1
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Lyu Y, Fu C, Ma H, Su Z, Sun Z, Zhou X. Engineering of a mammalian VMAT2 for cryo-EM analysis results in non-canonical protein folding. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6511. [PMID: 39095428 PMCID: PMC11297040 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50934-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) belongs to the major facilitator superfamily (MFS), and mediates cytoplasmic monoamine packaging into presynaptic vesicles. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of VMAT2, with a frog VMAT2 adopting a canonical MFS fold and an engineered sheep VMAT2 adopting a non-canonical fold. Both VMAT2 proteins mediate uptake of a selective fluorescent VMAT2 substrate into cells. Molecular docking, substrate binding and transport analysis reveal potential substrate binding mechanism in VMAT2. Meanwhile, caution is advised when interpreting engineered membrane protein structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lyu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Chunting Fu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Haiyun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Zhaoming Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Department of Geriatrics and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Ziyi Sun
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
| | - Xiaoming Zhou
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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2
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Kenakin T. Know your molecule: pharmacological characterization of drug candidates to enhance efficacy and reduce late-stage attrition. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:626-644. [PMID: 38890494 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00958-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Despite advances in chemical, computational and biological sciences, the rate of attrition of drug candidates in clinical development is still high. A key point in the small-molecule discovery process that could provide opportunities to help address this challenge is the pharmacological characterization of hit and lead compounds, culminating in the selection of a drug candidate. Deeper characterization is increasingly important, because the 'quality' of drug efficacy, at least for G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is now understood to be much more than activation of commonly evaluated pathways such as cAMP signalling, with many more 'efficacies' of ligands that could be harnessed therapeutically. Such characterization is being enabled by novel assays to characterize the complex behaviour of GPCRs, such as biased signalling and allosteric modulation, as well as advances in structural biology, such as cryo-electron microscopy. This article discusses key factors in the assessments of the pharmacology of hit and lead compounds in the context of GPCRs as a target class, highlighting opportunities to identify drug candidates with the potential to address limitations of current therapies and to improve the probability of them succeeding in clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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3
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Shihoya W, Iwama A, Sano FK, Nureki O. Cryo-EM advances in GPCR structure determination. J Biochem 2024; 176:1-10. [PMID: 38498911 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvae029] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a prominent superfamily in humans and are categorized into six classes (A-F) that play indispensable roles in cellular communication and therapeutics. Nonetheless, their structural comprehension has been limited by challenges in high-resolution data acquisition. This review highlights the transformative impact of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) on the structural determinations of GPCR-G-protein complexes. Specific technologies, such as nanobodies and mini-G-proteins, stabilize complexes and facilitate structural determination. We discuss the structural alterations upon receptor activation in different GPCR classes, revealing their diverse mechanisms. This review highlights the robust foundation for comprehending GPCR function and pave the way for future breakthroughs in drug discovery and therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Shihoya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Aika Iwama
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Fumiya K Sano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Osamu Nureki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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4
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Cardona-Echavarría MC, Santillán C, Miranda-Blancas R, Stojanoff V, Rudiño-Piñera E. Unveiling success determinants for AMB-assisted phase expansion of fusion proteins in ARP/wARP. J Struct Biol 2024; 216:108089. [PMID: 38537893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2024.108089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Fusion proteins (FPs) are frequently utilized as a biotechnological tool in the determination of macromolecular structures using X-ray methods. Here, we explore the use of different protein tags in various FP, to obtain initial phases by using them in a partial molecular replacement (MR) and constructing the remaining FP structure with ARP/wARP. Usually, the tag is removed prior to crystallization, however leaving the tag on may facilitate crystal formation, and structural determination by expanding phases from known to unknown segments of the complex. In this study, the Protein Data Bank was mined for an up-to-date list of FPs with the most used protein tags, Maltose Binding Protein (MBP), Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), Thioredoxin (TRX), Glutathione transferase (GST) and the Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier Protein (SUMO). Partial MR using the protein tag, followed by automatic model building, was tested on a subset of 116 FP. The efficiency of this method was analyzed and factors that influence the coordinate construction of a substantial portions of the fused protein were identified. Using MBP, GFP, and SUMO as phase generators it was possible to build at least 75 % of the protein of interest in 36 of the 116 cases tested. Our results reveal that tag selection has a significant impact; tags with greater structural stability, such as GFP, increase the success rate. Further statistical analysis identifies that resolution, Wilson B factor, solvent percentage, completeness, multiplicity, protein tag percentage in the FP (considering amino acids), and the linker length play pivotal roles using our approach. In cases where a structural homologous is absent, this method merits inclusion in the toolkit of protein crystallographers.
