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Cheng L, Miao Z, Liu S, Li Z, Fu H, Xu C, Hu S, Zhao C, Liu Y, Zhao T, Liu W, Wang H, Liu R, Yan W, Tang X, Liu J, Shao Z, Ke B. Cryo-EM structure of small-molecule agonist bound delta opioid receptor-G i complex enables discovery of biased compound. Nat Commun 2024; 15:8284. [PMID: 39333070 PMCID: PMC11437176 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52601-1] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Delta opioid receptor (δOR) plays a pivotal role in modulating human sensation and emotion. It is an attractive target for drug discovery since, unlike Mu opioid receptor, it is associated with low risk of drug dependence. Despite its potential applications, the pharmacological properties of δOR, including the mechanisms of activation by small-molecule agonists and the complex signaling pathways it engages, as well as their relation to the potential side effects, remain poorly understood. In this study, we use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structure of the δOR-Gi complex when bound to a small-molecule agonist (ADL5859). Moreover, we design a series of probes to examine the key receptor-ligand interaction site and identify a region involved in signaling bias. Using ADL06 as a chemical tool, we elucidate the relationship between the β-arrestin pathway of the δOR and its biological functions, such as analgesic tolerance and convulsion activities. Notably, we discover that the β-arrestin recruitment of δOR might be linked to reduced gastrointestinal motility. These insights enhance our understanding of δOR's structure, signaling pathways, and biological functions, paving the way for the structure-based drug discovery.
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Grants
- 2023ZYD0168 Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
- 2024NSFJQ0052 Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province (Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology)
- 82425054, 82273784 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 82271190, 32100965 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 323B2038 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 32371288, 32100988 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 31972916, T2221004, 31972916 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 32330049, 82320108021 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 2019YFA0508800 Ministry of Science,Technology and Research (Ministry of Technology & Research)
- 2021ZD0201900 Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology)
- the 1.3.5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University,ZYYC21002 and ZYGD23025
- Ministry of Science,Technology and Research (Ministry of Technology & Research)
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory Foundation, TFJC2023010010; the 1.3.5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, ZYYC20023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhuang Miao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Sicen Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhe Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hong Fu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chanjuan Xu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shilong Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chang Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuxuan Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tiantian Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wencheng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Heli Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Runduo Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiangdong Tang
- Sleep Medicine Center, Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of MOE, and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, China.
| | - Bowen Ke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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2
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Ople R, Ramos-Gonzalez N, Li Q, Sobecks BL, Aydin D, Powers AS, Faouzi A, Polacco BJ, Bernhard SM, Appourchaux K, Sribhashyam S, Eans SO, Tsai BA, Dror RO, Varga BR, Wang H, Hüttenhain R, McLaughlin JP, Majumdar S. Signaling Modulation Mediated by Ligand Water Interactions with the Sodium Site at μOR. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:1490-1503. [PMID: 39220695 PMCID: PMC11363324 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c00525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The mu opioid receptor (μOR) is a target for clinically used analgesics. However, adverse effects, such as respiratory depression and physical dependence, necessitate the development of alternative treatments. Recently we reported a novel strategy to design functionally selective opioids by targeting the sodium binding allosteric site in μOR with a supraspinally active analgesic named C6guano. Presently, to improve systemic activity of this ligand, we used structure-based design, identifying a new ligand named RO76 where the flexible alkyl linker and polar guanidine guano group is swapped with a benzyl alcohol, and the sodium site is targeted indirectly through waters. A cryoEM structure of RO76 bound to the μOR-Gi complex confirmed that RO76 interacts with the sodium site residues through a water molecule, unlike C6guano which engages the sodium site directly. Signaling assays coupled with APEX based proximity labeling show binding in the sodium pocket modulates receptor efficacy and trafficking. In mice, RO76 was systemically active in tail withdrawal assays and showed reduced liabilities compared to those of morphine. In summary, we show that targeting water molecules in the sodium binding pocket may be an avenue to modulate signaling properties of opioids, and which may potentially be extended to other G-protein coupled receptors where this site is conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini
S. Ople
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Nokomis Ramos-Gonzalez
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Qiongyu Li
- Department
of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Briana L. Sobecks
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Structural Biology, Stanford University
School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Deniz Aydin
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Structural Biology, Stanford University
School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Alexander S. Powers
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Structural Biology, Stanford University
School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Abdelfattah Faouzi
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Benjamin J. Polacco
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Structural Biology, Stanford University
School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Sarah M. Bernhard
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Kevin Appourchaux
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Sashrik Sribhashyam
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Shainnel O. Eans
- Department
of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 032610, United
States
| | - Bowen A. Tsai
- Department
of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 032610, United
States
| | - Ron O. Dror
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford
University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Structural Biology, Stanford University
School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Balazs R. Varga
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Haoqing Wang
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Ruth Hüttenhain
- Department
of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jay P. McLaughlin
- Department
of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 032610, United
States
| | - Susruta Majumdar
- Center
for Clinical Pharmacology, University of
Health Sciences & Pharmacy at St. Louis and Washington University
School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department
of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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3
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Wang M, Zan T, Fan C, Li Z, Wang D, Li Q, Zhang C. Advances in GPCR-targeted drug development in dermatology. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:678-690. [PMID: 39060127 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.06.007] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Achieving the efficacy and specificity of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targeting-drugs in the skin remains challenging. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying GPCR dysfunction is crucial for developing targeted therapies. Recent advances in genetic, signal transduction, and structural studies have significantly improved our understanding of cutaneous GPCR functions in both normal and pathological states. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries of pathogenic GPCRs in dermal injuries, chronic inflammatory dermatoses, cutaneous malignancies, as well as the development of potent potential drugs. We also discuss targeting of cutaneous GPCR complexes via the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel and structure elucidation, which provide new opportunities for therapeutic targeting of GPCRs involved in skin disorders. These insights are expected to lead to more effective and specific treatments for various skin conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Tao Zan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Chengang Fan
- Department of Orthopedics and Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China
| | - Zhouxiao Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Danru Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
| | - Qingfeng Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China.
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics and Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China.
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4
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Yuan Y, Xu T, Huang Y, Shi J. Strategies for developing μ opioid receptor agonists with reduced adverse effects. Bioorg Chem 2024; 149:107507. [PMID: 38850778 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107507] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Opioids are currently the most effective and widely used painkillers in the world. Unfortunately, the clinical use of opioid analgesics is limited by serious adverse effects. Many researchers have been working on designing and optimizing structures in search of novel μ opioid receptor(MOR) agonists with improved analgesic activity and reduced incidence of adverse effects. There are many strategies to develop MOR drugs, mainly focusing on new low efficacy agonists (potentially G protein biased agonists), MOR agonists acting on different Gα subtype, targeting opioid receptors in the periphery, acting on multiple opioid receptor, and targeting allosteric sites of opioid receptors, and others. This review summarizes the design methods, clinical applications, and structure-activity relationships of small-molecule agonists for MOR based on these different design strategies, providing ideas for the development of safer novel opioid ligands with therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yuan
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611756, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610072, China
| | - Yu Huang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611756, China
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China.
