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Shenol A, Lückmann M, Trauelsen M, Lambrughi M, Tiberti M, Papaleo E, Frimurer TM, Schwartz TW. Molecular dynamics-based identification of binding pathways and two distinct high-affinity sites for succinate in succinate receptor 1/GPR91. Mol Cell 2024; 84:955-966.e4. [PMID: 38325379 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
SUCNR1 is an auto- and paracrine sensor of the metabolic stress signal succinate. Using unsupervised molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (170.400 ns) and mutagenesis across human, mouse, and rat SUCNR1, we characterize how a five-arginine motif around the extracellular pole of TM-VI determines the initial capture of succinate in the extracellular vestibule (ECV) to either stay or move down to the orthosteric site. Metadynamics demonstrate low-energy succinate binding in both sites, with an energy barrier corresponding to an intermediate stage during which succinate, with an associated water cluster, unlocks the hydrogen-bond-stabilized conformationally constrained extracellular loop (ECL)-2b. Importantly, simultaneous binding of two succinate molecules through either a "sequential" or "bypassing" mode is a frequent endpoint. The mono-carboxylate NF-56-EJ40 antagonist enters SUCNR1 between TM-I and -II and does not unlock ECL-2b. It is proposed that occupancy of both high-affinity sites is required for selective activation of SUCNR1 by high local succinate concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslihan Shenol
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Lückmann
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Trauelsen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matteo Lambrughi
- Cancer Structural Biology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matteo Tiberti
- Cancer Structural Biology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena Papaleo
- Cancer Structural Biology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark; Cancer Systems Biology, Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Health and Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Frimurer
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thue W Schwartz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Gross JD, Zhou Y, Barak LS, Caron MG. Ghrelin receptor signaling in health and disease: a biased view. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:106-118. [PMID: 36567228 PMCID: PMC9852078 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2022.12.001] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
As allosteric complexes, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) respond to extracellular stimuli and pleiotropically couple to intracellular transducers to elicit signaling pathway-dependent effects in a process known as biased signaling or functional selectivity. One such GPCR, the ghrelin receptor (GHSR1a), has a crucial role in restoring and maintaining metabolic homeostasis during disrupted energy balance. Thus, pharmacological modulation of GHSR1a bias could offer a promising strategy to treat several metabolism-based disorders. Here, we summarize current evidence supporting GHSR1a functional selectivity in vivo and highlight recent structural data. We propose that precise determinations of GHSR1a molecular pharmacology and pathway-specific physiological effects will enable discovery of GHSR1a drugs with tailored signaling profiles, thereby providing safer and more effective treatments for metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Gross
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Lawrence S Barak
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Marc G Caron
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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3
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Ringuet MT, Furness JB, Furness SGB. G protein-coupled receptor interactions and modification of signalling involving the ghrelin receptor, GHSR1a. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13077. [PMID: 34931385 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a) is intriguing because of its potential as a therapeutic target and its diverse molecular interactions. Initial studies of the receptor focused on the potential therapeutic ability for growth hormone (GH) release to reduce wasting in aging individuals, as well as food intake regulation for treatment of cachexia. Known roles of GHSR1a now extend to regulation of neurogenesis, learning and memory, gastrointestinal motility, glucose/lipid metabolism, the cardiovascular system, neuronal protection, motivational salience, and hedonic feeding. Ghrelin, the endogenous agonist of GHSR1a, is primarily located in the stomach and is absent from the central nervous system (CNS), including the spinal cord. However, ghrelin in the circulation does have access to a small number of CNS sites, including the arcuate nucleus, which is important in feeding control. At some sites, such as at somatotrophs, GHSR1a has high constitutive activity. Typically, ghrelin-dependent and constitutive GHSR1a activation occurs via Gαq/11 pathways. In vitro and in vivo data suggest that GHSR1a heterodimerises with multiple G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including dopamine D1 and D2, serotonin 2C, orexin, oxytocin and melanocortin 3 receptors (MCR3), as well as the MCR3 accessory protein, MRAP2, providing possible mechanisms for its many physiological effects. In all cases, the receptor interaction changes downstream signalling and the responses to receptor agonists. This review discusses the signalling mechanisms of GHSR1a alone and in combination with other GPCRs, and explores the physiological consequences of GHSR1a coupling with other GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Ty Ringuet
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John Barton Furness
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Miura Y, Senoo A, Doura T, Kiyonaka S. Chemogenetics of cell surface receptors: beyond genetic and pharmacological approaches. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:269-287. [PMID: 35359495 PMCID: PMC8905536 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00195g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell surface receptors transmit extracellular information into cells. Spatiotemporal regulation of receptor signaling is crucial for cellular functions, and dysregulation of signaling causes various diseases. Thus, it is highly desired to control receptor functions with high spatial and/or temporal resolution. Conventionally, genetic engineering or chemical ligands have been used to control receptor functions in cells. As the alternative, chemogenetics has been proposed, in which target proteins are genetically engineered to interact with a designed chemical partner with high selectivity. The engineered receptor dissects the function of one receptor member among a highly homologous receptor family in a cell-specific manner. Notably, some chemogenetic strategies have been used to reveal the receptor signaling of target cells in living animals. In this review, we summarize the developing chemogenetic methods of transmembrane receptors for cell-specific regulation of receptor signaling. We also discuss the prospects of chemogenetics for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Miura
