1
|
Lu Y, Hatzipantelis CJ, Langmead CJ, Stewart GD. Molecular insights into orphan G protein-coupled receptors relevant to schizophrenia. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2095-2113. [PMID: 37605621 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia remains a sizable socio-economic burden that continues to be treated with therapeutics based on 70-year old science. All currently approved therapeutics primarily target the dopamine D2 receptor to achieve their efficacy. Whilst dopaminergic dysregulation is a key feature in this disorder, the targeting of dopaminergic machinery has yielded limited efficacy and an appreciable side effect burden. Over the recent decades, numerous drugs that engage non-dopaminergic G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have yielded a promise of efficacy without the deleterious side effect profile, yet none have successfully completed clinical studies and progressed to the market. More recently, there has been increased attention around non-dopaminergic GPCR-targeting drugs, which demonstrated efficacy in some schizophrenia symptom domains. This provides renewed hope that effective schizophrenia treatment may lie outside of the dopaminergic space. Despite the potential for muscarinic receptor- (and other well-characterised GPCR families) targeting drugs to treat schizophrenia, they are often plagued with complications such as lack of receptor subtype selectivity and peripheral on-target side effects. Orphan GPCR studies have opened a new avenue of exploration with many demonstrating schizophrenia-relevant mechanisms and a favourable expression profile, thus offering potential for novel drug development. This review discusses centrally expressed orphan GPCRs: GPR3, GPR6, GPR12, GPR52, GPR85, GPR88 and GPR139 and their relationship to schizophrenia. We review their expression, signalling mechanisms and cellular function, in conjunction with small molecule development and structural insights. We seek to provide a snapshot of the growing evidence and development potential of new classes of schizophrenia therapeutics. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Therapeutic Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: hot topics from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.14/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Lu
- Drug Discovery Biology and Neuroscience & Mental Health Therapeutic Program Area, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | | | - Christopher J Langmead
- Drug Discovery Biology and Neuroscience & Mental Health Therapeutic Program Area, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- Phrenix Therapeutics, Parkville, Australia
| | - Gregory D Stewart
- Drug Discovery Biology and Neuroscience & Mental Health Therapeutic Program Area, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
- Phrenix Therapeutics, Parkville, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Szwabowski GL, Griffing M, Mugabe EJ, O'Malley D, Baker LN, Baker DL, Parrill AL. G Protein-Coupled Receptor-Ligand Pose and Functional Class Prediction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6876. [PMID: 38999982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) transmembrane protein family members play essential roles in physiology. Numerous pharmaceuticals target GPCRs, and many drug discovery programs utilize virtual screening (VS) against GPCR targets. Improvements in the accuracy of predicting new molecules that bind to and either activate or inhibit GPCR function would accelerate such drug discovery programs. This work addresses two significant research questions. First, do ligand interaction fingerprints provide a substantial advantage over automated methods of binding site selection for classical docking? Second, can the functional status of prospective screening candidates be predicted from ligand interaction fingerprints using a random forest classifier? Ligand interaction fingerprints were found to offer modest advantages in sampling accurate poses, but no substantial advantage in the final set of top-ranked poses after scoring, and, thus, were not used in the generation of the ligand-receptor complexes used to train and test the random forest classifier. A binary classifier which treated agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists as active and all other ligands as inactive proved highly effective in ligand function prediction in an external test set of GPR31 and TAAR2 candidate ligands with a hit rate of 82.6% actual actives within the set of predicted actives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Makenzie Griffing
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Elijah J Mugabe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Daniel O'Malley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Lindsey N Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Daniel L Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Abby L Parrill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang T, Tang W, Zhao Z, Zhao R, Lv Z, Guo X, Gu Q, Liu B, Lv H, Chen J, Zhang K, Li F, Wang J. Fenofibrate Recognition and G q Protein Coupling Mechanisms of the Human Cannabinoid Receptor CB1. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306311. [PMID: 38298116 PMCID: PMC11005724 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The G-protein-coupled human cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) is a promising therapeutic target for pain management, inflammation, obesity, and substance abuse disorders. The structures of CB1-Gi complexes in synthetic agonist-bound forms have been resolved to date. However, the commercial drug recognition and Gq coupling mechanisms of CB1 remain elusive. Herein, the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of CB1-Gq complex, in fenofibrate-bound form, at near-atomic resolution, is reported. The structure elucidates the delicate mechanisms of the precise fenofibrate recognition and Gq protein coupling by CB1 and will facilitate future drug discovery and design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianxin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyInstitute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen518055China
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech University393 Middle Huaxia RoadPudongShanghai201210China
| | - Wenqin Tang
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Ziyi Zhao
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Ran Zhao
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Zhenyu Lv
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Xuzhen Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering BiologyInstitute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen518055China
| | - Quanchang Gu
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Boxiang Liu
