrane proteins, with >800 GPCRs in humans alone, and recognize highly diverse ligands, ranging from photons to large protein molecules. Very important to human medicine, GPCRs are targeted by about 35% of prescription drugs. GPCRs are characterized by a seven-transmembrane α-helical structure, transmitting extracellular signals into cells to regulate major physiological processes via heterotrimeric G proteins and β-arrestins. Initially viewed as receptors whose signaling via G proteins is delimited to the plasma membrane, it is now recognized that GPCRs signal also at various intracellular locations, and the mechanisms and (patho)physiological relevance of such signaling modes are actively investigated. The propensity of GPCRs to adopt different signaling modes is largely encoded in the structural plasticity of the receptors themselves and of their signaling complexes. Here, we review emerging modes of GPCR signaling via endosomal membranes and the physiological implications of such signaling modes. We further summarize recent structural insights into mechanisms of GPCR activation and signaling. We particularly emphasize the structural mechanisms governing the continued GPCR signaling from endosomes and the structural aspects of the GPCR resensitization mechanism and discuss the recently uncovered and important roles of lipids in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Sutkeviciute
- Laboratory for GPCR Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Vilardaga
- Laboratory for GPCR Biology, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Yin J, Chen KYM, Clark MJ, Hijazi M, Kumari P, Bai XC, Sunahara RK, Barth P, Rosenbaum DM. Structure of a D2 dopamine receptor-G-protein complex in a lipid membrane. Nature 2020; 584:125-129. [PMID: 32528175 PMCID: PMC7415663 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) is a therapeutic target for Parkinson’s disease1 and antipsychotic drugs2. DRD2 is activated by the endogenous neurotransmitter dopamine and synthetic agonist drugs such as bromocriptine3, leading to stimulation of Gi and inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. We used cryo-electron microscopy to elucidate the structure of an agonist-bound activated DRD2-Gi complex reconstituted into a phospholipid membrane. The extracellular ligand binding site of DRD2 is remodeled in response to agonist binding, with conformational changes in extracellular loop 2 (ECL2), transmembrane domain 5 (TM5), TM6, and TM7 propagating to opening of the intracellular Gi binding site. The DRD2-Gi structure represents the first experimental model of a GPCR-G protein complex embedded in a phospholipid bilayer, which serves as a benchmark to validate the interactions seen in previous detergent-bound structures. The structure also reveals interactions that are unique to the membrane-embedded complex, including helix 8 burial in the inner leaflet, ordered lysine and arginine sidechains in the membrane interfacial regions, and lipid anchoring of the G protein in the membrane. Our model of the activated DRD2 will help inform the design of subtype-selective DRD2 ligands for multiple human CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yin
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kuang-Yui M Chen
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mary J Clark
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mahdi Hijazi
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Punita Kumari
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xiao-Chen Bai
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Roger K Sunahara
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Patrick Barth
- Institute of Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Daniel M Rosenbaum
- Department of Biophysics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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13
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Ravotto L, Duffet L, Zhou X, Weber B, Patriarchi T. A Bright and Colorful Future for G-Protein Coupled Receptor Sensors. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:67. [PMID: 32265667 PMCID: PMC7098945 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurochemicals have a large impact on brain states and animal behavior but are notoriously hard to detect accurately in the living brain. Recently developed genetically encoded sensors obtained from engineering a circularly permuted green fluorescent protein into G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) provided a vital boost to neuroscience, by innovating the way we monitor neural communication. These new probes are becoming widely successful due to their flexible combination with state of the art optogenetic tools and in vivo imaging techniques, mainly fiber photometry and 2-photon microscopy, to dissect dynamic changes in brain chemicals with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we highlight current approaches and challenges as well as novel insights in the process of GPCR sensor development, and discuss possible future directions of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ravotto
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Loïc Duffet
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xuehan Zhou
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tommaso Patriarchi
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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14
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Protein Structure Prediction and Design in a Biologically Realistic Implicit Membrane. Biophys J 2020; 118:2042-2055. [PMID: 32224301 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein design is a powerful tool for elucidating mechanisms of function and engineering new therapeutics and nanotechnologies. Although soluble protein design has advanced, membrane protein design remains challenging because of difficulties in modeling the lipid bilayer. In this work, we developed an implicit approach that captures the anisotropic structure, shape of water-filled pores, and nanoscale dimensions of membranes with different lipid compositions. The model improves performance in computational benchmarks against experimental targets, including prediction of protein orientations in the bilayer, ΔΔG calculations, native structure discrimination, and native sequence recovery. When applied to de novo protein design, this approach designs sequences with an amino acid distribution near the native amino acid distribution in membrane proteins, overcoming a critical flaw in previous membrane models that were prone to generating leucine-rich designs. Furthermore, the proteins designed in the new membrane model exhibit native-like features including interfacial aromatic side chains, hydrophobic lengths compatible with bilayer thickness, and polar pores. Our method advances high-resolution membrane protein structure prediction and design toward tackling key biological questions and engineering challenges.