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Nagoya 464-8603 Japan
| | - Akinobu Senoo
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Nagoya 464-8603 Japan
| | - Tomohiro Doura
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Nagoya 464-8603 Japan
| | - Shigeki Kiyonaka
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University Nagoya 464-8603 Japan
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Discovery of a functionally selective ghrelin receptor (GHSR 1a) ligand for modulating brain dopamine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2112397119. [PMID: 35239443 PMCID: PMC8915830 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112397119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The modulation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHSR1a) signaling is a promising strategy for treating brain conditions of metabolism, aging, and addiction. GHSR1a activation results in pleiotropic physiological outcomes through distinct and pharmacologically separable G protein– and β-arrestin (βarr)–dependent signaling pathways. Thus, pathway-selective modulation can enable improved pharmacotherapeutics that can promote therapeutic efficacy while mitigating side effects. Here, we describe the discovery of a brain-penetrant small molecule, N8279 (NCATS-SM8864), that biases GHSR1a conformations toward Gαq activation and reduces aberrant dopaminergic behavior in mice. N8279 represents a promising chemical scaffold to advance the development of better treatments for GHSR1a-related brain disorders involving the pathological dysregulation of dopamine. The growth hormone secretagogue receptor-1a (GHSR1a) is the cognate G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) for the peptide hormone ghrelin. GHSR1a is a promising therapeutic target for a wide range of metabolic, age-related, and central nervous system (CNS)–based conditions. In addition, growing evidence supports that GHSR1a is a modulator of dopamine (DA) homeostasis and is neuroprotective within brain DA circuits. GHSR1a signaling originates from pharmacologically separable G protein– and β-arrestin (βarr)–dependent pathways, and consequently, GHSR1a-mediated physiological responses depend upon their distinctive signaling contributions. Thus, when treating disorders of disrupted DA homeostasis, a pharmacological strategy that modulates biased GHSR1a signaling may uncouple desired therapeutic outcomes from unwanted side effects. Here, we report the discovery of a small molecule GHSR1a agonist, N8279 (NCATS-SM8864), functionally selective for G protein signaling. Comprehensive pharmacological characterization reveals that N8279 elicits potent Gαq activity at the apo- and ghrelin-bound GHSR1a. Further biochemical analysis and molecular modeling demonstrate that N8279 signaling requires the extracellular domain of GHSR1a, especially extracellular loop 2. Collectively, these findings suggest that N8279 possesses an extended binding mode into the extracellular vestibule of the GHSR1a that preferentially favors Gαq signaling over alternative G proteins and βarr2-dependent cellular responses. Critically, N8279 is brain-penetrant in mice, exhibits CNS stability, and attenuates dysfunctional DA-mediated behaviors in both genetic and pharmacological mouse models of hyperdopaminergia. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms governing GPCR functional selectivity and emphasize how biased ligand drug development can produce novel GHSR1a pharmacotherapeutics to treat pathological disruptions of brain DA homeostasis.
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Byambaragchaa M, Ahn TY, Choi SH, Kang MH, Min KS. Functional characterization of naturally-occurring constitutively activating/inactivating mutations in equine follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (eFSHR). Anim Biosci 2021; 35:399-409. [PMID: 34474536 PMCID: PMC8902225 DOI: 10.5713/ab.21.0246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is the central hormone involved in mammalian reproduction, maturation at puberty, and gamete production that mediates its function by control of follicle growth and function. The present study investigated the mutations involved in the regulation of FSH receptor (FSHR) activation. Methods We analyzed seven naturally-occurring mutations that were previously reported in human FSHR (hFSHR), in the context of equine FSHR (eFSHR); these include one constitutively activation variant, one allelic variant, and five inactivating variants. These mutations were introduced into wild-type eFSHR (eFSHR-wt) sequence to generate mutants that were designated as eFSHR-D566G, -A306T, -A189V, -N191I, -R572C, -A574V, and -R633H. Mutants were transfected into PathHunter EA-parental CHO-K1 cells expressing β-arrestin. The biological function of mutants was analyzed by quantitating cAMP accumulation in cells incubated with increasing concentrations of FSH. Results Cells expressing eFSHR-D566G exhibited an 8.6-fold increase in basal cAMP response, as compared to that in eFSHR-wt. The allelic variation mutant eFSHR-A306T was not found to affect the basal cAMP response or EC50 levels. On the other hand, eFSHR-D566G and eFSHR-A306T displayed a 1.5- and 1.4-fold increase in the maximal response, respectively. Signal transduction was found to be completely impaired in case of the inactivating mutants eFSHR-A189V, -R572C, and -A574V. When compared with eFSHR-wt, eFSHR-N191I displayed a 5.4-fold decrease in the EC50 levels (3910 ng/mL) and a 2.3-fold decrease in the maximal response. In contrast, cells expressing eFSHR-R633H displayed in a similar manner to that of the cells expressing the eFSHR-wt on signal transduction and maximal response. Conclusion The activating mutant eFSHR-D566G greatly enhanced the signal transduction in response to FSH, in the absence of agonist treatment. We suggest that the state of activation of the eFSHR can modulate its basal cAMP accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munkhzaya Byambaragchaa
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
| | - Tae-Young Ahn
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
| | - Seung-Hee Choi
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
| | - Myung-Hwa Kang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea
| | - Kwan-Sik Min
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea.,School of Animal Life Convergence Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