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech University393 Middle Huaxia RoadPudongShanghai201210China
| | - Haoyu Lv
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech University393 Middle Huaxia RoadPudongShanghai201210China
| | - Jiayan Chen
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech University393 Middle Huaxia RoadPudongShanghai201210China
| | - Kaiquan Zhang
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Fahui Li
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Jiangyun Wang
- Institute of BiophysicsChinese Academy of Sciences15 Datun RoadChaoyang DistrictBeijing100101China
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100049China
- Key Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang R, Chen J. Research progress on the role of orphan receptor GPR139 in neuropsychiatric behaviours. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 960:176150. [PMID: 38059447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176150] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) holds much promise for increasing our understanding of neuropsychiatric diseases and for the development of new therapeutic strategies for these diseases. GPR139 is an orphan GPCR expressed in the central nervous system, especially in areas of the brain that control movement, motivation, and reward, and those that regulate neuropsychiatric behaviour. This review provides information about the discovery, tissue expression, signal transduction pathways, and physiological functions of GPR139, as well as how GPR139 interacts with other GPCRs, which form heteromeric complexes that affect their pharmacology and function. We also discuss the utility and therapeutic potential of ligands that target GPR139, including the pharmacological properties of reported agonists and antagonists. Finally, we highlight the pathologic role of GPR139 in neuropsychiatric behaviour and its potential as a therapeutic target in neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rumin Zhang
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Neurobiology Key Laboratory of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; School of Mental Health, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China; Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV47AL, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mao J, Cui Y, Wang H, Duan W, Liu ZJ, Hua T, Zhou N, Cheng J. Design and Synthesis of Novel GPR139 Agonists with Therapeutic Effects in Mouse Models of Social Interaction and Cognitive Impairment. J Med Chem 2023; 66:14011-14028. [PMID: 37830160 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
The GPR139 receptor is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) mainly found in the central nervous system and is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of schizophrenia and drug addiction. Guided by the reported structure of GPR139, we conducted medicinal chemistry optimizations of TAK-041, the GPR139 agonist in clinical trials. New compounds with three different core structures were designed and synthesized, and their activity at GPR139 was evaluated. Among them, compounds 15a (EC50 = 31.4 nM) and 20a (EC50 = 24.7 nM) showed potent agonist activity at GPR139 and good pharmacokinetic properties. In murine schizophrenia models, both compounds rescued the social interaction deficits observed in BALB/c mice. Compound 20a also alleviated cognitive deficits in mice with a pharmacologically induced model of schizophrenia. These findings further demonstrated the potential of GPR139 agonists in alleviating the negative symptoms and cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Compound 20a is worth further evaluation as an antischizophrenia drug candidate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhang Mao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yilong Cui
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Huan Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wenwen Duan
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tian Hua
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ning Zhou
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu H, Zhang Q, He X, Jiang M, Wang S, Yan X, Cheng X, Liu Y, Nan FJ, Xu HE, Xie X, Yin W. Structural insights into ligand recognition and activation of the medium-chain fatty acid-sensing receptor GPR84. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3271. [PMID: 37277332 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38985-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR84 is an orphan class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is predominantly expressed in immune cells and plays important roles in inflammation, fibrosis, and metabolism. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Gαi protein-coupled human GPR84 bound to a synthetic lipid-mimetic ligand, LY237, or a putative endogenous ligand, a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) 3-hydroxy lauric acid (3-OH-C12). Analysis of these two ligand-bound structures reveals a unique hydrophobic nonane tail -contacting patch, which forms a blocking wall to select MCFA-like agonists with the correct length. We also identify the structural features in GPR84 that coordinate the polar ends of LY237 and 3-OH-C12, including the interactions with the positively charged side chain of R172 and the downward movement of the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2). Together with molecular dynamics simulations and functional data, our structures reveal that ECL2 not only contributes to direct ligand binding, but also plays a pivotal role in ligand entry from the extracellular milieu. These insights into the structure and function of GPR84 could improve our understanding of ligand recognition, receptor activation, and Gαi-coupling of GPR84. Our structures could also facilitate rational drug discovery against inflammation and metabolic disorders targeting GPR84.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310024, Hangzhou, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, 264117, Yantai, Shandong, China
- National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinheng He
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Mengting Jiang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Siwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoci Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310024, Hangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - Fa-Jun Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310024, Hangzhou, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, 264117, Yantai, Shandong, China
- National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China
| | - H Eric Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 210023, Nanjing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 310024, Hangzhou, China.