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Affiliation(s)
- María C Cardona-Echavarría
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62210, Mexico; Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62209, Mexico.
| | | | - Ricardo Miranda-Blancas
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México C.P. 04510, Mexico
| | - Vivian Stojanoff
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973-5000, United States
| | - Enrique Rudiño-Piñera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos C.P. 62210, Mexico.
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5
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Duan J, He XH, Li SJ, Xu HE. Cryo-electron microscopy for GPCR research and drug discovery in endocrinology and metabolism. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2024; 20:349-365. [PMID: 38424377 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-024-00957-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors, with many GPCRs having crucial roles in endocrinology and metabolism. Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionized the field of structural biology, particularly regarding GPCRs, over the past decade. Since the first pair of GPCR structures resolved by cryo-EM were published in 2017, the number of GPCR structures resolved by cryo-EM has surpassed the number resolved by X-ray crystallography by 30%, reaching >650, and the number has doubled every ~0.63 years for the past 6 years. At this pace, it is predicted that the structure of 90% of all human GPCRs will be completed within the next 5-7 years. This Review highlights the general structural features and principles that guide GPCR ligand recognition, receptor activation, G protein coupling, arrestin recruitment and regulation by GPCR kinases. The Review also highlights the diversity of GPCR allosteric binding sites and how allosteric ligands could dictate biased signalling that is selective for a G protein pathway or an arrestin pathway. Finally, the authors use the examples of glycoprotein hormone receptors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor to illustrate the effect of cryo-EM on understanding GPCR biology in endocrinology and metabolism, as well as on GPCR-related endocrine diseases and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Duan
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xin-Heng He
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 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, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
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6
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Khorn PA, Luginina AP, Pospelov VA, Dashevsky DE, Khnykin AN, Moiseeva OV, Safronova NA, Belousov AS, Mishin AV, Borshchevsky VI. Rational Design of Drugs Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: A Structural Biology Perspective. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:747-764. [PMID: 38831510 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924040138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a key role in the transduction of extracellular signals to cells and regulation of many biological processes, which makes these membrane proteins one of the most important targets for pharmacological agents. A significant increase in the number of resolved atomic structures of GPCRs has opened the possibility of developing pharmaceuticals targeting these receptors via structure-based drug design (SBDD). SBDD employs information on the structure of receptor-ligand complexes to search for selective ligands without the need for an extensive high-throughput experimental ligand screening and can significantly expand the chemical space for ligand search. In this review, we describe the process of deciphering GPCR structures using X-ray diffraction analysis and cryoelectron microscopy as an important stage in the rational design of drugs targeting this receptor class. Our main goal was to present modern developments and key features of experimental methods used in SBDD of GPCR-targeting agents to a wide range of specialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina A Khorn
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Aleksandra P Luginina
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Pospelov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Dmitrii E Dashevsky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Andrey N Khnykin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Olga V Moiseeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
- Scryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia
| | - Nadezhda A Safronova
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Anatolii S Belousov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia
| | - Alexey V Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia.
| | - Valentin I Borshchevsky
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, 141701, Russia.
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, Dubna, Moscow Region, 141980, Russia
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7
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Cebi E, Lee J, Subramani VK, Bak N, Oh C, Kim KK. Cryo-electron microscopy-based drug design. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1342179. [PMID: 38501110 PMCID: PMC10945328 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1342179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Structure-based drug design (SBDD) has gained popularity owing to its ability to develop more potent drugs compared to conventional drug-discovery methods. The success of SBDD relies heavily on obtaining the three-dimensional structures of drug targets. X-ray crystallography is the primary method used for solving structures and aiding the SBDD workflow; however, it is not suitable for all targets. With the resolution revolution, enabling routine high-resolution reconstruction of structures, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as a promising alternative and has attracted increasing attention in SBDD. Cryo-EM offers various advantages over X-ray crystallography and can potentially replace X-ray crystallography in SBDD. To fully utilize cryo-EM in drug discovery, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of this technique and noting the key advancements in the field are crucial. This review provides an overview of the general workflow of cryo-EM in SBDD and highlights technical innovations that enable its application in drug design. Furthermore, the most recent achievements in the cryo-EM methodology for drug discovery are discussed, demonstrating the potential of this technique for advancing drug development. By understanding the capabilities and advancements of cryo-EM, researchers can leverage the benefits of designing more effective drugs. This review concludes with a discussion of the future perspectives of cryo-EM-based SBDD, emphasizing the role of this technique in driving innovations in drug discovery and development. The integration of cryo-EM into the drug design process holds great promise for accelerating the discovery of new and improved therapeutic agents to combat various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Changsuk Oh
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Kyu Kim
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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8
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Mao C, Zhao RJ, Dong YJ, Gao M, Chen LN, Zhang C, Xiao P, Guo J, Qin J, Shen DD, Ji SY, Zang SK, Zhang H, Wang WW, Shen Q, Sun JP, Zhang Y. Conformational transitions and activation of the adhesion receptor CD97. Mol Cell 2024; 84:570-583.e7. [PMID: 38215752 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.12.020] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are evolutionarily ancient receptors involved in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Modulators of aGPCR, particularly antagonists, hold therapeutic promise for diseases like cancer and immune and neurological disorders. Hindered by the inactive state structural information, our understanding of antagonist development and aGPCR activation faces challenges. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of human CD97, a prototypical aGPCR that plays crucial roles in immune system, in its inactive apo and G13-bound fully active states. Compared with other family GPCRs, CD97 adopts a compact inactive conformation with a constrained ligand pocket. Activation induces significant conformational changes for both extracellular and intracellular sides, creating larger cavities for Stachel sequence binding and G13 engagement. Integrated with functional and metadynamics analyses, our study provides significant mechanistic insights into the activation and signaling of aGPCRs, paving the way for future drug discovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyou Mao
- Center for Structural Pharmacology and Therapeutics Development, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China.