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Molecular recognition of an acyl-peptide hormone and activation of ghrelin receptor. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5064. [PMID: 34417468 PMCID: PMC8379176 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25364-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ghrelin, also called “the hunger hormone”, is a gastric peptide hormone that regulates food intake, body weight, as well as taste sensation, reward, cognition, learning and memory. One unique feature of ghrelin is its acylation, primarily with an octanoic acid, which is essential for its binding and activation of the ghrelin receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor. The multifaceted roles of ghrelin make ghrelin receptor a highly attractive drug target for growth retardation, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Here we present two cryo-electron microscopy structures of Gq-coupled ghrelin receptor bound to ghrelin and a synthetic agonist, GHRP-6. Analysis of these two structures reveals a unique binding pocket for the octanoyl group, which guides the correct positioning of the peptide to initiate the receptor activation. Together with mutational and functional data, our structures define the rules for recognition of the acylated peptide hormone and activation of ghrelin receptor, and provide structural templates to facilitate drug design targeting ghrelin receptor. Ghrelin is a gastric peptide hormone and its acylation is required for binding to and activation of the ghrelin receptor in the brain, which initiates appetite. Here, the authors present cryo-EM structures of the Gq-coupled ghrelin receptor bound to ghrelin and the synthetic agonist GHRP-6 and they describe how the acylated peptide hormone is recognised by the receptor, which is of interest for drug design.
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8
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Biased signaling: A viable strategy to drug ghrelin receptors for the treatment of obesity. Cell Signal 2021; 83:109976. [PMID: 33713808 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.109976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a global burden and a chronic ailment with damaging overall health effects. Ghrelin, an octanoylated 28 amino acid peptide hormone, is secreted from the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach. Ghrelin acts on regions of the hypothalamus to regulate feeding behavior and glucose homeostasis through its G protein-coupled receptor. Recently, several central pathways modulating the metabolic actions of ghrelin have been reported. While these signaling pathways can be inhibited or activated by antagonists or agonists, they can also be discriminatingly activated in a "biased" response to impart different degrees of activation in distinct pathways downstream of the receptor. Here, we review recent ghrelin biased signaling findings as well as characteristics of ghrelin hormone and its receptors pertinent for biased signaling. We then evaluate the feasibility for ghrelin receptor biased signaling as a strategy for the development of effective pharmacotherapy in obesity treatment.
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Hagemann CA, Zhang C, Hansen HH, Jorsal T, Rigbolt KTG, Madsen MR, Bergmann NC, Heimbürger SMN, Falkenhahn M, Theis S, Breitschopf K, Holm S, Hedegaard MA, Christensen MB, Vilsbøll T, Holst B, Vrang N, Jelsing J, Knop FK. Identification and Metabolic Profiling of a Novel Human Gut-derived LEAP2 Fragment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e966-e981. [PMID: 33135737 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The mechanisms underlying Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery-induced weight loss and the immediate postoperative beneficial metabolic effects associated with the operation remain uncertain. Enteroendocrine cell (EEC) secretory function has been proposed as a key factor in the marked metabolic benefits from RYGB surgery. OBJECTIVE To identify novel gut-derived peptides with therapeutic potential in obesity and/or diabetes by profiling EEC-specific molecular changes in obese patients following RYGB-induced weight loss. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Genome-wide expression analysis was performed in isolated human small intestinal EECs obtained from 20 gut-biopsied obese subjects before and after RYGB. Targets of interest were profiled for preclinical and clinical metabolic effects. RESULTS Roux-en-Y gastric bypass consistently increased expression levels of the inverse ghrelin receptor agonist, liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2). A secreted endogenous LEAP2 fragment (LEAP238-47) demonstrated robust insulinotropic properties, stimulating insulin release in human pancreatic islets comparable to the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1. LEAP238-47 showed reciprocal effects on growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) activity, suggesting that the insulinotropic action of the peptide may be directly linked to attenuation of tonic GHSR activity. The fragment was infused in healthy human individuals (n = 10), but no glucoregulatory effect was observed in the chosen dose as compared to placebo. CONCLUSIONS Small intestinal LEAP2 expression was upregulated after RYGB. The corresponding circulating LEAP238-47 fragment demonstrated strong insulinotropic action in vitro but failed to elicit glucoregulatory effects in healthy human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer A Hagemann
- Gubra Aps, Hørsholm, Denmark
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | | | | | - Tina Jorsal
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | | | | | - Natasha C Bergmann
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Sebastian M N Heimbürger
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Stephanie Holm
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Hedegaard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel B Christensen
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tina Vilsbøll
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Filip K Knop
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Gentofte, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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de la Nuez Veulens A, Rodríguez Fernández RE, Álvarez Ginarte YM, Montero Cabrera LA. In silico strategy for detailing the binding modes of a novel family of peptides proven as ghrelin receptor agonists. J Mol Model 2020; 26:294. [PMID: 33015729 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-020-04553-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in multiple functions, including growth hormone release stimulation, food intake regulation, and metabolic and cytoprotective effect. A novel family of peptides with internal cycles was designed as ghrelin analogs and the biological activity of two of them (A228 and A233) was experimentally studied in-depth. In this work, an in silico strategy was developed for describing and assessing the binding modes of A228 and A233 to GHS-R1a (ghrelin receptor) comparing it with ghrelin and GHRP-6 peptides. Several reported structures of different G protein coupled receptors were used as templates, to obtain a good quality model of GHS-R1a. The best model was selected by preliminary molecular docking with ghrelin and GHRP-6. Docking was used to estimate peptide orientations in the binding site of the best model, observing a superposition of its N-terminal and its first aromatic residue. To test the complex stability in time, the C-terminal fragments of each peptide were added and the complexes were inserted a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membrane, performing a molecular dynamic simulation for 100 ns using the CHARMM36 force field. Despite of the structural differences, the studied peptides share a common binding mode; the N-terminal interacts with E124 and the aromatic residue close to it, with the aromatic cluster (F279, F309, and F312). A preliminary pharmacophore model, consisting in a positive charged amine and an aromatic ring at an approximate distance of 0.79 nm, can be proposed. The results here described could represent a step forward in the efficient search of new ghrelin analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yoanna M Álvarez Ginarte