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15
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Zhou Q, Yang D, Wu M, Guo Y, Guo W, Zhong L, Cai X, Dai A, Jang W, Shakhnovich EI, Liu ZJ, Stevens RC, Lambert NA, Babu MM, Wang MW, Zhao S. Common activation mechanism of class A GPCRs. eLife 2019; 8:e50279. [PMID: 31855179 PMCID: PMC6954041 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) influence virtually every aspect of human physiology. Understanding receptor activation mechanism is critical for discovering novel therapeutics since about one-third of all marketed drugs target members of this family. GPCR activation is an allosteric process that couples agonist binding to G-protein recruitment, with the hallmark outward movement of transmembrane helix 6 (TM6). However, what leads to TM6 movement and the key residue level changes of this movement remain less well understood. Here, we report a framework to quantify conformational changes. By analyzing the conformational changes in 234 structures from 45 class A GPCRs, we discovered a common GPCR activation pathway comprising of 34 residue pairs and 35 residues. The pathway unifies previous findings into a common activation mechanism and strings together the scattered key motifs such as CWxP, DRY, Na+ pocket, NPxxY and PIF, thereby directly linking the bottom of ligand-binding pocket with G-protein coupling region. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments support this proposition and reveal that rational mutations of residues in this pathway can be used to obtain receptors that are constitutively active or inactive. The common activation pathway provides the mechanistic interpretation of constitutively activating, inactivating and disease mutations. As a module responsible for activation, the common pathway allows for decoupling of the evolution of the ligand binding site and G-protein-binding region. Such an architecture might have facilitated GPCRs to emerge as a highly successful family of proteins for signal transduction in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingtong Zhou
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Dehua Yang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Meng Wu
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yu Guo
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wanjing Guo
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Li Zhong
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Antao Dai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Wonjo Jang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Eugene I Shakhnovich
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Nevin A Lambert
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - M Madan Babu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of PharmacyFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
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16
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Chen KYM, Keri D, Barth P. Computational design of G Protein-Coupled Receptor allosteric signal transductions. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 16:77-86. [PMID: 31792443 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0407-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Membrane receptors sense and transduce extracellular stimuli into intracellular signaling responses but the molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood. We report a computational approach for designing protein allosteric signaling functions. By combining molecular dynamics simulations and design calculations, the method engineers amino-acid 'microswitches' at allosteric sites that modulate receptor stability or long-range coupling, to reprogram specific signaling properties. We designed 36 dopamine D2 receptor variants, whose constitutive and ligand-induced signaling agreed well with our predictions, repurposed the D2 receptor into a serotonin biosensor and predicted the signaling effects of more than 100 known G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) mutations. Our results reveal the existence of distinct classes of allosteric microswitches and pathways that define an unforeseen molecular mechanism of regulation and evolution of GPCR signaling. Our approach enables the rational design of allosteric receptors with enhanced stability and function to facilitate structural characterization, and reprogram cellular signaling in synthetic biology and cell engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuang-Yui Michael Chen
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Institute of Bioengineering, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Keri
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Institute of Bioengineering, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Barth
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Institute of Bioengineering, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. .,Structural and Computational Biology and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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17
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Towards functional de novo designed proteins. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2019; 52:102-111. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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18
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Weinstein JY, Elazar A, Fleishman SJ. A lipophilicity-based energy function for membrane-protein modelling and design. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007318. [PMID: 31461441 PMCID: PMC6736313 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Membrane-protein design is an exciting and increasingly successful research area which has led to landmarks including the design of stable and accurate membrane-integral proteins based on coiled-coil motifs. Design of topologically more complex proteins, such as most receptors, channels, and transporters, however, demands an energy function that balances contributions from intra-protein contacts and protein-membrane interactions. Recent advances in water-soluble all-atom energy functions have increased the accuracy in structure-prediction benchmarks. The plasma membrane, however, imposes different physical constraints on protein solvation. To understand these constraints, we recently developed a high-throughput experimental screen, called dsTβL, and inferred apparent insertion energies for each amino acid at dozens of positions across the bacterial plasma membrane. Here, we express these profiles as lipophilicity energy terms in Rosetta and demonstrate that the new energy function outperforms previous ones in modelling and design benchmarks. Rosetta ab initio simulations starting from an extended chain recapitulate two-thirds of the experimentally determined structures of membrane-spanning homo-oligomers with <2.5Å root-mean-square deviation within the top-predicted five models (available online: http://tmhop.weizmann.ac.il). Furthermore, in two sequence-design benchmarks, the energy function improves discrimination of stabilizing point mutations and recapitulates natural membrane-protein sequences of known structure, thereby recommending this new energy function for membrane-protein modelling and design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Assaf Elazar