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5
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Fan W, Xu Y, He X, Luo P, Zhu J, Li J, Wang R, Yuan Q, Wu K, Hu W, Zhao Y, Xu S, Cheng X, Wang Y, Xu HE, Zhuang Y. Molecular basis for the activation of PAF receptor by PAF. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114422. [PMID: 38943642 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114422] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator crucial in multiple inflammatory and immune responses through binding and activating the PAF receptor (PAFR). However, drug development targeting the PAFR has been limited, partly due to an incomplete understanding of its activation mechanism. Here, we present a 2.9-Å structure of the PAF-bound PAFR-Gi complex. Structural and mutagenesis analyses unveil a specific binding mode of PAF, with the choline head forming cation-π interactions within PAFR hydrophobic pocket, while the alkyl tail penetrates deeply into an aromatic cleft between TM4 and TM5. Binding of PAF modulates conformational changes in key motifs of PAFR, triggering the outward movement of TM6, TM7, and helix 8 for G protein coupling. Molecular dynamics simulation suggests a membrane-side pathway for PAF entry into PAFR via the TM4-TM5 cavity. By providing molecular insights into PAFR signaling, this work contributes a foundation for developing therapeutic interventions targeting PAF signal axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Fan
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Youwei Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xinheng He
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jingpeng Zhu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Junrui Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ruolan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qingning Yuan
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Kai Wu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wen Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shiqi Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xi Cheng
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yue Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - H Eric Xu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210046, China; The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Youwen Zhuang
- The State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; Medicinal Bioinformatics Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
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6
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Otun O, Aljamous C, Del Nero E, Arimont-Segura M, Bosma R, Zarzycka B, Girbau T, Leyrat C, de Graaf C, Leurs R, Durroux T, Granier S, Cong X, Bechara C. Conformational dynamics underlying atypical chemokine receptor 3 activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2404000121. [PMID: 39008676 PMCID: PMC11287255 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404000121] [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: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Atypical Chemokine Receptor 3 (ACKR3) belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor family but it does not signal through G proteins. The structural properties that govern the functional selectivity and the conformational dynamics of ACKR3 activation are poorly understood. Here, we combined hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, site-directed mutagenesis, and molecular dynamics simulations to examine the binding mode and mechanism of action of ACKR3 ligands of different efficacies. Our results show that activation or inhibition of ACKR3 is governed by intracellular conformational changes of helix 6, intracellular loop 2, and helix 7, while the DRY motif becomes protected during both processes. Moreover, we identified the binding sites and the allosteric modulation of ACKR3 upon β-arrestin 1 binding. In summary, this study highlights the structure-function relationship of small ligands, the binding mode of β-arrestin 1, the activation dynamics, and the atypical dynamic features in ACKR3 that may contribute to its inability to activate G proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omolade Otun
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Christelle Aljamous
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Elise Del Nero
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Marta Arimont-Segura
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Reggie Bosma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Barbara Zarzycka
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan Girbau
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Leurs
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Thierry Durroux
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Sébastien Granier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Xiaojing Cong
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
| | - Cherine Bechara
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier Cedex 534094, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris75005, France
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7
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Che T, Varga B, Bernhard SM, El Daibani A, Zaidi S, Lam J, Aguilar J, Appourchaux K, Nazarova A, Kouvelis A, Eans S, Margolis E, Fay J, Pradhan A, Katritch V, McLaughlin J, Majumdar S. Structure-Guided Design of Partial Agonists at an Opioid Receptor. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4664764. [PMID: 39070616 PMCID: PMC11276012 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4664764/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The persistence of chronic pain and continuing overdose deaths from pain-relieving opioids targeting μ opioid receptor (μOR) have fueled the need for reliable long-term analgesics which use different targets and mechanisms. The δ opioid receptor (δOR) is a potential alternative target for non-addictive analgesics to alleviate chronic pain, made more attractive by its lack of respiratory depression associated with μOR agonists. However, early δOR full agonists were found to induce seizures, precluding clinical use. Partial δOR agonists may offer more controlled activation of the receptor compared to full agonists, but the development of such ligands has been hindered by uncertainty over the molecular mechanism mediating partial agonism. Using a structure-based approach, we explored the engagement of the sodium binding pocket in δOR and developed a bitopic ligand, C6-Quino, predicted to be a selective δOR partial agonist. Functional studies of C6-Quino revealed that it displayed δOR partial agonist activity at both G-protein and arrestin pathways. Its interaction with the sodium pocket was confirmed and analyzed using a single particle cryo-EM. Additionally, C6-Quino demonstrated favorable chemical and physiological properties like oral activity, and analgesic activity in multiple chronic pain models. Notably, μOR-related hyperlocomotion and respiratory depression, and δOR-related convulsions, were not observed at analgesic doses of C6-Quino. This fundamentally new approach to designing δOR ligands provides a blueprint for the development of partial agonists as safe analgesics and acts as a generic method to optimize signaling profiles of other Class A GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Washington University in St. Louis
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8
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Vu LY, Luo D, Johnson K, Denehy ED, Songrady JC, Martin J, Trivedi R, Alsum AR, Shaykin JD, Chaudhary CL, Woloshin EJ, Kornberger L, Bhuiyan N, Parkin S, Jiang Q, Che T, Alilain W, Turner JR, Bardo MT, Prisinzano TE. Searching for Synthetic Opioid Rescue Agents: Identification of a Potent Opioid Agonist with Reduced Respiratory Depression. J Med Chem 2024; 67:9173-9193. [PMID: 38810170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00333] [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: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
While in the process of designing more effective synthetic opioid rescue agents, we serendipitously identified a new chemotype of potent synthetic opioid. Here, we report that conformational constraint of a piperazine ring converts a mu opioid receptor (MOR) antagonist into a potent MOR agonist. The prototype of the series, which we have termed atoxifent (2), possesses potent in vitro agonist activity. In mice, atoxifent displayed long-lasting antinociception that was reversible with naltrexone. Repeated dosing of atoxifent produced antinociceptive tolerance and a level of withdrawal like that of fentanyl. In rats, while atoxifent produced complete loss of locomotor activity like fentanyl, it failed to produce deep respiratory depression associated with fentanyl-induced lethality. Assessment of brain biodistribution demonstrated ample distribution of atoxifent into the brain with a Tmax of approximately 0.25 h. These results indicate enhanced safety for atoxifent-like molecules compared to fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loan Y Vu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Kai Johnson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Emily D Denehy
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Judy C Songrady
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jocelyn Martin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Riya Trivedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Alexia R Alsum
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Jakob D Shaykin
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Chhabi Lal Chaudhary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Eric J Woloshin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Lindsay Kornberger
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Nazmul Bhuiyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Sean Parkin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Qianru Jiang
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Tao Che
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
| | - Warren Alilain
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Jill R Turner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
| | - Michael T Bardo
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, United States
| | - Thomas E Prisinzano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, United States
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Shen S, Wu C, Lin G, Yang X, Zhou Y, Zhao C, Miao Z, Tian X, Wang K, Yang Z, Liu Z, Guo N, Li Y, Xia A, Zhou P, Liu J, Yan W, Ke B, Yang S, Shao Z. Structure-based identification of a G protein-biased allosteric modulator of cannabinoid receptor CB1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321532121. [PMID: 38830102 PMCID: PMC11181136 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321532121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is known for its therapeutic benefit in various diseases including pain relief by targeting cannabinoid receptors. The primary component of cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other agonists engage the orthosteric site of CB1, activating both Gi and β-arrestin signaling pathways. The activation of diverse pathways could result in on-target side effects and cannabis addiction, which may hinder therapeutic potential. A significant challenge in pharmacology is the design of a ligand that can modulate specific signaling of CB1. By leveraging insights from the structure-function selectivity relationship (SFSR), we have identified Gi signaling-biased agonist-allosteric modulators (ago-BAMs). Further, two cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures reveal the binding mode of ago-BAM at the extrahelical allosteric site of CB1. Combining mutagenesis and pharmacological studies, we elucidated the detailed mechanism of ago-BAM-mediated biased signaling. Notably, ago-BAM CB-05 demonstrated analgesic efficacy with fewer side effects, minimal drug toxicity and no cannabis addiction in mouse pain models. In summary, our finding not only suggests that ago-BAMs of CB1 provide a potential nonopioid strategy for pain management but also sheds light on BAM identification for GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Shen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Guifeng Lin
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yangli Zhou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Chang Zhao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhuang Miao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaowen Tian
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiqian Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhiyu Liu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Nihong Guo
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yueshan Li
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Anjie Xia
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingming Liu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bowen Ke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu610212, Sichuan, China
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Henningfield JE, Grundmann O, Huestis MA, Smith KE. Kratom safety and toxicology in the public health context: research needs to better inform regulation. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1403140. [PMID: 38887550 PMCID: PMC11180979 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1403140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Although kratom use has been part of life for centuries in Southeast Asia, the availability and use of kratom in the United States (US) increased substantially since the early 2000s when there was little information on kratom pharmacology, use patterns, and effects, all critical to guiding regulation and policy. Here we provide a synthesis of research with several hundred English-language papers published in the past 5 years drawing from basic research, epidemiological and surveillance data, and recent clinical research. This review of available literature aims to provide an integrated update regarding our current understanding of kratom's benefits, risks, pharmacology, and epidemiology, which may inform United States-based kratom regulation. Recent surveillance indicates there are likely several million past-year kratom consumers, though estimates vary widely. Even without precise prevalence data, kratom use is no longer a niche, with millions of United States adults using it for myriad reasons. Despite its botanical origins in the coffee tree family and its polypharmacy, kratom is popularly characterized as an opioid with presumed opioid-system-based risks for addiction or overdose. Neuropharmacology, toxicology, and epidemiology studies show that kratom is more accurately characterized as a substance with diverse and complex pharmacology. Taken together the work reviewed here provides a foundation for future scientific studies, as well as a guide for ongoing efforts to regulate kratom. This work also informs much-needed federal oversight, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration. We conclude with recommendations for kratom regulation and research priorities needed to address current policy and knowledge gaps around this increasingly used botanical product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack E. Henningfield
- Pinney Associates, Inc., Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Oliver Grundmann
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kirsten E. Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Birgül Iyison N, Abboud C, Abboud D, Abdulrahman AO, Bondar AN, Dam J, Georgoussi Z, Giraldo J, Horvat A, Karoussiotis C, Paz-Castro A, Scarpa M, Schihada H, Scholz N, Güvenc Tuna B, Vardjan N. ERNEST COST action overview on the (patho)physiology of GPCRs and orphan GPCRs in the nervous system. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38825750 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16389] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of cell surface receptors that play a critical role in nervous system function by transmitting signals between cells and their environment. They are involved in many, if not all, nervous system processes, and their dysfunction has been linked to various neurological disorders representing important drug targets. This overview emphasises the GPCRs of the nervous system, which are the research focus of the members of ERNEST COST action (CA18133) working group 'Biological roles of signal transduction'. First, the (patho)physiological role of the nervous system GPCRs in the modulation of synapse function is discussed. We then debate the (patho)physiology and pharmacology of opioid, acetylcholine, chemokine, melatonin and adhesion GPCRs in the nervous system. Finally, we address the orphan GPCRs, their implication in the nervous system function and disease, and the challenges that need to be addressed to deorphanize them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Necla Birgül Iyison
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Bogazici, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Clauda Abboud
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Dayana Abboud
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, GIGA-Molecular Biology of Diseases, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | | | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Magurele, Romania
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute for Computational Biomedicine (IAS-5/INM-9), Jülich, Germany
| | - Julie Dam
- Institut Cochin, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Zafiroula Georgoussi
- Laboratory of Cellular Signalling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Jesús Giraldo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology and Bioinformatics, Unitat de Bioestadística and Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
- Unitat de Neurociència Traslacional, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, Institut d'Investigació i Innovació Parc Taulí (I3PT), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anemari Horvat
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Christos Karoussiotis
- Laboratory of Cellular Signalling and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece
| | - Alba Paz-Castro
- Molecular Pharmacology of GPCRs research group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago, Spain
| | - Miriam Scarpa
- Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Scholz
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Bilge Güvenc Tuna
- Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nina Vardjan