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
| | - Luis A Montero Cabrera
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Torz LJ, Osborne-Lawrence S, Rodriguez J, He Z, Cornejo MP, Mustafá ER, Jin C, Petersen N, Hedegaard MA, Nybo M, Damonte VM, Metzger NP, Mani BK, Williams KW, Raingo J, Perello M, Holst B, Zigman JM. Metabolic insights from a GHSR-A203E mutant mouse model. Mol Metab 2020; 39:101004. [PMID: 32339772 PMCID: PMC7242877 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Binding of ghrelin to its receptor, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), stimulates GH release, induces eating, and increases blood glucose. These processes may also be influenced by constitutive (ghrelin-independent) GHSR activity, as suggested by findings in short people with naturally occurring GHSR-A204E mutations and reduced food intake and blood glucose in rodents administered GHSR inverse agonists, both of which impair constitutive GHSR activity. In this study, we aimed to more fully determine the physiologic relevance of constitutive GHSR activity. Methods We generated mice with a GHSR mutation that replaces alanine at position 203 with glutamate (GHSR-A203E), which corresponds to the previously described human GHSR-A204E mutation, and used them to conduct ex vivo neuronal electrophysiology and in vivo metabolic assessments. We also measured signaling within COS-7 and HEK293T cells transfected with wild-type GHSR (GHSR-WT) or GHSR-A203E constructs. Results In COS-7 cells, GHSR-A203E resulted in lower baseline IP3 accumulation than GHSR-WT; ghrelin-induced IP3 accumulation was observed in both constructs. In HEK293T cells co-transfected with voltage-gated CaV2.2 calcium channel complex, GHSR-A203E had no effect on basal CaV2.2 current density while GHSR-WT did; both GHSR-A203E and GHSR-WT inhibited CaV2.2 current in the presence of ghrelin. In cultured hypothalamic neurons from GHSR-A203E and GHSR-deficient mice, native calcium currents were greater than those in neurons from wild-type mice; ghrelin inhibited calcium currents in cultured hypothalamic neurons from both GHSR-A203E and wild-type mice. In brain slices, resting membrane potentials of arcuate NPY neurons from GHSR-A203E mice were hyperpolarized compared to those from wild-type mice; the same percentage of arcuate NPY neurons from GHSR-A203E and wild-type mice depolarized upon ghrelin exposure. The GHSR-A203E mutation did not significantly affect body weight, body length, or femur length in the first ∼6 months of life, yet these parameters were lower in GHSR-A203E mice after 1 year of age. During a 7-d 60% caloric restriction regimen, GHSR-A203E mice lacked the usual marked rise in plasma GH and demonstrated an exaggerated drop in blood glucose. Administered ghrelin also exhibited reduced orexigenic and GH secretagogue efficacies in GHSR-A203E mice. Conclusions Our data suggest that the A203E mutation ablates constitutive GHSR activity and that constitutive GHSR activity contributes to the native depolarizing conductance of GHSR-expressing arcuate NPY neurons. Although the A203E mutation does not block ghrelin-evoked signaling as assessed using in vitro and ex vivo models, GHSR-A203E mice lack the usual acute food intake response to administered ghrelin in vivo. The GHSR-A203E mutation also blunts GH release, and in aged mice leads to reduced body length and femur length, which are consistent with the short stature of human carriers of the GHSR-A204E mutation. We generated mice with a GHSR mutation replacing Ala at position 203 with Glu. The A203E mutation ablates constitutive GHSR activity & hyperpolarizes NPY neurons. GHSR-A203E mice lack the usual orexigenic response to administered ghrelin. The GHSR-A203E mutation blunts GH release and causes reduced body length. This finding is consistent with short stature in human carriers of the GHSR-A204E mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola J Torz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sherri Osborne-Lawrence
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Juan Rodriguez
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Zhenyan He
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Emilio Román Mustafá
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA)], La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Chunyu Jin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natalia Petersen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Hedegaard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maja Nybo
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Valentina Martínez Damonte
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA)], La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Nathan P Metzger
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bharath K Mani
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kevin W Williams
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jesica Raingo
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology of the Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA)], La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mario Perello
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Birgitte Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Jeffrey M Zigman
- Center for Hypothalamic Research, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Hedegaard MA, Holst B. The Complex Signaling Pathways of the Ghrelin Receptor. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5734640. [PMID: 32049280 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ghrelin receptor (GhrR) is known for its strong orexigenic effects in pharmacological doses and has long been considered as a promising target for the treatment of obesity. Several antagonists have been developed to decrease the orexigenic signaling, but none of these have been approved for the treatment of obesity because of adverse effects and lack of efficacy. Heterodimerization and biased signaling are important concepts for G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, and the influence of these aspects on the GhrR may be important for feeding behavior and obesity. GhrR has been described to heterodimerize with other GPCRs, such as the dopamine receptors 1 and 2, leading to a modulation of the signaling properties of both dimerization partners. Another complicating factor of GhrR-mediated signaling is its ability to activate several different signaling pathways on ligand stimulation. Importantly, some ligands have shown to be "biased" or "functionally selective," implying that the ligand favors a particular signaling pathway. These unique signaling properties could have a sizeable impact on the physiological functions of the GhrR system. Importantly, heterodimerization may explain why the GhrR is expressed in areas of the brain that are difficult for peptide ligands to access. One possibility is that the purpose of GhrR expression is to modulate the function of other receptors in addition to merely being independently activated. We suggest that a deeper understanding of the signaling properties of the GhrR will facilitate future drug discovery in the areas of obesity and weight management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morten Adler Hedegaard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Holst