| | - Ru-Jia Zhao
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Ying-Jun Dong
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingxin Gao
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Li-Nan Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jia Guo
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiao Qin
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Dan-Dan Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China
| | - Su-Yu Ji
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shao-Kun Zang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Huibing Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Wei-Wei Wang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Qingya Shen
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Advanced Medical Research Institute, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Center for Structural Pharmacology and Therapeutics Development, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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9
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Stampelou M, Ladds G, Kolocouris A. Computational Workflow for Refining AlphaFold Models in Drug Design Using Kinetic and Thermodynamic Binding Calculations: A Case Study for the Unresolved Inactive Human Adenosine A 3 Receptor. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:914-936. [PMID: 38236582 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05986] [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: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
A structure-based drug design pipeline that considers both thermodynamic and kinetic binding data of ligands against a receptor will enable the computational design of improved drug molecules. For unresolved GPCR-ligand complexes, a workflow that can apply both thermodynamic and kinetic binding data in combination with alpha-fold (AF)-derived or other homology models and experimentally resolved binding modes of relevant ligands in GPCR-homologs needs to be tested. Here, as test case, we studied a congeneric set of ligands that bind to a structurally unresolved G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the inactive human adenosine A3 receptor (hA3R). We tested three available homology models from which two have been generated from experimental structures of hA1R or hA2AR and one model was a multistate alphafold 2 (AF2)-derived model. We applied alchemical calculations with thermodynamic integration coupled with molecular dynamics (TI/MD) simulations to calculate the experimental relative binding free energies and residence time (τ)-random accelerated MD (τ-RAMD) simulations to calculate the relative residence times (RTs) for antagonists. While the TI/MD calculations produced, for the three homology models, good Pearson correlation coefficients, correspondingly, r = 0.74, 0.62, and 0.67 and mean unsigned error (mue) values of 0.94, 1.31, and 0.81 kcal mol-1, the τ-RAMD method showed r = 0.92 and 0.52 for the first two models but failed to produce accurate results for the multistate AF2-derived model. With subsequent optimization of the AF2-derived model by reorientation of the side chain of R1735.34 located in the extracellular loop 2 (EL2) that blocked ligand's unbinding, the computational model showed r = 0.84 for kinetic data and improved performance for thermodynamic data (r = 0.81, mue = 0.56 kcal mol-1). Overall, after refining the multistate AF2 model with physics-based tools, we were able to show a strong correlation between predicted and experimental ligand relative residence times and affinities, achieving a level of accuracy comparable to an experimental structure. The computational workflow used can be applied to other receptors, helping to rank candidate drugs in a congeneric series and enabling the prioritization of leads with stronger binding affinities and longer residence times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Stampelou
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Graham Ladds
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1PD, U.K
| | - Antonios Kolocouris
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Section of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
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10
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Li H, Sun X, Cui W, Xu M, Dong J, Ekundayo BE, Ni D, Rao Z, Guo L, Stahlberg H, Yuan S, Vogel H. Computational drug development for membrane protein targets. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:229-242. [PMID: 38361054 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01987-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The application of computational biology in drug development for membrane protein targets has experienced a boost from recent developments in deep learning-driven structure prediction, increased speed and resolution of structure elucidation, machine learning structure-based design and the evaluation of big data. Recent protein structure predictions based on machine learning tools have delivered surprisingly reliable results for water-soluble and membrane proteins but have limitations for development of drugs that target membrane proteins. Structural transitions of membrane proteins have a central role during transmembrane signaling and are often influenced by therapeutic compounds. Resolving the structural and functional basis of dynamic transmembrane signaling networks, especially within the native membrane or cellular environment, remains a central challenge for drug development. Tackling this challenge will require an interplay between experimental and computational tools, such as super-resolution optical microscopy for quantification of the molecular interactions of cellular signaling networks and their modulation by potential drugs, cryo-electron microscopy for determination of the structural transitions of proteins in native cell membranes and entire cells, and computational tools for data analysis and prediction of the structure and function of cellular signaling networks, as well as generation of promising drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijian Li
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaolin Sun
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenqiang Cui
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Marc Xu
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junlin Dong
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Babatunde Edukpe Ekundayo
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy, IPHYS, SB, EPFL and Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dongchun Ni
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy, IPHYS, SB, EPFL and Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zhili Rao
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
| | - Liwei Guo
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China
| | - Henning Stahlberg
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy, IPHYS, SB, EPFL and Department of Fundamental Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Shuguang Yuan
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China.