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology - Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Celica Biomedical, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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12
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Conibear A, Bailey CP, Kelly E. Biased signalling in analgesic research and development. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2024; 76:102465. [PMID: 38830321 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2024.102465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Ligand bias offers a novel means to improve the therapeutic profile of drugs. With regard to G protein-coupled receptors involved in analgesia, it could be advantageous to develop such drugs if the analgesic effect is mediated by a different cellular signalling pathway than the adverse effects associated with the drug. Whilst this has been explored over a number of years for the μ receptor, it remains unclear whether this approach offers significant benefit for the treatment of pain. Nevertheless, the development of biased ligands at other G protein-coupled receptors in the CNS does offer some promise for the development of novel analgesic drugs in the future. Here we summarise and discuss the recent evidence to support this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Conibear
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Chris P Bailey
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Eamonn Kelly
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
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Meqbil YJ, Aguilar J, Blaine AT, Chen L, Cassell RJ, Pradhan AA, van Rijn RM. Identification of 1,3,8-Triazaspiro[4.5]Decane-2,4-Dione Derivatives as a Novel δ Opioid Receptor-Selective Agonist Chemotype. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2024; 389:301-309. [PMID: 38621994 PMCID: PMC11125782 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.123.001735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
δ opioid receptors (DORs) hold potential as a target for neurologic and psychiatric disorders, yet no DOR agonist has proven efficacious in critical phase II clinical trials. The exact reasons for the failure to produce quality drug candidates for the DOR are unclear. However, it is known that certain DOR agonists can induce seizures and exhibit tachyphylaxis. Several studies have suggested that those adverse effects are more prevalent in delta agonists that share the (+)-4-[(αR)-α-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide (SNC80)/4-[(αR*)-α-((2S*,5R*)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-hydroxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide chemotype. There is a need to find novel lead candidates for drug development that have improved pharmacological properties to differentiate them from the current failed delta agonists. Our objective in this study was to identify novel DOR agonists. We used a β-arrestin assay to screen a small G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)-focused chemical library. We identified a novel chemotype of DOR agonists that appears to bind to the orthosteric site based of docking and molecular dynamic simulation. The most potent agonist hit compound is selective for the DOR over a panel of 167 other GPCRs, is slightly biased toward G-protein signaling and has anti-allodynic efficacy in a complete Freund's adjuvant model of inflammatory pain in C57BL/6 male and female mice. The newly discovered chemotype contrasts with molecules like SNC80 that are highly efficacious β-arrestin recruiters and may suggest this novel class of DOR agonists could be expanded on to develop a clinical candidate drug. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: δ opioid receptors are a clinical target for various neurological disorders, including migraine and chronic pain. Many of the clinically tested delta opioid agonists share a single chemotype, which carries risks during drug development. Through a small-scale high-throughput screening assay, this study identified a novel δ opioid receptor agonist chemotype, which may serve as alternative for the current analgesic clinical candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazan J Meqbil
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Jhoan Aguilar
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Arryn T Blaine
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Lan Chen
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Robert J Cassell
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Amynah A Pradhan
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
| | - Richard M van Rijn
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (Y.J.M., A.T.B., R.J.C., R.M.v.R.), Computational Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Computational Life Sciences (Y.J.M.), and Interdisciplinary Life Science-PULSe (A.T.B.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, Indiana (R.M.v.R.); Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana (L.C., R.M.v.R.); Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, California (R.M.v.R.); and Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (J.A., A.A.P.)
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14
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Kaneko S, Imai S, Uchikubo-Kamo T, Hisano T, Asao N, Shirouzu M, Shimada I. Structural and dynamic insights into the activation of the μ-opioid receptor by an allosteric modulator. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3544. [PMID: 38740791 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play pivotal roles in various physiological processes. These receptors are activated to different extents by diverse orthosteric ligands and allosteric modulators. However, the mechanisms underlying these variations in signaling activity by allosteric modulators remain largely elusive. Here, we determine the three-dimensional structure of the μ-opioid receptor (MOR), a class A GPCR, in complex with the Gi protein and an allosteric modulator, BMS-986122, using cryogenic electron microscopy. Our results reveal that BMS-986122 binding induces changes in the map densities corresponding to R1673.50 and Y2545.58, key residues in the structural motifs conserved among class A GPCRs. Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of MOR in the absence of the Gi protein reveal that BMS-986122 binding enhances the formation of the interaction between R1673.50 and Y2545.58, thus stabilizing the fully-activated conformation, where the intracellular half of TM6 is outward-shifted to allow for interaction with the Gi protein. These findings illuminate that allosteric modulators like BMS-986122 can potentiate receptor activation through alterations in the conformational dynamics in the core region of GPCRs. Together, our results demonstrate the regulatory mechanisms of GPCRs, providing insights into the rational development of therapeutics targeting GPCRs.
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MESH Headings
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics
- Allosteric Regulation
- Humans
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- Protein Binding
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/metabolism
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/chemistry
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/genetics
- HEK293 Cells
- Ligands
- Models, Molecular
- Protein Conformation
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Kaneko
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Imai
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | | | - Tamao Hisano
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Nobuaki Asao
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikako Shirouzu
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ichio Shimada
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Graduate School of Integrated Science for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
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15
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Zhao J, Elgeti M, O'Brien ES, Sár CP, Ei Daibani A, Heng J, Sun X, White E, Che T, Hubbell WL, Kobilka BK, Chen C. Ligand efficacy modulates conformational dynamics of the µ-opioid receptor. Nature 2024; 629:474-480. [PMID: 38600384 PMCID: PMC11078757 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07295-2] [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: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The µ-opioid receptor (µOR) is an important target for pain management1 and molecular understanding of drug action on µOR will facilitate the development of better therapeutics. Here we show, using double electron-electron resonance and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer, how ligand-specific conformational changes of µOR translate into a broad range of intrinsic efficacies at the transducer level. We identify several conformations of the cytoplasmic face of the receptor that interconvert on different timescales, including a pre-activated conformation that is capable of G-protein binding, and a fully activated conformation that markedly reduces GDP affinity within the ternary complex. Interaction of β-arrestin-1 with the μOR core binding site appears less specific and occurs with much lower affinity than binding of Gi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Matthias Elgeti
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Evan S O'Brien
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cecília P Sár
- Institute of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Amal Ei Daibani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jie Heng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoou Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth White
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Wayne L Hubbell
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Chunlai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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16
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Papasergi-Scott MM, Pérez-Hernández G, Batebi H, Gao Y, Eskici G, Seven AB, Panova O, Hilger D, Casiraghi M, He F, Maul L, Gmeiner P, Kobilka BK, Hildebrand PW, Skiniotis G. Time-resolved cryo-EM of G-protein activation by a GPCR. Nature 2024; 629:1182-1191. [PMID: 38480881 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07153-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange in the Gα subunit1. To visualize this mechanism, we developed a time-resolved cryo-EM approach that examines the progression of ensembles of pre-steady-state intermediates of a GPCR-G-protein complex. By monitoring the transitions of the stimulatory Gs protein in complex with the β2-adrenergic receptor at short sequential time points after GTP addition, we identified the conformational trajectory underlying G-protein activation and functional dissociation from the receptor. Twenty structures generated from sequential overlapping particle subsets along this trajectory, compared to control structures, provide a high-resolution description of the order of main events driving G-protein activation in response to GTP binding. Structural changes propagate from the nucleotide-binding pocket and extend through the GTPase domain, enacting alterations to Gα switch regions and the α5 helix that weaken the G-protein-receptor interface. Molecular dynamics simulations with late structures in the cryo-EM trajectory support that enhanced ordering of GTP on closure of the α-helical domain against the nucleotide-bound Ras-homology domain correlates with α5 helix destabilization and eventual dissociation of the G protein from the GPCR. These findings also highlight the potential of time-resolved cryo-EM as a tool for mechanistic dissection of GPCR signalling events.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Binding Sites
- Cryoelectron Microscopy
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/chemistry
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/drug effects
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/metabolism
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/ultrastructure
- Guanosine Triphosphate/metabolism
- Guanosine Triphosphate/pharmacology
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Dynamics Simulation
- Protein Binding
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/chemistry
- Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/ultrastructure
- Time Factors
- Enzyme Activation/drug effects
- Protein Domains
- Protein Structure, Secondary
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Makaía M Papasergi-Scott
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - 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
| | - Hossein Batebi
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gözde Eskici
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alpay B Seven
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ouliana Panova
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Hilger
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marina Casiraghi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Feng He
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Luis Maul
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Medicinal Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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17
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Eliasof A, Liu-Chen LY, Li Y. Peptide-derived ligands for the discovery of safer opioid analgesics. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103950. [PMID: 38514040 PMCID: PMC11127667 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103950] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Drugs targeting the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) remain the most efficacious analgesics for the treatment of pain, but activation of MOR with current opioid analgesics also produces harmful side effects, notably physical dependence, addiction, and respiratory depression. Opioid peptides have been accepted as promising candidates for the development of safer and more efficacious analgesics. To develop peptide-based opioid analgesics, strategies such as modification of endogenous opioid peptides, development of multifunctional opioid peptides, G protein-biased opioid peptides, and peripherally restricted opioid peptides have been reported. This review seeks to provide an overview of the opioid peptides that produce potent antinociception with much reduced side effects in animal models and highlight the potential advantages of peptides as safer opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbe Eliasof
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Lee-Yuan Liu-Chen
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Yangmei Li
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
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18
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Bertalan É, Rodrigues MJ, Schertler GFX, Bondar AN. Graph-based algorithms to dissect long-distance water-mediated H-bond networks for conformational couplings in GPCRs. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38636539 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16387] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in structure and dynamics elicited by agonist ligand binding at the extracellular side of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) must be relayed to the cytoplasmic G protein binding side of the receptors. To decipher the role of water-mediated hydrogen-bond networks in this relay mechanism, we have developed graph-based algorithms and analysis methodologies applicable to datasets of static structures of distinct GPCRs. For a reference dataset of static structures of bovine rhodopsin solved at the same resolution, we show that graph analyses capture the internal protein-water hydrogen-bond network. The extended analyses of static structures of rhodopsins and opioid receptors suggest a relay mechanism whereby inactive receptors have in place much of the internal core hydrogen-bond network required for long-distance relay of structural change, with extensive local H-bond clusters observed in structures solved at high resolution and with internal water molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éva Bertalan
- Physikzentrum, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ana-Nicoleta Bondar
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Computational Biomedicine, Jülich, Germany
- Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, Măgurele, Romania
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19
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Labani N, Gbahou F, Lian S, Liu J, Jockers R. 2023 Julius Axelrod Symposium: Plant-Derived Molecules Acting on G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:328-347. [PMID: 38458772 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant extracts have played a significant role in traditional medicine for centuries, contributing to improved health and the treatment of various human illnesses. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are crucial in numerous physiologic functions, and there is growing evidence suggesting their involvement in the therapeutic effects of many plant extracts. In recent years, scientists have identified an expanding number of isolated molecules responsible for the biologic activity of these extracts, with many believed to act on GPCRs. This article critically reviews the evidence supporting the modulation of GPCR function by these plant-derived molecules through direct binding. Structural information is now available for some of these molecules, allowing for a comparison of their binding mode with that of endogenous GPCR ligands. The final section explores future trends and challenges, focusing on the identification of new plant-derived molecules with both orthosteric and allosteric binding modes, as well as innovative strategies for designing GPCR ligands inspired by these plant-derived compounds. In conclusion, plant-derived molecules are anticipated to play an increasingly vital role as therapeutic drugs and serve as templates for drug design. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This minireview summarizes the most pertinent publications on isolated plant-derived molecules interacting with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and comments on available structural information on GPCR/plant-derived ligand pairs. Future challenges and trends for the isolation and characterization of plant-derived molecules and drug design are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedjma Labani
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (N.L., J.L.) and Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014 PARIS, France (N.L., F.G., S.L., R.J.)