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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Davenport AP, Scully CCG, de Graaf C, Brown AJH, Maguire JJ. Advances in therapeutic peptides targeting G protein-coupled receptors. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:389-413. [PMID: 32494050 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-0062-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of peptide-activated pathways causes a range of diseases, fostering the discovery and clinical development of peptide drugs. Many endogenous peptides activate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) - nearly 50 GPCR peptide drugs have been approved to date, most of them for metabolic disease or oncology, and more than 10 potentially first-in-class peptide therapeutics are in the pipeline. The majority of existing peptide therapeutics are agonists, which reflects the currently dominant strategy of modifying the endogenous peptide sequence of ligands for peptide-binding GPCRs. Increasingly, novel strategies are being employed to develop both agonists and antagonists, to both introduce chemical novelty and improve drug-like properties. Pharmacodynamic improvements are evolving to allow biasing ligands to activate specific downstream signalling pathways, in order to optimize efficacy and reduce side effects. In pharmacokinetics, modifications that increase plasma half-life have been revolutionary. Here, we discuss the current status of the peptide drugs targeting GPCRs, with a focus on evolving strategies to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony P Davenport
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | | | | | | | - Janet J Maguire
- Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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14
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Guillien M, le Maire A, Mouhand A, Bernadó P, Bourguet W, Banères JL, Sibille N. IDPs and their complexes in GPCR and nuclear receptor signaling. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 174:105-155. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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15
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16
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Bender BJ, Vortmeier G, Ernicke S, Bosse M, Kaiser A, Els-Heindl S, Krug U, Beck-Sickinger A, Meiler J, Huster D. Structural Model of Ghrelin Bound to its G Protein-Coupled Receptor. Structure 2019; 27:537-544.e4. [PMID: 30686667 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The peptide ghrelin targets the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR) to signal changes in cell metabolism and is a sought-after therapeutic target, although no structure is known to date. To investigate the structural basis of ghrelin binding to GHSR, we used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, site-directed mutagenesis, and Rosetta modeling. The use of saturation transfer difference NMR identified key residues in the peptide for receptor binding beyond the known motif. This information combined with assignment of the secondary structure of ghrelin in its receptor-bound state was incorporated into Rosetta using an approach that accounts for flexible binding partners. The NMR data and models revealed an extended binding surface that was confirmed via mutagenesis. Our results agree with a growing evidence of peptides interacting via two sites at G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Joseph Bender
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Gerrit Vortmeier
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Department, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Ernicke
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mathias Bosse
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Department, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anette Kaiser
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sylvia Els-Heindl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Krug
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Department, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Annette Beck-Sickinger
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, Brüderstrasse 34, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Meiler
- Department of Pharmacology and Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - Daniel Huster
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Medical Department, Leipzig University, Härtelstrasse 16-18, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
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Translating biased signaling in the ghrelin receptor system into differential in vivo functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E10255-E10264. [PMID: 30301804 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804003115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Biased signaling has been suggested as a means of selectively modulating a limited fraction of the signaling pathways for G-protein-coupled receptor family members. Hence, biased ligands may allow modulation of only the desired physiological functions and not elicit undesired effects associated with pharmacological treatments. The ghrelin receptor is a highly sought antiobesity target, since the gut hormone ghrelin in humans has been shown to increase both food intake and fat accumulation. However, it also modulates mood, behavior, growth hormone secretion, and gastric motility. Thus, blocking all pathways of this receptor may give rise to potential side effects. In the present study, we describe a highly promiscuous signaling capacity for the ghrelin receptor. We tested selected ligands for their ability to regulate the various pathways engaged by the receptor. Among those, a biased ligand, YIL781, was found to activate the Gαq/11 and Gα12 pathways selectively without affecting the engagement of β-arrestin or other G proteins. YIL781 was further characterized for its in vivo physiological functions. In combination with the use of mice in which Gαq/11 was selectively deleted in the appetite-regulating AgRP neurons, this biased ligand allowed us to demonstrate that selective blockade of Gαq/11, without antagonism at β-arrestin or other G-protein coupling is sufficient to decrease food intake.