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, 264117, Yantai, Shandong, China.
- National Center for Drug Screening, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 201203, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
| | - Wanchao Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China.
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 528400, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gusach A, García-Nafría J, Tate CG. New insights into GPCR coupling and dimerisation from cryo-EM structures. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 80:102574. [PMID: 36963163 PMCID: PMC10423944 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Over the past three years (2020-2022) more structures of GPCRs have been determined than in the previous twenty years (2000-2019), primarily of GPCR complexes that are large enough for structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM. This review will present some structural highlights that have advanced our molecular understanding of promiscuous G protein coupling, how a G protein receptor kinase and β-arrestins couple to GPCRs, and GPCR dimerisation. We will also discuss advances in the use of gene fusions, nanobodies, and Fab fragments to facilitate the structure determination of GPCRs in the inactive state that, on their own, are too small for structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Gusach
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK. https://twitter.com/GusachAnastasia
| | - Javier García-Nafría
- Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI) and Laboratorio de Microscopías Avanzadas (LMA), University of Zaragoza, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain. https://twitter.com/JGarciaNafria
| | - Christopher G Tate
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Pallareti L, Rath TF, Trapkov B, Tsonkov T, Nielsen AT, Harpsøe K, Gentry PR, Bräuner-Osborne H, Gloriam DE, Foster SR. Pharmacological characterization of novel small molecule agonists and antagonists for the orphan receptor GPR139. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 943:175553. [PMID: 36736525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR139 is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system and has attracted considerable interest as a therapeutic target. However, the biological role of this receptor remains somewhat elusive, in part due to the lack of quality pharmacological tools to investigate GPR139 function. In an effort to understand GPR139 signaling and to identify improved compounds, in this study we performed virtual screening and analog searches, in combination with multiple pharmacological assays. We characterized GPR139-dependent signaling using previously published reference agonists in Ca2+ mobilization and inositol monophosphate accumulation assays, as well as a novel real-time GPR139 internalization assay. For the four reference agonists tested, the rank order of potency was conserved across signaling and internalization assays: JNJ-63533054 > Compound 1a » Takeda > AC4 > DL43, consistent with previously reported values. We noted an increased efficacy of JNJ-63533054-mediated inositol monophosphate signaling and internalization, relative to Compound 1a. We then performed virtual screening for GPR139 agonist and antagonist compounds that were screened and validated in GPR139 functional assays. We identified four GPR139 agonists that were active in all assays, with similar or reduced potency relative to known compounds. Likewise, compound analogs selected based on GPR139 agonist and antagonist substructure searches behaved similarly to their parent compounds. Thus, we have characterized GPR139 signaling for multiple new ligands using G protein-dependent assays and a new real-time internalization assay. These data add to the GPR139 tool compound repertoire, which could be optimized in future medical chemistry campaigns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pallareti
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tine F Rath
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Boris Trapkov
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tsonko Tsonkov
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Thorup Nielsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Harpsøe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick R Gentry
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Bräuner-Osborne
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David E Gloriam
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Simon R Foster
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Cardiovascular Disease Program, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin X, Jiang S, Wu Y, Wei X, Han GW, Wu L, Liu J, Chen B, Zhang Z, Zhao S, Cherezov V, Xu F. The activation mechanism and antibody binding mode for orphan GPR20. Cell Discov 2023; 9:23. [PMID: 36849514 PMCID: PMC9971246 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00520-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR20 is a class-A orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and a potential therapeutic target for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) owing to its differentially high expression. An antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) containing a GPR20-binding antibody (Ab046) was recently developed in clinical trials for GIST treatment. GPR20 constitutively activates Gi proteins in the absence of any known ligand, but it remains obscure how this high basal activity is achieved. Here we report three cryo-EM structures of human GPR20 complexes including Gi-coupled GPR20 in the absence or presence of the Fab fragment of Ab046 and Gi-free GPR20. Remarkably, the structures demonstrate a uniquely folded N-terminal helix capping onto the transmembrane domain and our mutagenesis study suggests a key role of this cap region in stimulating the basal activity of GPR20. We also uncover the molecular interactions between GPR20 and Ab046, which may enable the design of tool antibodies with enhanced affinity or new functionality for GPR20. Furthermore, we report the orthosteric pocket occupied by an unassigned density which might be essential for exploring opportunities for deorphanization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Lin
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wu
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohu Wei
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gye-Won Han
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Lijie Wu
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Junlin Liu
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Chen
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhibin Zhang