| | - Florence Gbahou
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (N.L., J.L.) and Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014 PARIS, France (N.L., F.G., S.L., R.J.)
| | - Shuangyu Lian
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (N.L., J.L.) and Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014 PARIS, France (N.L., F.G., S.L., R.J.)
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (N.L., J.L.) and Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014 PARIS, France (N.L., F.G., S.L., R.J.)
| | - Ralf Jockers
- Cellular Signaling Laboratory, International Research Center for Sensory Biology and Technology of MOST, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (N.L., J.L.) and Université Paris Cité, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, F-75014 PARIS, France (N.L., F.G., S.L., R.J.)
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20
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Suno R. Exploring Diverse Signaling Mechanisms of G Protein-Coupled Receptors through Structural Biology. J Biochem 2024; 175:357-365. [PMID: 38382646 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvae018] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in structural biology have facilitated the elucidation of complexes involving G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their associated signal transducers, including G proteins and arrestins. A comprehensive analysis of these structures provides profound insights into the dynamics of signaling mechanisms. These structural revelations can potentially guide the development of drugs to minimize side effects through targeted and selective signaling. Understanding the binding modes of different signal-selective ligands is imperative for future drug research and development. Here, we conduct a comparative examination of the structural details of various GPCR-signal transducer complexes and delve into the molecular basis of the currently proposed signal selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoji Suno
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, 573-1010, Japan
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21
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Janicot R, Maziarz M, Park JC, Zhao J, Luebbers A, Green E, Philibert CE, Zhang H, Layne MD, Wu JC, Garcia-Marcos M. Direct interrogation of context-dependent GPCR activity with a universal biosensor platform. Cell 2024; 187:1527-1546.e25. [PMID: 38412860 PMCID: PMC10947893 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.028] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of druggable proteins encoded in the human genome, but progress in understanding and targeting them is hindered by the lack of tools to reliably measure their nuanced behavior in physiologically relevant contexts. Here, we developed a collection of compact ONE vector G-protein Optical (ONE-GO) biosensor constructs as a scalable platform that can be conveniently deployed to measure G-protein activation by virtually any GPCR with high fidelity even when expressed endogenously in primary cells. By characterizing dozens of GPCRs across many cell types like primary cardiovascular cells or neurons, we revealed insights into the molecular basis for G-protein coupling selectivity of GPCRs, pharmacogenomic profiles of anti-psychotics on naturally occurring GPCR variants, and G-protein subtype signaling bias by endogenous GPCRs depending on cell type or upon inducing disease-like states. In summary, this open-source platform makes the direct interrogation of context-dependent GPCR activity broadly accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Janicot
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Marcin Maziarz
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jong-Chan Park
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jingyi Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Alex Luebbers
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Elena Green
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Clementine Eva Philibert
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mathew D Layne
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mikel Garcia-Marcos
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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22
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Annuar NAK, Azlan UK, Mediani A, Tong X, Han R, Al-Olayan E, Baharum SN, Bunawan H, Sarian MN, Hamezah HS, Jantan I. An insight review on the neuropharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of mitragynine. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116134. [PMID: 38219389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116134] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitragynine is one of the main psychoactive alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa Korth. (kratom). It has opium-like effects by acting on μ-, δ-, and κ-opioid receptors in the brain. The compound also interacts with other receptors, such as adrenergic and serotonergic receptors and neuronal Ca2+ channels in the central nervous system to have its neuropharmacological effects. Mitragynine has the potential to treat diseases related to neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as its modulation on the opioid receptors has been reported extensively. This review aimed to provide an up-to-date and critical overview on the neuropharmacological effects, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics and safety of mitragynine as a prospective psychotropic agent. Its multiple neuropharmacological effects on the brain include antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, sedative, stimulant, cognitive, and anxiolytic activities. The potential of mitragynine to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms related to opioid dependence, its pharmacokinetics and toxic effects were also discussed. The interaction of mitragynine with various receptors in the brain produce diverse neuropharmacological effects, which have beneficial properties in neurological disorders. However, further studies need to be carried out on mitragynine to uncover its complex mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic profiles, addictive potential, and safe dosage to prevent harmful side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Aisyah Khairul Annuar
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ummi Kalthum Azlan
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ahmed Mediani
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Xiaohui Tong
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Rongchun Han
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Ebtesam Al-Olayan
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syarul Nataqain Baharum
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hamidun Bunawan
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Murni Nazira Sarian
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hamizah Shahirah Hamezah
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Ibrahim Jantan
- Institute of Systems Biology (INBIOSIS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
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23
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Janero DR. Current strategic trends in drug discovery: the present as prologue. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:147-159. [PMID: 37936504 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2275640] [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: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Escalating costs and inherent uncertainties associated with drug discovery invite initiatives to improve its efficiency and de-risk campaigns for inventing better therapeutics. One such initiative involves recognizing and exploiting current approaches in therapeutics invention with molecular mechanisms of action that hold promise for designing and targeting new chemical entities as drugs. AREAS COVERED This perspective considers the current contextual framework around three drug-discovery approaches and evaluates their potential to help identify new targets/modalities in small-molecule molecular pharmacology: diversifying ligand-directed phenotypes for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pharmacotherapeutic signaling; developing therapeutic-protein degraders and stabilizers for proximity-inducing pharmacology; and mining organelle biology for druggable therapeutic targets. EXPERT OPINION The contemporary drug-discovery approaches examined appear generalizable and versatile to have applications in therapeutics invention beyond those case studies discussed herein. Accordingly, they may be considered strategic trends worthy of note in advancing the field toward novel ways of addressing pharmacotherapeutically unmet medical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Janero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Health Sciences Entrepreneurs, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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24
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Reddy CR, Theja A, Srinivasu E, Subbarao M. Dearomative ipso-Cyclization to Spiropseudoindoxyls: An Extendable Approach To Access Indolo[3,2- c]quinolinones and Isocryptolepine. Org Lett 2024; 26:68-72. [PMID: 38160428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
A metal-free oxidative intramolecular dearomative spirocyclization of indole-3-formyl-2-carboxamides has been developed for the first time, affording spiropseudoindoxyls in good yields. This domino process proceeds through sequential oxidation, decarboxylation and ipso-arylation. The unique feature of this approach includes the compatibility of N-protected-indole-2-carboxamides. Further, a hitherto unknown rearrangement of spiropseudoindoxyls to indoloquinolones has been achieved. The synthetic utility of this strategy has also been showcased by the construction of a natural alkaloid, isocryptolepine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chada Raji Reddy
- Department of Organic Synthesis & Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Agnuru Theja
- Department of Organic Synthesis & Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Ejjirotu Srinivasu
- Department of Organic Synthesis & Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Muppidi Subbarao
- Department of Organic Synthesis & Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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25
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Janicot R, Maziarz M, Park JC, Luebbers A, Green E, Zhao J, Philibert C, Zhang H, Layne MD, Wu JC, Garcia-Marcos M. Direct interrogation of context-dependent GPCR activity with a universal biosensor platform. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.02.573921. [PMID: 38260348 PMCID: PMC10802303 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.02.573921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of druggable proteins in the human genome, but progress in understanding and targeting them is hindered by the lack of tools to reliably measure their nuanced behavior in physiologically-relevant contexts. Here, we developed a collection of compact ONE vector G-protein Optical (ONE-GO) biosensor constructs as a scalable platform that can be conveniently deployed to measure G-protein activation by virtually any GPCR with high fidelity even when expressed endogenously in primary cells. By characterizing dozens of GPCRs across many cell types like primary cardiovascular cells or neurons, we revealed new insights into the molecular basis for G-protein coupling selectivity of GPCRs, pharmacogenomic profiles of anti-psychotics on naturally-occurring GPCR variants, and G-protein subtype signaling bias by endogenous GPCRs depending on cell type or upon inducing disease-like states. In summary, this open-source platform makes the direct interrogation of context-dependent GPCR activity broadly accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Janicot
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Marcin Maziarz
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jong-Chan Park
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Alex Luebbers
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Elena Green
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jingyi Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Clementine Philibert
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mathew D. Layne
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mikel Garcia-Marcos
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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26
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McCurdy CR, Sharma A, Smith KE, Veltri CA, Weiss ST, White CM, Grundmann O. An update on the clinical pharmacology of kratom: uses, abuse potential, and future considerations. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2024; 17:131-142. [PMID: 38217374 PMCID: PMC10846393 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2024.2305798] [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: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has generated substantial clinical and scientific interest as a complex natural product. Its predominant alkaloid mitragynine and several stereoisomers have been studied for activity in opioid, adrenergic, and serotonin receptors. While awaiting clinical trial results, the pre-clinical evidence suggests a range of potential therapeutic applications for kratom with careful consideration of potential adverse effects. AREAS COVERED The focus of this review is on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and potential drug-drug interactions of kratom and its individual alkaloids. A discussion on the clinical pharmacology and toxicology of kratom is followed by a summary of user surveys and the evolving concepts of tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal associated with kratom use disorder. EXPERT OPINION With the increasing use of kratom in clinical practice, clinicians should be aware of the potential benefits and adverse effects associated with kratom. While many patients may benefit from kratom use with few or no reported adverse effects, escalating dose and increased use frequency raise the risk for toxic events in the setting of polysubstance use or development of a use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R McCurdy