| | - Horst Vogel
- Center for Computer-Aided Drug Discovery, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology/Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT/CAS), Shenzhen, China.
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques (ISIC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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11
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Zhang Z, Lin X, Wei L, Wu Y, Xu L, Wu L, Wei X, Zhao S, Zhu X, Xu F. A framework for Frizzled-G protein coupling and implications to the PCP signaling pathways. Cell Discov 2024; 10:3. [PMID: 38182578 PMCID: PMC10770037 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00627-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The ten Frizzled receptors (FZDs) are essential in Wnt signaling and play important roles in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Among these, FZD6 is closely associated with lens development. Understanding FZD activation mechanism is key to unlock these emerging targets. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of FZD6 and FZD3 which are known to relay non-canonical planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathways as well as FZD1 in their G protein-coupled states and in the apo inactive states, respectively. Comparison of the three inactive/active pairs unveiled a shared activation framework among all ten FZDs. Mutagenesis along with imaging and functional analysis on the human lens epithelial tissues suggested potential crosstalk between the G-protein coupling of FZD6 and the PCP signaling pathways. Together, this study provides an integrated understanding of FZD structure and function, and lays the foundation for developing therapeutic modulators to activate or inhibit FZD signaling for a range of disorders including cancers and cataracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibin Zhang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Lin
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wei
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohu Wei
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangjia Zhu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fei Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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12
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Bernhard SM, Che T. Capturing receptor states with glue. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:6-7. [PMID: 37580553 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01396-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Bernhard
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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13
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Guo Q, He B, Zhong Y, Jiao H, Ren Y, Wang Q, Ge Q, Gao Y, Liu X, Du Y, Hu H, Tao Y. A method for structure determination of GPCRs in various states. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:74-82. [PMID: 37580554 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01389-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of integral membrane proteins that detect environmental cues and trigger cellular responses. Deciphering the functional states of GPCRs induced by various ligands has been one of the primary goals in the field. Here we developed an effective universal method for GPCR cryo-electron microscopy structure determination without the need to prepare GPCR-signaling protein complexes. Using this method, we successfully solved the structures of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) bound to antagonistic and agonistic ligands and the adhesion GPCR ADGRL3 in the apo state. For β2AR, an intermediate state stabilized by the partial agonist was captured. For ADGRL3, the structure revealed that inactive ADGRL3 adopts a compact fold and that large unusual conformational changes on both the extracellular and intracellular sides are required for activation of adhesion GPCRs. We anticipate that this method will open a new avenue for understanding GPCR structure‒function relationships and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Binbin He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yixuan Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Haizhan Jiao
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yinhang Ren
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinggong Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiangqiang Ge
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yongxiang Gao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongli Hu
- Kobilka Institute of Innovative Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Yuyong Tao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Hefei National Center for Cross-Disciplinary Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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14
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Vo ADP, Kim SK, Yang MY, Ondrus AE, Goddard WA. Fully activated structure of the sterol-bound Smoothened GPCR-Gi protein complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300919120. [PMID: 38015850 PMCID: PMC10710022 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300919120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Smoothened (SMO) is an oncoprotein and signal transducer in the Hedgehog signaling pathway that regulates cellular differentiation and embryogenesis. As a member of the Frizzled (Class F) family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), SMO biochemically and functionally interacts with Gi family proteins. However, key molecular features of fully activated, G protein-coupled SMO remain elusive. We present the atomistic structure of activated human SMO complexed with the heterotrimeric Gi protein and two sterol ligands, equilibrated at 310 K in a full lipid bilayer at physiological salt concentration and pH. In contrast to previous experimental structures, our equilibrated SMO complex exhibits complete breaking of the pi-cation interaction between R4516.32 and W5357.55, a hallmark of Class F receptor activation. The Gi protein couples to SMO at seven strong anchor points similar to those in Class A GPCRs: intracellular loop 1, intracellular loop 2, transmembrane helix 6, and helix 8. On the path to full activation, we find that the extracellular cysteine-rich domain (CRD) undergoes a dramatic tilt, following a trajectory suggested by positions of the CRD in active and inactive experimental SMO structures. Strikingly, a sterol ligand bound to a shallow transmembrane domain (TMD) site in the initial structure migrates to a deep TMD pocket found exclusively in activator-bound SMO complexes. Thus, our results indicate that SMO interacts with Gi prior to full activation to break the molecular lock, form anchors with Gi subunits, tilt the CRD, and facilitate migration of a sterol ligand in the TMD to an activated position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy-Doan P. Vo