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sarel Jacob Fleishman
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- * E-mail:
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19
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Importance of protein dynamics in the structure-based drug discovery of class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 55:147-153. [PMID: 31102980 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Demand for novel GPCR modulators is increasing as the association between the GPCR signaling pathway and numerous diseases such as cancers, psychological and metabolic disorders continues to be established. In silico structure-based drug design (SBDD) offers an outlet where researchers could exploit the accumulating structural information of GPCR to expedite the process of drug discovery. The coupling of structure-based approaches such as virtual screening and molecular docking with molecular dynamics and/or Monte Carlo simulation aids in reflecting the dynamics of proteins in nature into previously static docking studies, thus enhancing the accuracy of rationally designed ligands. This review will highlight recent computational strategies that incorporate protein flexibility into SBDD of GPCR-targeted ligands.
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20
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Weiss D, Karpiak J, Huang XP, Sassano MF, Lyu J, Roth BL, Shoichet BK. Selectivity Challenges in Docking Screens for GPCR Targets and Antitargets. J Med Chem 2018; 61:6830-6845. [PMID: 29990431 PMCID: PMC6105036 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
To investigate large library docking's ability to find molecules with joint activity against on-targets and selectivity versus antitargets, the dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors were targeted, seeking selectivity against the histamine H1 receptor. In a second campaign, κ-opioid receptor ligands were sought with selectivity versus the μ-opioid receptor. While hit rates ranged from 40% to 63% against the on-targets, they were just as good against the antitargets, even though the molecules were selected for their putative lack of binding to the off-targets. Affinities, too, were often as good or better for the off-targets. Even though it was occasionally possible to find selective molecules, such as a mid-nanomolar D2/5-HT2A ligand with 21-fold selectivity versus the H1 receptor, this was the exception. Whereas false-negatives are tolerable in docking screens against on-targets, they are intolerable against antitargets; addressing this problem may demand new strategies in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahlia
R. Weiss
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
| | - Joel Karpiak
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department
of Pharmacology and National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive
Drug Screening Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Maria F. Sassano
- Department
of Pharmacology and National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive
Drug Screening Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jiankun Lyu
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
| | - Bryan L. Roth
- Department
of Pharmacology and National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive
Drug Screening Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University
of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
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21
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Keri D, Barth P. Reprogramming G protein coupled receptor structure and function. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2018; 51:187-194. [PMID: 30055347 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The prominence of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in human physiology and disease has resulted in their intense study in various fields of research ranging from neuroscience to structural biology. With over 800 members in the human genome and their involvement in a myriad of diseases, GPCRs are the single largest family of drug targets, and an ever-present interest exists in further drug discovery and structural characterization efforts. However, low GPCR expression and stability outside the natural lipid environments have challenged these efforts. In vivo functional studies of GPCR signaling are complicated not only by the need for specific spatiotemporal activation, but also by downstream effector promiscuity. In this review, we summarize the present and emerging GPCR engineering methods that have been employed to overcome the challenges involved in receptor characterization, and to better understand the functional role of these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Keri
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - P Barth
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne Branch, 1066 Lausanne, Switzerland; Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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22
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Computational design of orthogonal membrane receptor-effector switches for rewiring signaling pathways. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:7051-7056. [PMID: 29915030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1718489115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane receptors regulate numerous intracellular functions. However, the molecular underpinnings remain poorly understood because most receptors initiate multiple signaling pathways through distinct interaction interfaces that are structurally uncharacterized. We present an integrated computational and experimental approach to model and rationally engineer membrane receptor-intracellular protein systems signaling with novel pathway selectivity. We targeted the dopamine D2 receptor (D2), a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), which primarily signals through Gi, but triggers also the Gq and beta-arrestin pathways. Using this approach, we designed orthogonal D2-Gi complexes, which coupled with high specificity and triggered exclusively the Gi-dependent signaling pathway. We also engineered an orthogonal chimeric D2-Gs/i complex that rewired D2 signaling from a Gi-mediated inhibitory into a Gs-dependent activating pathway. Reinterpreting the evolutionary history of GPCRs in light of the designed proteins, we uncovered an unforeseen hierarchical code of GPCR-G-protein coupling selectivity determinants. The results demonstrate that membrane receptor-cytosolic protein systems can be rationally engineered to regulate mammalian cellular functions. The method should prove useful for creating orthogonal molecular switches that redirect signals at the cell surface for cell-engineering applications.