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, FL, 32610, U.S.A
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, FL, 32610, U.S.A
| | - Abhisheak Sharma
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, FL, 32610, U.S.A
| | - Kirsten E. Smith
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, MD, 21205, U.S.A
| | - Charles A. Veltri
- Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Glendale, AZ, 85308, U.S.A
| | - Stephanie T. Weiss
- Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A
| | - Charles M. White
- University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Storrs, CT, and Department of Pharmacy, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, U.S.A
| | - Oliver Grundmann
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, FL, 32610, U.S.A
- Midwestern University, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Glendale, AZ, 85308, U.S.A
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27
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Provasi D, Filizola M. Enhancing Opioid Bioactivity Predictions through Integration of Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Drug Discovery Strategies with Transfer and Deep Learning Techniques. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:10691-10699. [PMID: 38084046 PMCID: PMC11252170 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c05306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has cast a shadow over public health, necessitating immediate action to address its devastating consequences. To effectively combat this crisis, it is crucial to discover better opioid drugs with reduced addiction potential. Artificial intelligence-based and other machine learning tools, particularly deep learning models, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential to advance drug discovery. However, using these tools poses challenges, especially when training samples are insufficient to achieve adequate prediction performance. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of transfer learning in building robust deep learning models to enhance ligand bioactivity prediction for each individual opioid receptor (OR) subtype. This is achieved by leveraging knowledge obtained from pretraining a model using supervised learning on a larger data set of bioactivity data combined with ligand-based and structure-based molecular descriptors related to the entire OR subfamily. Our studies hold the potential to advance opioid research by enabling the rapid identification of novel chemical probes with specific bioactivities, which can aid in the study of receptor function and contribute to the future development of improved opioid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Provasi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029, United States
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029, United States
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28
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Xu Z, Guo L, Yu J, Shen S, Wu C, Zhang W, Zhao C, Deng Y, Tian X, Feng Y, Hou H, Su L, Wang H, Guo S, Wang H, Wang K, Chen P, Zhao J, Zhang X, Yong X, Cheng L, Liu L, Yang S, Yang F, Wang X, Yu X, Xu Y, Sun JP, Yan W, Shao Z. Ligand recognition and G-protein coupling of trace amine receptor TAAR1. Nature 2023; 624:672-681. [PMID: 37935376 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06804-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Trace-amine-associated receptors (TAARs), a group of biogenic amine receptors, have essential roles in neurological and metabolic homeostasis1. They recognize diverse endogenous trace amines and subsequently activate a range of G-protein-subtype signalling pathways2,3. Notably, TAAR1 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for treating psychiatric disorders4,5. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its ability to recognize different ligands remain largely unclear. Here we present nine cryo-electron microscopy structures, with eight showing human and mouse TAAR1 in a complex with an array of ligands, including the endogenous 3-iodothyronamine, two antipsychotic agents, the psychoactive drug amphetamine and two identified catecholamine agonists, and one showing 5-HT1AR in a complex with an antipsychotic agent. These structures reveal a rigid consensus binding motif in TAAR1 that binds to endogenous trace amine stimuli and two extended binding pockets that accommodate diverse chemotypes. Combined with mutational analysis, functional assays and molecular dynamic simulations, we elucidate the structural basis of drug polypharmacology and identify the species-specific differences between human and mouse TAAR1. Our study provides insights into the mechanism of ligand recognition and G-protein selectivity by TAAR1, which may help in the discovery of ligands or therapeutic strategies for neurological and metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Xu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, China
| | - Lulu Guo
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingjing Yu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyuan Shen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weifeng Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chang Zhao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Deng
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaowen Tian
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuying Feng
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hanlin Hou
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lantian Su
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongshuang Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Shuo Guo
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Heli Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Peipei Chen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xihao Yong
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Lunxu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
| | - Yunfei Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
| | - Jin-Peng Sun
- Advanced Medical Research Institute, Meili Lake Translational Research Park, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu, China.
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29
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Lahmy R, Hübner H, Lachmann D, Gmeiner P, König B. Development of Photoswitchable Tethered Ligands that Target the μ-Opioid Receptor. ChemMedChem 2023; 18:e202300228. [PMID: 37817331 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300228] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Converting known ligands into photoswitchable derivatives offers the opportunity to modulate compound structure with light and hence, biological activity. In doing so, these probes provide unique control when evaluating G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) mechanism and function. Further conversion of such compounds into covalent probes, known as photoswitchable tethered ligands (PTLs), offers additional advantages. These include localization of the PTLs to the receptor binding pocket. Covalent localization increases local ligand concentration, improves site selectivity and may improve the biological differences between the respective isomers. This work describes chemical, photophysical and biochemical characterizations of a variety of PTLs designed to target the μ-opioid receptor (μOR). These PTLs were modeled on fentanyl, with the lead disulfide-containing agonist found to covalently interact with a cysteine-enriched mutant of this medically-relevant receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranit Lahmy
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Harald Hübner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniel Lachmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Burkhard König
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
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30
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Che T, Roth BL. Molecular basis of opioid receptor signaling. Cell 2023; 186:5203-5219. [PMID: 37995655 PMCID: PMC10710086 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are used for pain management despite the side effects that contribute to the opioid crisis. The pursuit of non-addictive opioid analgesics remains unattained due to the unresolved intricacies of opioid actions, receptor signaling cascades, and neuronal plasticity. Advancements in structural, molecular, and computational tools illuminate the dynamic interplay between opioids and opioid receptors, as well as the molecular determinants of signaling pathways, which are potentially interlinked with pharmacological responses. Here, we review the molecular basis of opioid receptor signaling with a focus on the structures of opioid receptors bound to endogenous peptides or pharmacological agents. These insights unveil specific interactions that dictate ligand selectivity and likely their distinctive pharmacological profiles. Biochemical analysis further unveils molecular features governing opioid receptor signaling. Simultaneously, the synergy between computational biology and medicinal chemistry continues to expedite the discovery of novel chemotypes with the promise of yielding more efficacious and safer opioid compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599, NC, USA.
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31
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Kirchhofer SB, Lim VJY, Ernst S, Karsai N, Ruland JG, Canals M, Kolb P, Bünemann M. Differential interaction patterns of opioid analgesics with µ opioid receptors correlate with ligand-specific voltage sensitivity. eLife 2023; 12:e91291. [PMID: 37983079 PMCID: PMC10849675 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91291] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The µ opioid receptor (MOR) is the key target for analgesia, but the application of opioids is accompanied by several issues. There is a wide range of opioid analgesics, differing in their chemical structure and their properties of receptor activation and subsequent effects. A better understanding of ligand-receptor interactions and the resulting effects is important. Here, we calculated the respective binding poses for several opioids and analyzed interaction fingerprints between ligand and receptor. We further corroborated the interactions experimentally by cellular assays. As MOR was observed to display ligand-induced modulation of activity due to changes in membrane potential, we further analyzed the effects of voltage sensitivity on this receptor. Combining in silico and in vitro approaches, we defined discriminating interaction patterns responsible for ligand-specific voltage sensitivity and present new insights into their specific effects on activation of the MOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina B Kirchhofer
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of NottinghamNottinghamUnited Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and NottinghamMidlandsUnited Kingdom
| | - Victor Jun Yu Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Sebastian Ernst
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Noemi Karsai
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of NottinghamNottinghamUnited Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and NottinghamMidlandsUnited Kingdom
| | - Julia G Ruland
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of NottinghamNottinghamUnited Kingdom
- Centre of Membrane Protein and Receptors, Universities of Birmingham and NottinghamMidlandsUnited Kingdom
| | - Peter Kolb
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
| | - Moritz Bünemann
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, University of MarburgMarburgGermany
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32
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Munro TA. Reanalysis of a μ opioid receptor crystal structure reveals a covalent adduct with BU72. BMC Biol 2023; 21:213. [PMID: 37817141 PMCID: PMC10566028 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01689-w] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first crystal structure of the active μ opioid receptor (μOR) exhibited several unexplained features. The ligand BU72 exhibited many extreme deviations from ideal geometry, along with unexplained electron density. I previously showed that inverting the benzylic configuration resolved these problems, establishing revised stereochemistry of BU72 and its analog BU74. However, another problem remains unresolved: additional unexplained electron density contacts both BU72 and a histidine residue in the N-terminus, revealing the presence of an as-yet unidentified atom. RESULTS These short contacts and uninterrupted density are inconsistent with non-covalent interactions. Therefore, BU72 and μOR form a covalent adduct, rather than representing two separate entities as in the original model. A subsequently proposed magnesium complex is inconsistent with multiple lines of evidence. However, oxygen fits the unexplained density well. While the structure I propose is tentative, similar adducts have been reported previously in the presence of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, known sources of reactive oxygen species were present: HEPES buffer, nickel ions, and a sequence motif that forms redox-active nickel complexes. This motif contacts the unexplained density. The adduct exhibits severe strain, and the tethered N-terminus forms contacts with adjacent residues. These forces, along with the nanobody used as a G protein substitute, would be expected to influence the receptor conformation. Consistent with this, the intracellular end of the structure differs markedly from subsequent structures of active μOR bound to Gi protein. CONCLUSIONS Later Gi-bound structures are likely to be more accurate templates for ligand docking and modelling of active G protein-bound μOR. The possibility of reactions like this should be considered in the choice of protein truncation sites and purification conditions, and in the interpretation of excess or unexplained density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Munro
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia.