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
| | - Soo-Kyung Kim
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
| | - Moon Young Yang
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
| | - Alison E. Ondrus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
| | - William A. Goddard
- Materials and Process Simulation Center, Division of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA91125
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15
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Cheng L, Xia F, Li Z, Shen C, Yang Z, Hou H, Sun S, Feng Y, Yong X, Tian X, Qin H, Yan W, Shao Z. Structure, function and drug discovery of GPCR signaling. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2023; 4:46. [PMID: 38047990 PMCID: PMC10695916 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-023-00156-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are versatile and vital proteins involved in a wide array of physiological processes and responses, such as sensory perception (e.g., vision, taste, and smell), immune response, hormone regulation, and neurotransmission. Their diverse and essential roles in the body make them a significant focus for pharmaceutical research and drug development. Currently, approximately 35% of marketed drugs directly target GPCRs, underscoring their prominence as therapeutic targets. Recent advances in structural biology have substantially deepened our understanding of GPCR activation mechanisms and interactions with G-protein and arrestin signaling pathways. This review offers an in-depth exploration of both traditional and recent methods in GPCR structure analysis. It presents structure-based insights into ligand recognition and receptor activation mechanisms and delves deeper into the mechanisms of canonical and noncanonical signaling pathways downstream of GPCRs. Furthermore, it highlights recent advancements in GPCR-related drug discovery and development. Particular emphasis is placed on GPCR selective drugs, allosteric and biased signaling, polyphamarcology, and antibody drugs. Our goal is to provide researchers with a thorough and updated understanding of GPCR structure determination, signaling pathway investigation, and drug development. This foundation aims to propel forward-thinking therapeutic approaches that target GPCRs, drawing upon the latest insights into GPCR ligand selectivity, activation, and biased signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ziyan Li
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chenglong Shen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqian Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Hanlin Hou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Suyue Sun
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuying Feng
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xihao Yong
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaowen Tian
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongxi Qin
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
- Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Frontiers Medical Center, Chengdu, 610212, China.
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16
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Luginina A, Maslov I, Khorn P, Volkov O, Khnykin A, Kuzmichev P, Shevtsov M, Belousov A, Kapranov I, Dashevskii D, Kornilov D, Bestsennaia E, Hofkens J, Hendrix J, Gensch T, Cherezov V, Ivanovich V, Mishin A, Borshchevskiy V. Functional GPCR Expression in Eukaryotic LEXSY System. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168310. [PMID: 37806553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168310] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest superfamily of membrane proteins in the human genome, and represent one of the most important classes of drug targets. Their structural studies facilitate rational drug discovery. However, atomic structures of only about 20% of human GPCRs have been solved to date. Recombinant production of GPCRs for structural studies at a large scale is challenging due to their low expression levels and stability. Therefore, in this study, we explored the efficacy of the eukaryotic system LEXSY (Leishmania tarentolae) for GPCR production. We selected the human A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR), as a model protein, expressed it in LEXSY, purified it, and compared with the same receptor produced in insect cells, which is the most popular expression system for structural studies of GPCRs. The A2AAR purified from both expression systems showed similar purity, stability, ligand-induced conformational changes and structural dynamics, with a remarkably higher protein yield in the case of LEXSY expression. Overall, our results suggest that LEXSY is a promising platform for large-scale production of GPCRs for structural studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Luginina
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Ivan Maslov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia; Dynamic Bioimaging Lab, Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre, Biomedical Research Institute, Agoralaan C (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Polina Khorn
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | | | - Andrey Khnykin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Pavel Kuzmichev
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Mikhail Shevtsov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Anatoliy Belousov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Ivan Kapranov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Dmitrii Dashevskii
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Daniil Kornilov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Bestsennaia
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Johan Hofkens
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jelle Hendrix
- Dynamic Bioimaging Lab, Advanced Optical Microscopy Centre, Biomedical Research Institute, Agoralaan C (BIOMED), Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas Gensch
- Laboratory for Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Division for Molecular Imaging and Photonics, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Bridge Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Valentin Ivanovich
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Alexey Mishin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Valentin Borshchevskiy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia; Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia.