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Daina A, Giuliano C, Pietra C, Wang J, Chi Y, Zou Z, Li F, Yan Z, Zhou Y, Guainazzi A, Garcia Rubio S, Zoete V. Rational Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Characterization of Novel Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonists as Potential Treatment against Obesity-Related Metabolic Diseases. J Med Chem 2018; 61:11039-11060. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Daina
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Giuliano
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Pietra
- Research and Preclinical Development Department, Helsinn Healthcare, CH-6912 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Junbo Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yushi Chi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zack Zou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism, Sundia MediTech, 388 Jialilue Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Fugang Li
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Zhonghua Yan
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Discovery Biology, HD Biosciences, 590 Ruiqing Road Zhangjiang East Campus, Shanghai 201201, China
| | - Angelo Guainazzi
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Silvina Garcia Rubio
- Research and Development Department, Helsinn Therapeutics (US), Inc., Iselin, New Jersey 08830, United-States
| | - Vincent Zoete
- Molecular Modeling Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Fundamental Oncology, Lausanne University, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Route de la Corniche 9A, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
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Kim JM, Byambaragchaa M, Kang MH, Min KS. The C-terminal Phosphorylation Sites of eel Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor are Important Role in the Signal Transduction. Dev Reprod 2018; 22:143-153. [PMID: 30023464 PMCID: PMC6048309 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2018.22.2.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The large extracellular domain of glycoprotein hormone receptors is a unique feature within the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family. After interaction with the hormone, the receptor becomes coupled to Gs, which, in turn stimulates adenylyl cyclase and the production of cAMP. Potential phosphorylation sites exist in the C-terminal region of GPCRs. The experiments described herein represent attempts to determine the functions of the eel follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (eelFSHR). We constructed a mutant of eelFSHR, in which the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail was truncated at residue 614 (eelFSHR-t614). The eelFSHR-t614 lacked all potential phosphorylation sites present in the C-terminal region of eelFSHR. In order to obtain the eelFSHR ligand, we produced recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-eelFSHβ/α) in the CHO-suspension cells. The expression level was 2-3 times higher than that of the transient expression of eelFSH in attached CHO-K1 cells. The molecular weight of the rec-eelFSHβ/α protein was identified to be approximately 34 kDa. The cells expressing eelFSHR-t614 showed an increase in agonist-induced cAMP responsiveness. The maximal cAMP responses of cells expressing eelFSHR-t614 were lower than those of cells expressing eelFSHR-wild type (eelFSHR-WT). The EC50 following C-terminal deletion in CHO-K1 cells was approximately 60.4% of that of eelFSHR-WT. The maximal response in eelFSHR-t614 cells was also drastically lower than that of eelFSHR-WT. We also found similar results in PathHunter Parental cells expressing β-arrestin. Thus, these data provide evidence that the truncation of the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail phosphorylation sites in the eelFSHR greatly decreased cAMP responsiveness and maximal response in both CHO-K1 cells and PathHunter Parental cells expressing β-arrestin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Min Kim
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Dept. of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
| | - Munkhzaya Byambaragchaa
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Dept. of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
| | - Myung-Hwa Kang
- Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, Hoseo University, Asan 31499, Korea
| | - Kwan-Sik Min
- Animal Biotechnology, Graduate School of Future Convergence Technology, Dept. of Animal Life Science, Institute of Genetic Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 17579, Korea
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Abstract
Ghrelin, a gastric-derived acylated peptide, regulates energy homeostasis by transmitting information about peripheral nutritional status to the brain, and is essential for protecting organisms against famine. Ghrelin operates brain circuits to regulate homeostatic and hedonic feeding. Recent research advances have shed new light on ghrelin's multifaceted roles in cellular homeostasis, which could maintain the internal environment and overcome metaflammation in metabolic organs. Here, we highlight our current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of the ghrelin system in energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis and its clinical trials. Future studies of ghrelin will further elucidate how the stomach regulates systemic homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigehisa Yanagi
- Divisions of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Takahiro Sato
- Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume 839-0864, Japan
| | - Kenji Kangawa
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Masamitsu Nakazato
- Divisions of Neurology, Respirology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan; AMED-CREST, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan.
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21
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Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors are the largest family of targets for current therapeutics. The classic model of their activation was binary, where agonist binding induced an active conformation and subsequent downstream signaling. Subsequently, the revised concept of biased agonism emerged, where different ligands at the same G protein-coupled receptor selectively activate one downstream pathway versus another. Advances in understanding the mechanism of biased agonism have led to the development of novel ligands, which have the potential for improved therapeutic and safety profiles. In this review, we summarize the theory and most recent breakthroughs in understanding biased signaling, examine recent laboratory investigations concerning biased ligands across different organ systems, and discuss the promising clinical applications of biased agonism.