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33
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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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Li B, Maruszko K, Kim SK, Yang MY, Vo ADP, Goddard WA. Structure and Molecular Mechanism of Signaling for the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Bound to Gs Protein and Exendin-P5 Biased Agonist. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:20422-20431. [PMID: 37672637 PMCID: PMC10777869 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c05996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a key regulator of blood glucose and a prime target for the treatment of type II diabetes and obesity with multiple public drugs. Here we present a comprehensive computational analysis of the interactions of the activated GLP-1R-Gs signaling complex with a G protein biased agonist, Exendin P5 (ExP5), which possesses a unique N-terminal sequence responsible for the signal bias. Using a refined all-atom model of the ExP5-GLP-1R-Gs complex in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we propose a novel mechanism of conformation transduction in which the unique interaction network of ExP5 N-terminus propagates the binding signal across an array of conserved residues at the transmembrane domain to enhance Gs protein coupling at the cytoplasmic end of the receptor. Our simulations reveal previously unobserved interactions important for activation by ExP5 toward GDP-GTP signaling, providing new insights into the mechanism of class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. These findings offer a framework for the structure-based design of more effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Krystyna Maruszko
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Soo-Kyung Kim
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Moon Young Yang
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Amy-Doan P Vo
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - William A Goddard
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Process and Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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35
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Zhao C, Wang H, Liu Y, Cheng L, Wang B, Tian X, Fu H, Wu C, Li Z, Shen C, Yu J, Yang S, Hu H, Fu P, Ma L, Wang C, Yan W, Shao Z. Biased allosteric activation of ketone body receptor HCAR2 suppresses inflammation. Mol Cell 2023; 83:3171-3187.e7. [PMID: 37597514 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2), modulated by endogenous ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate and exogenous niacin, is a promising therapeutic target for inflammation-related diseases. HCAR2 mediates distinct pathophysiological events by activating Gi/o protein or β-arrestin effectors. Here, we characterize compound 9n as a Gi-biased allosteric modulator (BAM) of HCAR2 and exhibit anti-inflammatory efficacy in RAW264.7 macrophages via a specific HCAR2-Gi pathway. Furthermore, four structures of HCAR2-Gi complex bound to orthosteric agonists (niacin or monomethyl fumarate), compound 9n, and niacin together with compound 9n simultaneously reveal a common orthosteric site and a unique allosteric site. Combined with functional studies, we decipher the action framework of biased allosteric modulation of compound 9n on the orthosteric site. Moreover, co-administration of compound 9n with orthosteric agonists could enhance anti-inflammatory effects in the mouse model of colitis. Together, our study provides insight to understand the molecular pharmacology of the BAM and facilitates exploring the therapeutic potential of the BAM with orthosteric drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Zhao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Heli Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaowen Tian
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Fu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Chao Wu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Ziyan Li
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Chenglong Shen
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingjing Yu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbo Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Ping Fu
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Liang Ma
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Chuanxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250033, Shandong, China.
| | - Wei Yan
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China.
| | - Zhenhua Shao
- Division of Nephrology and Kidney Research Institute, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Frontiers Medical Center, Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, Chengdu 610212, Sichuan, China.
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36
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Ramos‐Gonzalez N, Groom S, Sutcliffe KJ, Bancroft S, Bailey CP, Sessions RB, Henderson G, Kelly E. Carfentanil is a β-arrestin-biased agonist at the μ opioid receptor. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:2341-2360. [PMID: 37005796 PMCID: PMC10952505 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16084] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The illicit use of fentanyl-like drugs (fentanyls), which are μ opioid receptor agonists, and the many overdose deaths that result, has become a major problem. Fentanyls are very potent in vivo, leading to respiratory depression and death. However, the efficacy and possible signalling bias of different fentanyls is not clearly known. Here, we compared the relative efficacy and bias of a series of fentanyls. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH For agonist signalling bias and efficacy measurements, Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer experiments were undertaken in HEK293T cells transiently transfected with μ opioid receptors, to assess Gi protein activation and β-arrestin 2 recruitment. Agonist-induced cell surface receptor loss was assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whilst agonist-induced G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel current activation was measured electrophysiologically from rat locus coeruleus slices. Ligand poses in the μ opioid receptor were determined in silico using molecular dynamics simulations. KEY RESULTS Relative to the reference ligand DAMGO, carfentanil was β-arrestin-biased, whereas fentanyl, sufentanil and alfentanil did not display bias. Carfentanil induced potent and extensive cell surface receptor loss, whilst the marked desensitisation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel currents in the continued presence of carfentanil in neurones was prevented by a GRK2/3 inhibitor. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested unique interactions of carfentanil with the orthosteric site of the receptor that could underlie the bias. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Carfentanil is a β-arrestin-biased opioid drug at the μ receptor. It is uncertain how such bias influences in vivo effects of carfentanil relative to other fentanyls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam Groom
- Department of Pharmacy and PharmacologyUniversity of BathBathUK
| | - Katy J. Sutcliffe
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Sukhvinder Bancroft
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Chris P. Bailey
- Department of Pharmacy and PharmacologyUniversity of BathBathUK
| | | | - Graeme Henderson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Eamonn Kelly
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and NeuroscienceUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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37
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de Lima MRP, Bezerra RFS, Serafim DDB, Sena Junior DM. Dynamics of the Apo µ-Opioid Receptor in Complex with Gi Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13430. [PMID: 37686252 PMCID: PMC10487971 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713430] [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: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid receptors, particularly the µ-opioid receptor (μOR), play a pivotal role in mediating the analgesic and addictive effects of opioid drugs. G protein signaling is an important pathway of μOR function, usually associated with painkilling effects. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between the μOR and G protein remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed classical all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structural changes occurring with the μOR-G protein complex under two different conditions: with the G protein in the apo form (open) and with the GDP bound G protein (closed, holo form). The receptor was in the apo form and active conformation in both cases, and the simulation time comprised 1µs for each system. In order to assess the effect of the G protein coupling on the receptor activation state, three parameters were monitored: the correlation of the distance between TM3 and TM6 and the RMSD of the NPxxYA motif; the universal activation index (A100); and the χ2 dihedral distribution of residue W2936.48. When complexed with the open G protein, receptor conformations with intermediate activation state prevailed throughout the molecular dynamics, whereas in the condition with the closed G protein, mostly inactive conformations of the receptor were observed. The major effect of the G protein in the receptor conformation comes from a steric hindrance involving an intracellular loop of the receptor and a β-sheet region of the G protein. This suggests that G-protein precoupling is essential for receptor activation, but this fact is not sufficient for complete receptor activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Raya Paula de Lima
- Biological Chemistry Department, Universidade Regional do Cariri—URCA, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil; (R.F.S.B.); (D.D.B.S.)
- Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará—IFCE, Juazeiro do Norte 63040-540, CE, Brazil
| | - Rubem Francisco Silva Bezerra
- Biological Chemistry Department, Universidade Regional do Cariri—URCA, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil; (R.F.S.B.); (D.D.B.S.)
| | - David Denis Bento Serafim
- Biological Chemistry Department, Universidade Regional do Cariri—URCA, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil; (R.F.S.B.); (D.D.B.S.)
| | - Diniz Maciel Sena Junior
- Biological Chemistry Department, Universidade Regional do Cariri—URCA, Crato 63105-000, CE, Brazil; (R.F.S.B.); (D.D.B.S.)