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China ,grid.440637.20000 0004 4657 8879School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences, Bridge Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Fei Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Pudong, Shanghai, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Franchini L, Orlandi C. Probing the orphan receptors: Tools and directions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2023; 195:47-76. [PMID: 36707155 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The endogenous ligands activating a large fraction of the G Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) family members have yet to be identified. These receptors are commonly labeled as orphans (oGPCRs), and because of the absence of available pharmacological tools they are currently understudied. Nonetheless, genome wide association studies, together with research using animal models identified many physiological functions regulated by oGPCRs. Similarly, mutations in some oGPCRs have been associated with rare genetic disorders or with an increased risk of developing pathologies. The once underestimated pharmacological potential of targeting oGPCRs is increasingly being exploited by the development of novel tools to understand their biology and by drug discovery endeavors aimed at identifying new modulators of their activity. Here, we summarize recent advancements in the field of oGPCRs and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luca Franchini
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Cesare Orlandi
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ligand recognition and activation of neuromedin U receptor 2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7955. [PMID: 36575163 PMCID: PMC9794833 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34814-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromedin U receptor 2 (NMU2), an emerging attractive target for treating obesity, has shown the capability in reducing food intake and regulating energy metabolism when activated. However, drug development of NMU2 was deferred partially due to the lack of structural information. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of NMU2 bound to the endogenous agonist NmU-25 and Gi1 at 3.3 Å resolution. Combined with functional and computational data, the structure reveals the key factors that govern the recognition and selectivity of peptide agonist as well as non-peptide antagonist, providing the structural basis for design of novel and highly selective drugs targeting NMU2. In addition, a 25-degree rotation of Gi protein in reference to NMU2 is also observed compared in other structures of class A GPCR-Gi complexes, suggesting heterogeneity in the processes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activation and G protein coupling.
Collapse
|
12
|
The full activation mechanism of the adenosine A 1 receptor revealed by GaMD and Su-GaMD simulations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203702119. [PMID: 36215480 PMCID: PMC9586258 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203702119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The full activation process of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) plays an important role in cellular signal transduction. However, it remains challenging to simulate the whole process in which the GPCR is recognized and activated by a ligand and then couples to the G protein on a reasonable simulation timescale. Here, we developed a molecular dynamics (MD) approach named supervised (Su) Gaussian accelerated MD (GaMD) by incorporating a tabu-like supervision algorithm into a standard GaMD simulation. By using this Su-GaMD method, from the active and inactive structure of adenosine A1 receptor (A1R), we successfully revealed the full activation mechanism of A1R, including adenosine (Ado)-A1R recognition, preactivation of A1R, and A1R-G protein recognition, in hundreds of nanoseconds of simulations. The binding of Ado to the extracellular side of A1R initiates conformational changes and the preactivation of A1R. In turn, the binding of Gi2 to the intracellular side of A1R causes a decrease in the volume of the extracellular orthosteric site and stabilizes the binding of Ado to A1R. Su-GaMD could be a useful tool to reconstruct or even predict ligand-protein and protein-protein recognition pathways on a short timescale. The intermediate states revealed in this study could provide more detailed complementary structural characterizations to facilitate the drug design of A1R in the future.
Collapse
|
13
|
Xu W, Wu L, Liu S, Liu X, Cao X, Zhou C, Zhang J, Fu Y, Guo Y, Wu Y, Tan Q, Wang L, Liu J, Jiang L, Fan Z, Pei Y, Yu J, Cheng J, Zhao S, Hao X, Liu ZJ, Hua T. Structural basis for strychnine activation of human bitter taste receptor TAS2R46. Science 2022; 377:1298-1304. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abo1633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Taste sensing is a sophisticated chemosensory process, and bitter taste perception is mediated by type 2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs), or class T G protein–coupled receptors. Understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms behind taste sensation is hindered by a lack of experimental receptor structures. Here, we report the cryo–electron microscopy structures of human TAS2R46 complexed with chimeric mini–G protein gustducin, in both strychnine-bound and apo forms. Several features of TAS2R46 are disclosed, including distinct receptor structures that compare with known GPCRs, a new “toggle switch,” activation-related motifs, and precoupling with mini–G protein gustducin. Furthermore, the dynamic extracellular and more-static intracellular parts of TAS2R46 suggest possible diverse ligand-recognition and activation processes. This study provides a basis for further exploration of other bitter taste receptors and their therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weixiu Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Shenhui Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaoling Cao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Cui Zhou
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jinyi Zhang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - You Fu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yu Guo
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Qiwen Tan
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ling Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Junlin Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Longquan Jiang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zhongbo Fan
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Yuan Pei
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jingyi Yu
- School of Information Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xiaojiang Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resource in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650210, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Tian Hua
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| |
Collapse
|