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Engelstoft MS, Norn C, Hauge M, Holliday ND, Elster L, Lehmann J, Jones RM, Frimurer TM, Schwartz TW. Structural basis for constitutive activity and agonist-induced activation of the enteroendocrine fat sensor GPR119. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 171:5774-89. [PMID: 25117266 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE GPR119 is a Gαs-coupled 7TM receptor activated by endogenous lipids such as oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and by the dietary triglyceride metabolite 2-monoacylglycerol. GPR119 stimulates enteroendocrine hormone and insulin secretion. But despite massive drug discovery efforts in the field, very little is known about the basic molecular pharmacology of GPR119. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH GPR119 receptor signalling was studied in transfected cells. Mutational mapping (30 mutations in 23 positions) was performed on residues required for ligand-independent and agonist-induced GPR119 activation (AR231453 and OEA). Novel Rosetta-based receptor modelling was applied, using a composite template approach with segments from different X-ray structures and fully flexible ligand docking. KEY RESULTS The increased signalling induced by increasing the cell surface expression of GPR119 in the absence of agonist and the inhibitory effect of two synthetic inverse agonists demonstrated that GRP119 signals with a high degree of constitutive activity through the Gαs pathway. The mutational maps for AR231453 and OEA were very similar and, surprisingly, also similar to the mutational map for residues affecting the constitutive signalling - albeit with key differences. Surprisingly, almost all residues in extracellular loop-2b were important for the constitutive activity. The molecular modelling and docking demonstrated that AR231453 binds in a 'vertical' pocket in between mutational hits reaching from the centre of the receptor out to extracellular loop-2b. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The high constitutive activity of GPR119 should be taken into account in future drug discovery efforts, which can now be guided by the detailed knowledge of the physiochemical properties of the extended ligand-binding pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Engelstoft
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Section for Metabolic Receptology and Enteroendocrinology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ghrelin receptor conformational dynamics regulate the transition from a preassembled to an active receptor:Gq complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:1601-6. [PMID: 25605885 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414618112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
How G protein-coupled receptor conformational dynamics control G protein coupling to trigger signaling is a key but still open question. We addressed this question with a model system composed of the purified ghrelin receptor assembled into lipid discs. Combining receptor labeling through genetic incorporation of unnatural amino acids, lanthanide resonance energy transfer, and normal mode analyses, we directly demonstrate the occurrence of two distinct receptor:Gq assemblies with different geometries whose relative populations parallel the activation state of the receptor. The first of these assemblies is a preassembled complex with the receptor in its basal conformation. This complex is specific of Gq and is not observed with Gi. The second one is an active assembly in which the receptor in its active conformation triggers G protein activation. The active complex is present even in the absence of agonist, in a direct relationship with the high constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor. These data provide direct evidence of a mechanism for ghrelin receptor-mediated Gq signaling in which transition of the receptor from an inactive to an active conformation is accompanied by a rearrangement of a preassembled receptor:G protein complex, ultimately leading to G protein activation and signaling.
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Evron T, Peterson SM, Urs NM, Bai Y, Rochelle LK, Caron MG, Barak LS. G Protein and β-arrestin signaling bias at the ghrelin receptor. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:33442-55. [PMID: 25261469 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.581397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The G protein-coupled ghrelin receptor GHSR1a is a potential pharmacological target for treating obesity and addiction because of the critical role ghrelin plays in energy homeostasis and dopamine-dependent reward. GHSR1a enhances growth hormone release, appetite, and dopamine signaling through G(q/11), G(i/o), and G(12/13) as well as β-arrestin-based scaffolds. However, the contribution of individual G protein and β-arrestin pathways to the diverse physiological responses mediated by ghrelin remains unknown. To characterize whether a signaling bias occurs for GHSR1a, we investigated ghrelin signaling in a number of cell-based assays, including Ca(2+) mobilization, serum response factor response element, stress fiber formation, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and β-arrestin translocation, utilizing intracellular second loop and C-tail mutants of GHSR1a. We observed that GHSR1a and β-arrestin rapidly form metastable plasma membrane complexes following exposure to an agonist, but replacement of the GHSR1a C-tail by the tail of the vasopressin 2 receptor greatly stabilizes them, producing complexes observable on the plasma membrane and also in endocytic vesicles. Mutations of the contiguous conserved amino acids Pro-148 and Leu-149 in the GHSR1a intracellular second loop generate receptors with a strong bias to G protein and β-arrestin, respectively, supporting a role for conformation-dependent signaling bias in the wild-type receptor. Our results demonstrate more balance in GHSR1a-mediated ERK signaling from G proteins and β-arrestin but uncover an important role for β-arrestin in RhoA activation and stress fiber formation. These findings suggest an avenue for modulating drug abuse-associated changes in synaptic plasticity via GHSR1a and indicate the development of GHSR1a-biased ligands as a promising strategy for selectively targeting downstream signaling events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Yushi Bai
- From the Departments of Cell Biology
| | | | - Marc G Caron
- From the Departments of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Medicine, Duke University, Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710
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25