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Angyal P, Hegedüs K, Mészáros BB, Daru J, Dudás Á, Galambos AR, Essmat N, Al-Khrasani M, Varga S, Soós T. Total Synthesis and Structural Plasticity of Kratom Pseudoindoxyl Metabolites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202303700. [PMID: 37332089 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202303700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, a kratom metabolite, has attracted increasing attention due to its favorable side effect profile as compared to conventional opioids. Herein, we describe the first enantioselective and scalable total synthesis of this natural product and its epimeric congener, speciogynine pseudoindoxyl. The characteristic spiro-5-5-6-tricyclic system of these alkaloids was formed through a protecting-group-free cascade relay process in which oxidized tryptamine and secologanin analogues were used. Furthermore, we discovered that mitragynine pseudoindoxyl acts not as a single molecular entity but as a dynamic ensemble of stereoisomers in protic environments; thus, it exhibits structural plasticity in biological systems. Accordingly, these synthetic, structural, and biological studies provide a basis for the planned design of mitragynine pseudoindoxyl analogues, which can guide the development of next-generation analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Angyal
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Hevesy György PhD School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Kristóf Hegedüs
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Hevesy György PhD School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Bence Balázs Mészáros
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Daru
- Department of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Dudás
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
- Hevesy György PhD School of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Rita Galambos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nariman Essmat
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mahmoud Al-Khrasani
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilárd Varga
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Soós
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
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Provasi D, Filizola M. Enhancing Opioid Bioactivity Predictions through Integration of Ligand-Based and Structure-Based Drug Discovery Strategies with Transfer and Deep Learning Techniques. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.552065. [PMID: 37609329 PMCID: PMC10441297 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.552065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has cast a shadow over public health, necessitating immediate action to address its devastating consequences. To effectively combat this crisis, it is crucial to discover better opioid drugs with reduced addiction potential. Artificial intelligence-based and other machine learning tools, particularly deep learning models, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential to advance drug discovery. However, utilizing these tools poses challenges, especially when training samples are insufficient to achieve adequate prediction performance. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of transfer learning using combined ligand-based and structure-based molecular descriptors from the entire opioid receptor (OR) subfamily in building robust deep learning models for enhanced bioactivity prediction of opioid ligands at each individual OR subtype. Our studies hold the potential to greatly advance opioid research by enabling the rapid identification of novel chemical probes with specific bioactivities, which can aid in the study of receptor function and contribute to the future development of improved opioid therapeutics.
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40
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Bosquez-Berger T, Gudorf JA, Kuntz CP, Desmond JA, Schlebach JP, VanNieuwenhze MS, Straiker A. Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Cannabidiol-Based Analogs as Negative Allosteric Modulators of the μ-Opioid Receptor. J Med Chem 2023; 66:9466-9494. [PMID: 37437224 PMCID: PMC11299522 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The US faces an unprecedented surge in fatal drug overdoses. Naloxone, the only antidote for opiate overdose, competes at the mu opioid receptor (μOR) orthosteric site. Naloxone struggles against fentanyl-class synthetic opioids that now cause ∼80% of deaths. Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) targeting secondary sites may noncompetitively downregulate μOR activation. (-)-Cannabidiol ((-)-CBD) is a candidate μOR NAM. To explore its therapeutic potential, we evaluated the structure-activity relationships among CBD analogs to identify NAMs with increased potency. Using a cyclic AMP assay, we characterize reversal of μOR activation by 15 CBD analogs, several of which proved more potent than (-)-CBD. Comparative docking investigations suggest that potent compounds interact with a putative allosteric pocket to stabilize the inactive μOR conformation. Finally, these compounds enhance naloxone displacement of fentanyl from the orthosteric site. Our results suggest that CBD analogs offer considerable potential for the development of next-generation antidotes for opioid overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn Bosquez-Berger
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jessica A Gudorf
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Charles P Kuntz
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jacob A Desmond
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jonathan P Schlebach
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | | | - Alex Straiker
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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41
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Fouillen A, Bous J, Granier S, Mouillac B, Sounier R. Bringing GPCR Structural Biology to Medical Applications: Insights from Both V2 Vasopressin and Mu-Opioid Receptors. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:606. [PMID: 37367810 PMCID: PMC10303988 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13060606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are versatile signaling proteins that regulate key physiological processes in response to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli. The last decade has seen a revolution in the structural biology of clinically important GPCRs. Indeed, the improvement in molecular and biochemical methods to study GPCRs and their transducer complexes, together with advances in cryo-electron microscopy, NMR development, and progress in molecular dynamic simulations, have led to a better understanding of their regulation by ligands of different efficacy and bias. This has also renewed a great interest in GPCR drug discovery, such as finding biased ligands that can either promote or not promote specific regulations. In this review, we focus on two therapeutically relevant GPCR targets, the V2 vasopressin receptor (V2R) and the mu-opioid receptor (µOR), to shed light on the recent structural biology studies and show the impact of this integrative approach on the determination of new potential clinical effective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Fouillen
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France; (A.F.); (S.G.); (B.M.)
- Centre de Biochimie Structurale (CBS), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Julien Bous
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Sébastien Granier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France; (A.F.); (S.G.); (B.M.)
| | - Bernard Mouillac
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France; (A.F.); (S.G.); (B.M.)
| | - Remy Sounier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle (IGF), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France; (A.F.); (S.G.); (B.M.)
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Henningfield JE, Chawarski MC, Garcia-Romeu A, Grundmann O, Harun N, Hassan Z, McCurdy CR, McMahon LR, Sharma A, Shoaib M, Singh D, Smith KE, Swogger MT, Vicknasingam B, Walsh Z, Wang DW, Huestis MA. Kratom withdrawal: Discussions and conclusions of a scientific expert forum. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2023; 7:100142. [PMID: 37397437 PMCID: PMC10311168 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack E. Henningfield
- PinneyAssociates, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Marek C. Chawarski
- Departments of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Albert Garcia-Romeu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Oliver Grundmann
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Norsyifa Harun
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Zurina Hassan
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Christopher R. McCurdy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
- Translational Drug Development Core, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Lance R. McMahon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, United States
| | - Abhisheak Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
- Translational Drug Development Core, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - Mohammed Shoaib
- Institute of Neuroscience, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Darshan Singh
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia
| | - Kirsten E. Smith
- Real-World Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marc T. Swogger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | | | - Zachary Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | | | - Marilyn A. Huestis
- PinneyAssociates, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, United States
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43
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Fragola NR, Brems BM, Mukherjee M, Cui M, Booth RG. Conformationally Selective 2-Aminotetralin Ligands Targeting the alpha2A- and alpha2C-Adrenergic Receptors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2023; 14:1884-1895. [PMID: 37104867 PMCID: PMC10628895 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Many important physiological processes are mediated by alpha2A- and alpha2C-adrenergic receptors (α2Rs), a subtype of class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, α2R signaling is poorly understood, and there are few approved medications targeting these receptors. Drug discovery aimed at α2Rs is complicated by the high degree of binding pocket homology between α2AR and α2CR, which confounds ligand-mediated selective activation or inactivation of signaling associated with a particular subtype. Meanwhile, α2R signaling is complex and it is reported that activating α2AR is beneficial in many clinical contexts, while activating α2CR signaling may be detrimental to these positive effects. Here, we report on a novel 5-substituted-2-aminotetralin (5-SAT) chemotype that, depending on substitution, has diverse pharmacological activities at α2Rs. Certain lead 5-SAT analogues act as partial agonists at α2ARs, while functioning as inverse agonists at α2CRs, a novel pharmacological profile. Leads demonstrate high potency (e.g., EC50 < 2 nM) at the α2AR and α2CRs regarding Gαi-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase and production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). To help understand the molecular basis of 5-SAT α2R multifaceted functional activity, α2AR and α2CR molecular models were built from the crystal structures and 1 μs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and molecular docking experiments were performed for a lead 5-SAT with α2AR agonist and α2CR inverse agonist activity, i.e., (2S)-5-(2'-fluorophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-amine (FPT), in comparison to the FDA-approved (for opioid withdrawal symptoms) α2AR/α2CR agonist lofexidine. Results reveal several interactions between FPT and α2AR and α2CR amino acids that may impact the functional activity. The computational data in conjunction with experimental in vitro affinity and function results provide information to understand ligand stabilization of functionally distinct GPCR conformations regarding α2AR and α2CRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R. Fragola
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry
& Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 208, Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Brittany M. Brems
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry
& Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 208, Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Munmun Mukherjee
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry
& Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 208, Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Meng Cui
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry
& Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 208, Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Raymond G. Booth
- Center
for Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry
& Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, 208, Mugar Life Sciences Building, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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44
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Wang D, Yao Y, Wang S, Hou Y, Zhao L, Wang H, Chen H, Xu J. Structural Insights into M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Signaling Bias between Gαq and β-Arrestin through BRET Assays and Molecular Docking. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087356. [PMID: 37108518 PMCID: PMC10138654 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087356] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The selectivity of drugs for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways is crucial for their therapeutic efficacy. Different agonists can cause receptors to recruit effector proteins at varying levels, thus inducing different signaling responses, called signaling bias. Although several GPCR-biased drugs are currently being developed, only a limited number of biased ligands have been identified regarding their signaling bias for the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1mAChR), and the mechanism is not yet well understood. In this study, we utilized bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assays to compare the efficacy of six agonists in inducing Gαq and β-arrestin2 binding to M1mAChR. Our findings reveal notable variations in agonist efficacy in the recruitment of Gαq and β-arrestin2. Pilocarpine preferentially promoted the recruitment of β-arrestin2 (∆∆RAi = -0.5), while McN-A-343 (∆∆RAi = 1.5), Xanomeline (∆∆RAi = 0.6), and Iperoxo (∆∆RAi = 0.3) exhibited a preference for the recruitment of Gαq. We also used commercial methods to verify the agonists and obtained consistent results. Molecular docking revealed that certain residues (e.g., Y404, located in TM7 of M1mAChR) could play crucial roles in Gαq signaling bias by interacting with McN-A-343, Xanomeline, and Iperoxo, whereas other residues (e.g., W378 and Y381, located in TM6) contributed to β-arrestin recruitment by interacting with Pilocarpine. The preference of activated M1mAChR for different effectors may be due to significant conformational changes induced by biased agonists. By characterizing bias towards Gαq and β-arrestin2 recruitment, our study provides insights into M1mAChR signaling bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxue Wang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yunjin Yao