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17
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Xia A, Yong X, Zhang C, Lin G, Jia G, Zhao C, Wang X, Hao Y, Wang Y, Zhou P, Yang X, Deng Y, Wu C, Chen Y, Zhu J, Tang X, Liu J, Zhang S, Zhang J, Xu Z, Hu Q, Zhao J, Yue Y, Yan W, Su Z, Wei Y, Zhou R, Dong H, Shao Z, Yang S. Cryo-EM structures of human GPR34 enable the identification of selective antagonists. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308435120. [PMID: 37733739 PMCID: PMC10523607 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308435120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR34 is a functional G-protein-coupled receptor of Lysophosphatidylserine (LysoPS), and has pathogenic roles in numerous diseases, yet remains poorly targeted. We herein report a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of GPR34 bound with LysoPS (18:1) and Gi protein, revealing a unique ligand recognition mode with the negatively charged head group of LysoPS occupying a polar cavity formed by TM3, 6 and 7, and the hydrophobic tail of LysoPS residing in a lateral open hydrophobic groove formed by TM3-5. Virtual screening and subsequent structural optimization led to the identification of a highly potent and selective antagonist (YL-365). Design of fusion proteins allowed successful determination of the challenging cryo-EM structure of the inactive GPR34 complexed with YL-365, which revealed the competitive binding of YL-365 in a portion of the orthosteric binding pocket of GPR34 and the antagonist-binding-induced allostery in the receptor, implicating the inhibition mechanism of YL-365. Moreover, YL-365 displayed excellent activity in a neuropathic pain model without obvious toxicity. Collectively, this study offers mechanistic insights into the endogenous agonist recognition and antagonist inhibition of GPR34, and provides proof of concept that targeting GPR34 represents a promising strategy for disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjie Xia
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
- Department of Ophthalmology and Research Laboratory of Macular Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Xihao Yong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Changbin Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Guifeng Lin
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Guowen Jia
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Chang Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Yize Hao
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Yue Deng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Yujiao Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Jiawei Zhu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Xiaodi Tang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Jingming Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Qian Hu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Jinlong Zhao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Yuting Yue
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Zhaoming Su
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Rongbin Zhou
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230027, China
- Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
| | - Haohao Dong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
- Frontier Medical Center Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, Sichuan610212, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan610041, China
- Frontier Medical Center Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, Sichuan610212, China
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18
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Kamegawa A, Suzuki S, Suzuki H, Nishikawa K, Numoto N, Fujiyoshi Y. Structural analysis of the water channel AQP2 by single-particle cryo-EM. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107984. [PMID: 37315821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.107984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Water channels, which are small membrane proteins almost entirely buried in lipid membranes, are challenging research targets for single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a powerful technique routinely used to determine the structures of membrane proteins. Because the single-particle method enables structural analysis of a whole protein with flexible parts that interfere with crystallization, we have focused our efforts on analyzing water channel structures. Here, utilizing this system, we analyzed the structure of full-length aquaporin-2 (AQP2), a primary regulator of vasopressin-dependent reabsorption of water at the renal collecting ducts. The 2.9 Å resolution map revealed a cytoplasmic extension of the cryo-EM density that was presumed to be the highly flexible C-terminus at which the localization of AQP2 is regulated in the renal collecting duct cells. We also observed a continuous density along the common water pathway inside the channel pore and lipid-like molecules at the membrane interface. Observations of these constructions in the AQP2 structure analyzed without any fiducial markers (e.g., a rigidly bound antibody) indicate that single-particle cryo-EM will be useful for investigating water channels in native states as well as in complexes with chemical compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Kamegawa
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Laboratory (CeSPL), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Shota Suzuki
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Laboratory (CeSPL), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suzuki
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Laboratory (CeSPL), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Kouki Nishikawa
- Joint Research Course for Advanced Biomolecular Characterization, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Numoto
- Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Fujiyoshi
- Cellular and Structural Physiology Laboratory (CeSPL), Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan.