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23
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Li H, Sun W, Deng M, Qi C, Chen C, Zhu H, Luo Z, Wang J, Xue Y, Zhang Y. Asperversins A and B, Two Novel Meroterpenoids with an Unusual 5/6/6/6 Ring from the Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16060177. [PMID: 29882867 PMCID: PMC6025407 DOI: 10.3390/md16060177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Asperversins A (1) and B (2), two novel meroterpenoids featuring an uncommon 5/6/6/6 ring system, along with five new analogues (3⁻7) and a known compound asperdemin (8), were obtained from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Their structures and absolute configurations were confirmed by extensive spectroscopic analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. All new compounds were tested for their acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) inhibitory activities and cytotoxic activities, of which compound 7 displayed moderate inhibitory activity against the AChE with an IC50 value of 13.6 μM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqiang Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Weiguang Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Mengyi Deng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Changxing Qi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Chunmei Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Hucheng Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Zengwei Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Jianping Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Yongbo Xue
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Yonghui Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry and Resource Evaluation, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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24
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Setiawan D, Brender J, Zhang Y. Recent advances in automated protein design and its future challenges. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:587-604. [PMID: 29695210 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1465922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein function is determined by protein structure which is in turn determined by the corresponding protein sequence. If the rules that cause a protein to adopt a particular structure are understood, it should be possible to refine or even redefine the function of a protein by working backwards from the desired structure to the sequence. Automated protein design attempts to calculate the effects of mutations computationally with the goal of more radical or complex transformations than are accessible by experimental techniques. Areas covered: The authors give a brief overview of the recent methodological advances in computer-aided protein design, showing how methodological choices affect final design and how automated protein design can be used to address problems considered beyond traditional protein engineering, including the creation of novel protein scaffolds for drug development. Also, the authors address specifically the future challenges in the development of automated protein design. Expert opinion: Automated protein design holds potential as a protein engineering technique, particularly in cases where screening by combinatorial mutagenesis is problematic. Considering solubility and immunogenicity issues, automated protein design is initially more likely to make an impact as a research tool for exploring basic biology in drug discovery than in the design of protein biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dani Setiawan
- a Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Jeffrey Brender
- b Radiation Biology Branch , Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute - NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- a Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,c Department of Biological Chemistry , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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Guo Y, Zhang N, Sun W, Duan X, Zhang Q, Zhou Q, Chen C, Zhu H, Luo Z, Liu J, Li XN, Xue Y, Zhang Y. Bioactive polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum perforatum. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 16:8130-8143. [DOI: 10.1039/c8ob02067a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Fifteen new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols with dual-targeted inhibitory activities for Alzheimer's disease, were isolated from Hypericum perforatum.
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Cao J, Gao L, Chen Y, Sun W, Wang F, Li H, Zhang Y. Citrinal B, natural 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogennase type 1 inhibitor identified from structure-based virtual screening. Fitoterapia 2017; 123:29-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Reprogramming cellular functions with engineered membrane proteins. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 47:92-101. [PMID: 28709113 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Taking inspiration from Nature, synthetic biology utilizes and modifies biological components to expand the range of biological functions for engineering new practical devices and therapeutics. While early breakthroughs mainly concerned the design of gene circuits, recent efforts have focused on engineering signaling pathways to reprogram cellular functions. Since signal transduction across cell membranes initiates and controls intracellular signaling, membrane receptors have been targeted by diverse protein engineering approaches despite limited mechanistic understanding of their function. The modular architecture of several receptor families has enabled the empirical construction of chimeric receptors combining domains from distinct native receptors which have found successful immunotherapeutic applications. Meanwhile, progress in membrane protein structure determination, computational modeling and rational design promise to foster the engineering of a broader range of membrane receptor functions. Marrying empirical and rational membrane protein engineering approaches should enable the reprogramming of cells with widely diverse fine-tuned functions.
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