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shiqi Wang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yifei Hou
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Lanxue Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Shanghai Universities Collaborative Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jianrong Xu
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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45
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Li Z, Liu J, Dong F, Chang N, Huang R, Xia M, Patterson TA, Hong H. Three-Dimensional Structural Insights Have Revealed the Distinct Binding Interactions of Agonists, Partial Agonists, and Antagonists with the µ Opioid Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087042. [PMID: 37108204 PMCID: PMC10138646 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The United States is experiencing the most profound and devastating opioid crisis in history, with the number of deaths involving opioids, including prescription and illegal opioids, continuing to climb over the past two decades. This severe public health issue is difficult to combat as opioids remain a crucial treatment for pain, and at the same time, they are also highly addictive. Opioids act on the opioid receptor, which in turn activates its downstream signaling pathway that eventually leads to an analgesic effect. Among the four types of opioid receptors, the µ subtype is primarily responsible for the analgesic cascade. This review describes available 3D structures of the µ opioid receptor in the protein data bank and provides structural insights for the binding of agonists and antagonists to the receptor. Comparative analysis on the atomic details of the binding site in these structures was conducted and distinct binding interactions for agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists were observed. The findings in this article deepen our understanding of the ligand binding activity and shed some light on the development of novel opioid analgesics which may improve the risk benefit balance of existing opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Li
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Fan Dong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Nancy Chang
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20903, USA
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tucker A Patterson
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
| | - Huixiao Hong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
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46
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Mahinthichaichan P, Liu R, Vo QN, Ellis CR, Stavitskaya L, Shen J. Structure-Kinetics Relationships of Opioids from Metadynamics and Machine Learning Analysis. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:2196-2206. [PMID: 36977188 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The nation's opioid overdose deaths reached an all-time high in 2021. The majority of deaths are due to synthetic opioids represented by fentanyl. Naloxone, which is a FDA-approved reversal agent, antagonizes opioids through competitive binding at the μ-opioid receptor (mOR). Thus, knowledge of the opioid's residence time is important for assessing the effectiveness of naloxone. Here, we estimated the residence times (τ) of 15 fentanyl and 4 morphine analogs using metadynamics and compared them with the most recent measurement of the opioid kinetic, dissociation, and naloxone inhibitory constants (Mann et al. Clin. Pharmacol. Therapeut. 2022, 120, 1020-1232). Importantly, the microscopic simulations offered a glimpse at the common binding mechanism and molecular determinants of dissociation kinetics for fentanyl analogs. The insights inspired us to develop a machine learning approach to analyze the kinetic impact of fentanyl's substituents based on the interactions with mOR residues. This proof-of-concept approach is general; for example, it may be used to tune ligand residence times in computer-aided drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paween Mahinthichaichan
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Ruibin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Quynh N Vo
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Christopher R Ellis
- DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center, United States Army, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010, United States
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Jana Shen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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47
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Papasergi-Scott MM, Pérez-Hernández G, Batebi H, Gao Y, Eskici G, Seven AB, Panova O, Hilger D, Casiraghi M, He F, Maul L, Gmeiner P, Kobilka BK, Hildebrand PW, Skiniotis G. Time-resolved cryo-EM of G protein activation by a GPCR. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.533387. [PMID: 36993214 PMCID: PMC10055275 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.533387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by stimulating the exchange of guanine nucleotide in the Gα subunit. To visualize this mechanism, we developed a time-resolved cryo-EM approach that examines the progression of ensembles of pre-steady-state intermediates of a GPCR-G protein complex. Using variability analysis to monitor the transitions of the stimulatory Gs protein in complex with the β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) at short sequential time points after GTP addition, we identified the conformational trajectory underlying G protein activation and functional dissociation from the receptor. Twenty transition structures generated from sequential overlapping particle subsets along this trajectory, compared to control structures, provide a high-resolution description of the order of events driving G protein activation upon GTP binding. Structural changes propagate from the nucleotide-binding pocket and extend through the GTPase domain, enacting alterations to Gα Switch regions and the α5 helix that weaken the G protein-receptor interface. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with late structures in the cryo-EM trajectory support that enhanced ordering of GTP upon closure of the alpha-helical domain (AHD) against the nucleotide-bound Ras-homology domain (RHD) correlates with irreversible α5 helix destabilization and eventual dissociation of the G protein from the GPCR. These findings also highlight the potential of time-resolved cryo-EM as a tool for mechanistic dissection of GPCR signaling events.
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48
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El Daibani A, Paggi JM, Kim K, Laloudakis YD, Popov P, Bernhard SM, Krumm BE, Olsen RHJ, Diberto J, Carroll FI, Katritch V, Wünsch B, Dror RO, Che T. Molecular mechanism of biased signaling at the kappa opioid receptor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1338. [PMID: 36906681 PMCID: PMC10008561 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37041-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The κ-opioid receptor (KOR) has emerged as an attractive drug target for pain management without addiction, and biased signaling through particular pathways of KOR may be key to maintaining this benefit while minimizing side-effect liabilities. As for most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), however, the molecular mechanisms of ligand-specific signaling at KOR have remained unclear. To better understand the molecular determinants of KOR signaling bias, we apply structure determination, atomic-level molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and functional assays. We determine a crystal structure of KOR bound to the G protein-biased agonist nalfurafine, the first approved KOR-targeting drug. We also identify an arrestin-biased KOR agonist, WMS-X600. Using MD simulations of KOR bound to nalfurafine, WMS-X600, and a balanced agonist U50,488, we identify three active-state receptor conformations, including one that appears to favor arrestin signaling over G protein signaling and another that appears to favor G protein signaling over arrestin signaling. These results, combined with mutagenesis validation, provide a molecular explanation of how agonists achieve biased signaling at KOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal El Daibani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joseph M Paggi
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kuglae Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, 21983, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Petr Popov
- iMolecule, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sarah M Bernhard
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Brian E Krumm
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Reid H J Olsen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey Diberto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Research Triangle Institute, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bernhard Wünsch
- Institut für Pharmazeutische und Medizinische Chemie, Universität Münster, Corrensstraße 48, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Ron O Dror
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Tao Che
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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49
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Sarkar A, Mitra A, Borics A. All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations Indicated the Involvement of a Conserved Polar Signaling Channel in the Activation Mechanism of the Type I Cannabinoid Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044232. [PMID: 36835641 PMCID: PMC9963961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044232] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The type I cannabinoid G protein-coupled receptor (CB1, GPCR) is an intensely investigated pharmacological target, owing to its involvement in numerous physiological functions as well as pathological processes such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders and neuropathic pain. In order to develop modern medications that exert their effects through binding to the CB1 receptor, it is essential to understand the structural mechanism of activation of this protein. The pool of atomic resolution experimental structures of GPCRs has been expanding rapidly in the past decade, providing invaluable information about the function of these receptors. According to the current state of the art, the activity of GPCRs involves structurally distinct, dynamically interconverting functional states and the activation is controlled by a cascade of interconnecting conformational switches in the transmembrane domain. A current challenge is to uncover how different functional states are activated and what specific ligand properties are responsible for the selectivity towards those different functional states. Our recent studies of the μ-opioid and β2-adrenergic receptors (MOP and β2AR, respectively) revealed that the orthosteric binding pockets and the intracellular surfaces of these receptors are connected through a channel of highly conserved polar amino acids whose dynamic motions are in high correlation in the agonist- and G protein-bound active states. This and independent literature data led us to hypothesize that, in addition to consecutive conformational transitions, a shift of macroscopic polarization takes place in the transmembrane domain, which is furnished by the rearrangement of polar species through their concerted movements. Here, we examined the CB1 receptor signaling complexes utilizing microsecond scale, all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in order to see if our previous assumptions could be applied to the CB1 receptor too. Apart from the identification of the previously proposed general features of the activation mechanism, several specific properties of the CB1 have been indicated that could possibly be associated with the signaling profile of this receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arijit Sarkar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62 Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 97 Tisza L. krt., H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Argha Mitra
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62 Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Theoretical Medicine Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, 97 Tisza L. krt., H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Borics
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, 62 Temesvári krt., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-62-599-600 (ext. 430)
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50
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Wang Y, Zhuang Y, DiBerto JF, Zhou XE, Schmitz GP, Yuan Q, Jain MK, Liu W, Melcher K, Jiang Y, Roth BL, Xu HE. Structures of the entire human opioid receptor family. Cell 2023; 186:413-427.e17. [PMID: 36638794 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Opioids are effective analgesics, but their use is beset by serious side effects, including addiction and respiratory depression, which contribute to the ongoing opioid crisis. The human opioid system contains four opioid receptors (μOR, δOR, κOR, and NOPR) and a set of related endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs), which show distinct selectivity toward their respective opioid receptors (ORs). Despite being key to the development of safer analgesics, the mechanisms of molecular recognition and selectivity of EOPs to ORs remain unclear. Here, we systematically characterize the binding of EOPs to ORs and present five structures of EOP-OR-Gi complexes, including β-endorphin- and endomorphin-bound μOR, deltorphin-bound δOR, dynorphin-bound κOR, and nociceptin-bound NOPR. These structures, supported by biochemical results, uncover the specific recognition and selectivity of opioid peptides and the conserved mechanism of opioid receptor activation. These results provide a structural framework to facilitate rational design of safer opioid drugs for pain relief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Youwen Zhuang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Jeffrey F DiBerto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - X Edward Zhou
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Gavin P Schmitz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Qingning Yuan
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; The Shanghai Advanced Electron Microscope Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Manish K Jain
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Weiyi Liu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Yi Jiang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - H Eric Xu
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research and the State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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