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Sivertsen B, Holliday N, Madsen AN, Holst B. Functionally biased signalling properties of 7TM receptors - opportunities for drug development for the ghrelin receptor. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 170:1349-62. [PMID: 24032557 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The ghrelin receptor is a 7 transmembrane (7TM) receptor involved in a variety of physiological functions including growth hormone secretion, increased food intake and fat accumulation as well as modulation of reward and cognitive functions. Because of its important role in metabolism and energy expenditure, the ghrelin receptor has become an important therapeutic target for drug design and the development of anti-obesity compounds. However, none of the compounds developed so far have been approved for commercial use. Interestingly, the ghrelin receptor is able to signal through several different signalling pathways including Gαq , Gαi/o , Gα12/13 and arrestin recruitment. These multiple signalling pathways allow for functionally biased signalling, where one signalling pathway may be favoured over another either by selective ligands or through mutations in the receptor. In the present review, we have described how ligands and mutations in the 7TM receptor may bias the receptors to favour either one G-protein over another or to promote G-protein independent signalling pathways rather than G-protein-dependent pathways. For the ghrelin receptor, both agonist and inverse agonists have been demonstrated to signal more strongly through the Gαq -coupled pathway than the Gα12/13 -coupled pathway. Similarly a ligand that promotes Gαq coupling over Gαi coupling has been described and it has been suggested that several different active conformations of the receptor may exist dependent on the properties of the agonist. Importantly, ligands with such biased signalling properties may allow the development of drugs that selectively modulate only the therapeutically relevant physiological functions, thereby decreasing the risk of side effects. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Neuropeptides. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2013.170.issue-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Sivertsen
- Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, the Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Callaghan B, Furness JB. Novel and Conventional Receptors for Ghrelin, Desacyl-Ghrelin, and Pharmacologically Related Compounds. Pharmacol Rev 2014; 66:984-1001. [DOI: 10.1124/pr.113.008433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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McCoull W, Barton P, Brown AJH, Bowker SS, Cameron J, Clarke DS, Davies RDM, Dossetter AG, Ertan A, Fenwick M, Green C, Holmes JL, Martin N, Masters D, Moore JE, Newcombe NJ, Newton C, Pointon H, Robb GR, Sheldon C, Stokes S, Morgan D. Identification, Optimization, and Pharmacology of Acylurea GHS-R1a Inverse Agonists. J Med Chem 2014; 57:6128-40. [DOI: 10.1021/jm500610n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William McCoull
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Peter Barton
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | | | | | - Jennifer Cameron
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - David S. Clarke
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | | | | | - Anne Ertan
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Mark Fenwick
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Clive Green
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Jane L. Holmes
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Nathaniel Martin
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - David Masters
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Jane E. Moore
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | | | - Claire Newton
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Helen Pointon
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - Graeme R. Robb
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | | | - Stephen Stokes
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
| | - David Morgan
- AstraZeneca, Mereside, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TG, U.K
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The growth hormone secretagogue receptor: its intracellular signaling and regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:4837-55. [PMID: 24651458 PMCID: PMC3975427 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15034837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), also known as the ghrelin receptor, is involved in mediating a wide variety of biological effects of ghrelin, including: stimulation of growth hormone release, increase of food intake and body weight, modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, regulation of gastrointestinal motility and secretion, protection of neuronal and cardiovascular cells, and regulation of immune function. Dependent on the tissues and cells, activation of GHSR may trigger a diversity of signaling mechanisms and subsequent distinct physiological responses. Distinct regulation of GHSR occurs at levels of transcription, receptor interaction and internalization. Here we review the current understanding on the intracellular signaling pathways of GHSR and its modulation. An overview of the molecular structure of GHSR is presented first, followed by the discussion on its signaling mechanisms. Finally, potential mechanisms regulating GHSR are reviewed.
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Mear Y, Enjalbert A, Thirion S. GHS-R1a constitutive activity and its physiological relevance. Front Neurosci 2013; 7:87. [PMID: 23754971 PMCID: PMC3665924 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abundant evidences have shown that ghrelin, by its binding to GHS-R1a, plays an important role for fundamental physiological functions. Increasing attention is given to the GHS-R1a unusually high constitutive activity and its contribution to downstream signaling and physiological processes. Here, we review recent lines of evidences showing that the interaction between ligand-binding pocket TM domains and the ECL2 could be partially responsible for this high constitutive activity. Interestingly, GHSR-1a constitutive activity activates in turn the downstream PLC, PKC, and CRE signaling pathways and this activation is reversed by the inverse agonist [D-Arg1, D-Phe5, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-substance P (MSP). Noteworthy, GHSR-1a exhibits a C-terminal-dependent constitutive internalization. Non-sense GHS-R1a mutation (Ala204Glu), first discovered in Moroccan patients, supports the role of GHSR-1a constitutive activity in physiological impairments. Ala204Glu-point mutation, altering exclusively the GHSR-1a constitutive activity, was associated with familial short stature syndrome. Altogether, these findings suggest that GHS-R1a constitutive activity could contribute to GH secretion or body weight regulation. Consequently, future research on basic and clinical applications of GHS-R1a inverse agonists will be challenging and potentially rewarding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yves Mear
- CNRS, CRN2M UMR7286, Aix Marseille University Marseille, France
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