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19
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Pettersen JM, Yang Y, Robinson AS. Advances in nanodisc platforms for membrane protein purification. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1041-1054. [PMID: 36935323 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Membrane scaffold protein nanodiscs (MSPNDs) are an invaluable tool for improving purified membrane protein (MP) stability and activity compared to traditional micellar methods, thus enabling an increase in high-resolution MP structures, particularly in concert with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) approaches. In this review we highlight recent advances and breakthroughs in MSPND methodology and applications. We also introduce and discuss saposin-lipoprotein nanoparticles (salipros) and copolymer nanodiscs which have recently emerged as authentic MSPND alternatives. We compare the advantages and disadvantages of MSPNDs, salipros, and copolymer nanodisc technologies to highlight potential opportunities for using each platform for MP purification and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Pettersen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yaxin Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anne S Robinson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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20
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Azimi FC, Dean TT, Minari K, Basso LGM, Vance TDR, Serrão VHB. A Frame-by-Frame Glance at Membrane Fusion Mechanisms: From Viral Infections to Fertilization. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1130. [PMID: 37509166 PMCID: PMC10377500 DOI: 10.3390/biom13071130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral entry and fertilization are distinct biological processes that share a common mechanism: membrane fusion. In viral entry, enveloped viruses attach to the host cell membrane, triggering a series of conformational changes in the viral fusion proteins. This results in the exposure of a hydrophobic fusion peptide, which inserts into the host membrane and brings the viral and host membranes into close proximity. Subsequent structural rearrangements in opposing membranes lead to their fusion. Similarly, membrane fusion occurs when gametes merge during the fertilization process, though the exact mechanism remains unclear. Structural biology has played a pivotal role in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane fusion. High-resolution structures of the viral and fertilization fusion-related proteins have provided valuable insights into the conformational changes that occur during this process. Understanding these mechanisms at a molecular level is essential for the development of antiviral therapeutics and tools to influence fertility. In this review, we will highlight the biological importance of membrane fusion and how protein structures have helped visualize both common elements and subtle divergences in the mechanisms behind fusion; in addition, we will examine the new tools that recent advances in structural biology provide researchers interested in a frame-by-frame understanding of membrane fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farshad C. Azimi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Trevor T. Dean
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Karine Minari
- Biomolecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA;
| | - Luis G. M. Basso
- Laboratório de Ciências Físicas, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro 28013-602, Brazil;
| | - Tyler D. R. Vance
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Vitor Hugo B. Serrão
- Biomolecular Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA;
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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21
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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.
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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.
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22
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Cao C, Roth BL. The structure, function, and pharmacology of MRGPRs. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:237-251. [PMID: 36870785 PMCID: PMC10066734 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor (MRGPR) family members play important roles in the sensation of noxious stimuli and represent novel targets for the treatment of itch and pain. MRGPRs recognize a diversity of agonists and display complicated downstream signaling profiles, high sequence diversity across species, and many polymorphisms in humans. The recent structural advances on MRGPRs reveal unique structural features and diverse agonist recognition modes of this receptor family, which should facilitate the structure-based drug discovery at MRGPRs. In addition, the newly discovered ligands also provide valuable tools to explore the function and the therapeutic potential of MRGPRs. In this review, we discuss these progresses in our understanding of MRGPRs and highlight the challenges and potential opportunities for the future drug discovery at these receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eschelman School of Pharmacy and NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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23
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Zhang L, Mobbs JI, May LT, Glukhova A, Thal DM. The impact of cryo-EM on determining allosteric modulator-bound structures of G protein-coupled receptors. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 79:102560. [PMID: 36848776 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important therapeutic targets for the treatment of human disease. Although GPCRs are highly successful drug targets, there are many challenges associated with the discovery and translation of small molecule ligands that target the endogenous ligand-binding site for GPCRs. Allosteric modulators are a class of ligands that target alternative binding sites known as allosteric sites and offer fresh opportunities for the development of new therapeutics. However, only a few allosteric modulators have been approved as drugs. Advances in GPCR structural biology enabled by the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revolution have provided new insights into the molecular mechanism and binding location of small molecule allosteric modulators. This review highlights the latest findings from allosteric modulator-bound structures of Class A, B, and C GPCRs with a focus on small molecule ligands. Emerging methods that will facilitate cryo-EM structures of more difficult ligand-bound GPCR complexes are also discussed. The results of these studies are anticipated to aid future structure-based drug discovery efforts across many different GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudi Zhang
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia
| | - Jesse I Mobbs
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia. https://twitter.com/@JesseMobbs
| | - Lauren T May
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia. https://twitter.com/@laurentmay
| | - Alisa Glukhova
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia; The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. https://twitter.com/@gl_alisa
| | - David M Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Victoria Australia.
