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Kostenis E, Jürgenliemke L, Alenfelder J. G protein-mediated signal transduction: a molecular choreography of G protein activation after GTP binding. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:188. [PMID: 39013896 PMCID: PMC11252409 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01903-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Evi Kostenis
- Department of Molecular-, Cellular-, and Pharmacobiology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Lars Jürgenliemke
- Department of Molecular-, Cellular-, and Pharmacobiology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Graduate Training Group RTG2873, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Judith Alenfelder
- Department of Molecular-, Cellular-, and Pharmacobiology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Lopez-Balastegui M, Stepniewski TM, Kogut-Günthel MM, Di Pizio A, Rosenkilde MM, Mao J, Selent J. Relevance of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) dynamics for receptor activation, signalling bias and allosteric modulation. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38978399 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16495] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the major drug targets. In recent years, computational drug design for GPCRs has mainly focused on static structures obtained through X-ray crystallography, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) or in silico modelling as a starting point for virtual screening campaigns. However, GPCRs are highly flexible entities with the ability to adopt different conformational states that elicit different physiological responses. Including this knowledge in the drug discovery pipeline can help to tailor novel conformation-specific drugs with an improved therapeutic profile. In this review, we outline our current knowledge about GPCR dynamics that is relevant for receptor activation, signalling bias and allosteric modulation. Ultimately, we highlight new technological implementations such as time-resolved X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM as well as computational algorithms that can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of receptor dynamics and its relevance for GPCR functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lopez-Balastegui
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- InterAx Biotech AG, Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chair for Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mette Marie Rosenkilde
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen, København N, Denmark
| | - Jiafei Mao
- Huairou Research Center, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jana Selent
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute & Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
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Huang R, Yu Q, Tamalunas A, Stief CG, Hennenberg M. Ligand-Receptor Interactions and Structure-Function Relationships in Off-Target Binding of the β 3-Adrenergic Agonist Mirabegron to α 1A-Adrenergic Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7468. [PMID: 39000575 PMCID: PMC11242030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The β3-adrenoceptor agonist mirabegron is available for the treatment of storage symptoms of overactive bladder, including frequency, urgency, and incontinence. The off-target effects of mirabegron include binding to α1-adrenoceptors, which are central in the treatment of voiding symptoms. Here, we examined the structure-function relationships in the binding of mirabegron to a cryo-electron microscopy structure of α1A. The binding was simulated by docking mirabegron to a 3D structure of a human α1A-adrenoceptor (7YMH) using Autodock Vina. The simulations identified two binding states: slope orientation involving 10 positions and horizontal binding to the receptor surface involving 4 positions. No interactions occurred with positions constituting the α1A binding pocket, including Asp-106, Ser-188, or Phe-312, despite the positioning of the phenylethanolamine moiety in transmembrane regions close to the binding pocket by contact with Phe-288, -289, and Val-107. Contact with the unique positions of α1A included the transmembrane Met-292 during slope binding and exosite Phe-86 during horizontal binding. Exosite binding in slope orientation involved contact of the anilino part, rather than the aminothiazol end, to Ile-178, Ala-103, and Asn-179. In conclusion, contact with Met-292 and Phe-86, which are unique positions of α1A, accounts for mirabegron binding to α1A. Because of its lack of interactions with the binding pocket, mirabegron has lower affinity compared to α1A-blockers and no effects on voiding symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China; (R.H.); (Q.Y.)
| | - Qingfeng Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China; (R.H.); (Q.Y.)
| | - Alexander Tamalunas
- Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (A.T.)
| | - Christian G. Stief
- Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (A.T.)
| | - Martin Hennenberg
- Department of Urology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany; (A.T.)
- Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany
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4
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Yokoi S, Suno R, Mitsutake A. Structural and Computational Insights into Dynamics and Intermediate States of Orexin 2 Receptor Signaling. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6082-6096. [PMID: 38722794 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00730] [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: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Orexin 2 receptor (OX2R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) whose activation is crucial to regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Recently, inactive and active state structures were determined from X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy single particle analysis, and the activation mechanisms have been discussed based on these static data. GPCRs have multiscale intermediate states during activation, and insights into these dynamics and intermediate states may aid the precise control of intracellular signaling by ligands in drug discovery. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate dynamics induced in response to thermal perturbations, such as structural fluctuations of main and side chains. In this study, we proposed collective motions of the TM domain during activation by performing 30 independent microsecond-scale MD simulations for various OX2R systems and applying relaxation mode analysis. The analysis results suggested that TM3 had a vertical structural movement relative to the membrane surface during activation. In addition, we extracted three characteristic amino acid residues on TM3, i.e., Q1343.32, V1423.40, and R1523.50, which exhibited large conformational fluctuations. We quantitatively evaluated the changes in their equilibrium during activation in relation to the movement of TM3. We also discuss the regulation of ligand binding recognition and intracellular signal selectivity by changes in the equilibrium of Q1343.32 and R1523.50, respectively, according to MD simulations and GPCR database. Additionally, the OX2R-Gi signaling complex is stabilized in the conformation resembling a non-canonical (NC) state, which was previously proposed as an intermediate state during activation of neurotensin 1 receptor. Insights into the dynamics and intermediate states during activation gained from this study may be useful for developing biased agonists for OX2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yokoi
- Department of Physics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan
| | - Ryoji Suno
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-Machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Ayori Mitsutake
- Department of Physics, School of Science and Technology, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashi-Mita, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8571, Japan
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Shenol A, Tenente R, Lückmann M, Frimurer TM, Schwartz TW. Multiple recent HCAR2 structures demonstrate a highly dynamic ligand binding and G protein activation mode. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5364. [PMID: 38918366 PMCID: PMC11199501 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49536-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A surprisingly clear picture of the allosteric mechanism connecting G protein-coupled receptor agonists with G protein binding-and back - is revealed by a puzzle of thirty novel 3D structures of the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2) in complex with eight different orthosteric and a single allosteric agonist. HCAR2 is a sensor of β-hydroxybutyrate, niacin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs. Surprisingly, agonists with and without on-target side effects bound very similarly and in a completely occluded orthosteric binding site. Thus, despite the many structures we are still left with a pertinent need to understand the molecular dynamics of this and similar systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Shenol
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ricardo Tenente
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Lückmann
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Frimurer
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thue W Schwartz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Batebi H, Pérez-Hernández G, Rahman SN, Lan B, Kamprad A, Shi M, Speck D, Tiemann JKS, Guixà-González R, Reinhardt F, Stadler PF, Papasergi-Scott MM, Skiniotis G, Scheerer P, Kobilka BK, Mathiesen JM, Liu X, Hildebrand PW. Mechanistic insights into G-protein coupling with an agonist-bound G-protein-coupled receptor. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01334-2. [PMID: 38867113 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01334-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by promoting guanine nucleotide exchange. Here, we investigate the coupling of G proteins with GPCRs and describe the events that ultimately lead to the ejection of GDP from its binding pocket in the Gα subunit, the rate-limiting step during G-protein activation. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the temporal progression of structural rearrangements of GDP-bound Gs protein (Gs·GDP; hereafter GsGDP) upon coupling to the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) in atomic detail. The binding of GsGDP to the β2AR is followed by long-range allosteric effects that significantly reduce the energy needed for GDP release: the opening of α1-αF helices, the displacement of the αG helix and the opening of the α-helical domain. Signal propagation to the Gs occurs through an extended receptor interface, including a lysine-rich motif at the intracellular end of a kinked transmembrane helix 6, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and functional assays. From this β2AR-GsGDP intermediate, Gs undergoes an in-plane rotation along the receptor axis to approach the β2AR-Gsempty state. The simulations shed light on how the structural elements at the receptor-G-protein interface may interact to transmit the signal over 30 Å to the nucleotide-binding site. Our analysis extends the current limited view of nucleotide-free snapshots to include additional states and structural features responsible for signaling and G-protein coupling specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Batebi
- Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich Physik, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guillermo Pérez-Hernández
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabrina N Rahman
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Baoliang Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Antje Kamprad
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mingyu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - David Speck
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna K S Tiemann
- Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany
- Novozymes A/S, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ramon Guixà-González
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Franziska Reinhardt
- Universität Leipzig, Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Peter F Stadler
- Universität Leipzig, Department of Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Makaía M Papasergi-Scott
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Berlin, Germany
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jesper M Mathiesen
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Universität Leipzig, Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany.
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany.
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Bi M, Wang X, Wang J, Xu J, Sun W, Adediwura VA, Miao Y, Cheng Y, Ye L. Structure and function of an intermediate GPCR-Gαβγ complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.02.587841. [PMID: 38617296 PMCID: PMC11014534 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.02.587841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Unraveling the signaling roles of intermediate complexes is pivotal for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug development. Despite hundreds of GPCR-Gαβγ structures, these snapshots primarily capture the fully activated end-state complex. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the conformational transitions during GPCR activation and the roles of intermediate GPCR-G protein complexes in signaling remain elusive. Guided by a conformational landscape profiled by 19 F quantitative NMR ( 19 F-qNMR) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, we resolved the structure of an unliganded GPCR-G protein intermediate complex by blocking its transition to the fully activated end-state complex. More importantly, we presented direct evidence that the intermediate GPCR-Gαsβγ complex initiates a rate-limited nucleotide exchange without progressing to the fully activated end-state complex, thereby bridging a significant gap in our understanding the complexity of GPCR signaling. Understanding the roles of individual conformational states and their complexes in signaling efficacy and bias will help us to design drugs that discriminately target a disease-related conformation.
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Callaway E. These 'movies' of proteins in action are revealing the hidden biology of cells. Nature 2024; 627:480-482. [PMID: 38509281 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00817-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
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