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24
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Harrison PJ, Vecerkova T, Clare DK, Quigley A. A review of the approaches used to solve sub-100 kDa membrane proteins by cryo-electron microscopy. J Struct Biol 2023; 215:107959. [PMID: 37004781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2023.107959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Membrane proteins (MPs) are essential components of all biological membranes, contributing to key cellular functions that include signalling, molecular transport and energy metabolism. Consequently, MPs are important biomedical targets for therapeutics discovery. Despite hardware and software developments in cryo-electron microscopy, as well as MP sample preparation, MPs smaller than 100 kDa remain difficult to study structurally. Significant investment is required to overcome low levels of naturally abundant protein, MP hydrophobicity as well as conformational and compositional instability. Here we have reviewed the sample preparation approaches that have been taken to successfully express, purify and prepare small MPs for analysis by cryo-EM (those with a total solved molecular weight of under 100 kDa), as well as examining the differing approaches towards data processing and ultimately obtaining a structural solution. We highlight common challenges at each stage in the process as well as strategies that have been developed to overcome these issues. Finally, we discuss future directions and opportunities for the study of sub-100 kDa membrane proteins by cryo-EM.
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25
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Cui W, Niu Y, Chen L. The Protein Fusion Strategy Facilitates the Structure Determination of Small Membrane Proteins by Cryo-EM. Biochemistry 2023; 62:196-200. [PMID: 35909370 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Despite the resolution revolution of cryo-EM, structures of small membrane proteins (<80 kDa) are still understudied. These proteins are notoriously reluctant to structure determination by single-particle cryo-EM. Protein fusion might represent a plausible strategy to overcome such difficulties. This Perspective enumerates recent exemplary progress and discusses the future potential of the protein fusion strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yange Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Future Technology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing 100871, China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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26
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Cary BP, Zhang X, Cao J, Johnson RM, Piper SJ, Gerrard EJ, Wootten D, Sexton PM. New insights into the structure and function of class B1 GPCRs. Endocr Rev 2022; 44:492-517. [PMID: 36546772 PMCID: PMC10166269 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors. Class B1 GPCRs constitute a subfamily of 15 receptors that characteristically contain large extracellular domains (ECDs) and respond to long polypeptide hormones. Class B1 GPCRs are critical regulators of homeostasis, and as such, many are important drug targets. While most transmembrane proteins, including GPCRs, are recalcitrant to crystallization, recent advances in electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) have facilitated a rapid expansion of the structural understanding of membrane proteins. As a testament to this success, structures for all the class B1 receptors bound to G proteins have been determined by cryo-EM in the past five years. Further advances in cryo-EM have uncovered dynamics of these receptors, ligands, and signalling partners. Here, we examine the recent structural underpinnings of the class B1 GPCRs with an emphasis on structure-function relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian P Cary
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Xin Zhang
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Jianjun Cao
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Rachel M Johnson
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah J Piper
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Elliot J Gerrard
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Denise Wootten
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Patrick M Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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27
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Wentinck K, Gogou C, Meijer DH. Putting on molecular weight: Enabling cryo-EM structure determination of sub-100-kDa proteins. Curr Res Struct Biol 2022; 4:332-337. [PMID: 36248264 PMCID: PMC9562432 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Significant advances in the past decade have enabled high-resolution structure determination of a vast variety of proteins by cryogenic electron microscopy single particle analysis. Despite improved sample preparation, next-generation imaging hardware, and advanced single particle analysis algorithms, small proteins remain elusive for reconstruction due to low signal-to-noise and lack of distinctive structural features. Multiple efforts have therefore been directed at the development of size-increase techniques for small proteins. Here we review the latest methods for increasing effective molecular weight of proteins <100 kDa through target protein binding or target protein fusion - specifically by using nanobody-based assemblies, fusion tags, and symmetric scaffolds. Finally, we summarize these state-of-the-art techniques into a decision-tree to facilitate the design of tailored future approaches, and thus for further exploration of ever-smaller proteins that make up the largest part of the human genome.
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Key Words
- BRIL, cytochromeb562 RIL
- DARPin, Design Ankyrin Repeat Protein
- Fab, antigen binding fragment
- GFP, Green Fluorecent Protein
- GPCR, G protein-coupled receptor
- MW, molecular weight
- Mb, megabody
- Nb, nanobody
- SNR, signal-to-noise ratio
- SPA, single particle analysis
- TM, transmembrane
- cryo-EM, cryogenic electron microscopy
- kDa, kiloDalton
- κOR ICL3, κ-opiod receptor intracellular loop 3
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dimphna H. Meijer
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, the Netherlands
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