Novel structural and functional insights into M3 muscarinic receptor dimer/oligomer formation

Angiotensin and Endothelin Receptor Structures With Implications for Signaling Regulation and Pharmacological Targeting

In conjunction with the endothelin (ET) type A (ETAR) and type B (ETBR) receptors, angiotensin (AT) type 1 (AT1R) and type 2 (AT2R) receptors, are peptide-binding class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) acting in a physiologically overlapping context. Angiotensin receptors (ATRs) are involved in regulating cell proliferation, as well as cardiovascular, renal, neurological, and endothelial functions. They are important therapeutic targets for several diseases or pathological conditions, such as hypertrophy, vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and cancer. Endothelin receptors (ETRs) are expressed primarily in blood vessels, but also in the central nervous system or epithelial cells. They regulate blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis. Pathogenic conditions associated with ETR dysfunctions include cancer and pulmonary hypertension. While both receptor groups are activated by their respective peptide agonists, pathogenic autoantibodies (auto-Abs) can also activate the AT1R and ETAR accompanied by respective clinical conditions. To date, the exact mechanisms and differences in binding and receptor-activation mediated by auto-Abs as opposed to endogenous ligands are not well understood. Further, several questions regarding signaling regulation in these receptors remain open. In the last decade, several receptor structures in the apo- and ligand-bound states were determined with protein X-ray crystallography using conventional synchrotrons or X-ray Free-Electron Lasers (XFEL). These inactive and active complexes provide detailed information on ligand binding, signal induction or inhibition, as well as signal transduction, which is fundamental for understanding properties of different activity states. They are also supportive in the development of pharmacological strategies against dysfunctions at the receptors or in the associated signaling axis. Here, we summarize current structural information for the AT1R, AT2R, and ETBR to provide an improved molecular understanding.

Structural Complexity and Plasticity of Signaling Regulation at the Melanocortin-4 Receptor

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), essential for regulation of appetite and metabolism. Pathogenic inactivating MC4R mutations are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity, a growing medical and socioeconomic problem worldwide. The MC4R mediates either ligand-independent or ligand-dependent signaling. Agonists such as α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induce anorexigenic effects, in contrast to the endogenous inverse agonist agouti-related peptide (AgRP), which causes orexigenic effects by suppressing high basal signaling activity. Agonist action triggers the binding of different subtypes of G proteins and arrestins, leading to concomitant induction of diverse intracellular signaling cascades. An increasing number of experimental studies have unraveled molecular properties and mechanisms of MC4R signal transduction related to physiological and pathophysiological aspects. In addition, the MC4R crystal structure was recently determined at 2.75 Å resolution in an inactive state bound with a peptide antagonist. Underpinned by structural homology models of MC4R complexes simulating a presumably active-state conformation compared to the structure of the inactive state, we here briefly summarize the current understanding and key players involved in the MC4R switching process between different activity states. Finally, these perspectives highlight the complexity and plasticity in MC4R signaling regulation and identify gaps in our current knowledge.

Toward Understanding the Impact of Dimerization Interfaces in Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) is a prototypical class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has an important role in cardiovascular pathologies and blood pressure regulation as well as in the central nervous system. GPCRs may exist and function as monomers; however, they can assemble to form higher order structures, and as a result of oligomerization, their function and signaling profiles can be altered. In the case of AT1R, the classical Gα_q/11 pathway is initiated with endogenous agonist angiotensin II binding. A variety of cardiovascular pathologies such as heart failure, diabetic nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and hypertension are associated with this pathway. Recent findings reveal that AT1R can form homodimers and activate the noncanonical (β-arrestin-mediated) pathway. Nevertheless, the exact dimerization interface and atomic details of AT1R homodimerization have not been still elucidated. Here, six different symmetrical dimer interfaces of AT1R are considered, and homodimers were constructed using other published GPCR crystal dimer interfaces as template structures. These AT1R homodimers were then inserted into the model membrane bilayers and subjected to all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulation results along with the principal component analysis and water pathway analysis suggest four different interfaces as the most plausible: symmetrical transmembrane (TM)1,2,8; TM5; TM4; and TM4,5 AT1R dimer interfaces that consist of one inactive and one active protomer. Moreover, we identified ILE238^6.33 as a hub residue in the stabilization of the inactive state of AT1R.

Signal Transduction and Pathogenic Modifications at the Melanocortin-4 Receptor: A Structural Perspective

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) can be endogenously activated by binding of melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH), which mediates anorexigenic effects. In contrast, the agouti-related peptide (AgRP) acts as an endogenous inverse agonist and suppresses ligand-independent basal signaling activity (orexigenic effects). Binding of ligands to MC4R leads to the activation of different G-protein subtypes or arrestin and concomitant signaling pathways. This receptor is a key protein in the hypothalamic regulation of food intake and energy expenditure and naturally-occurring inactivating MC4R variants are the most frequent cause of monogenic obesity. In general, obesity is a growing problem on a global scale and is of social, medical, and economic relevance. A significant goal is to develop optimized pharmacological tools targeting MC4R without adverse effects. To date, this has not been achieved because of inter alia non-selective ligands across the five functionally different MCR subtypes (MC1-5R). This motivates further investigation of (i) the three-dimensional MC4R structure, (ii) binding mechanisms of various ligands, and (iii) the molecular transfer process of signal transduction, with the aim of understanding how structural features are linked with functional-physiological aspects. Unfortunately, experimentally elucidated structural information is not yet available for the MC receptors, a group of class A G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). We, therefore, generated MC4R homology models and complexes with interacting partners to describe approximate structural properties associated with signaling mechanisms. In addition, molecular insights from pathogenic mutations were incorporated to discriminate more precisely their individual malfunction of the signal transfer mechanism.

Permanent Photodynamic Cholecystokinin 1 Receptor Activation: Dimer-to-Monomer Conversion

The G protein-coupled cholecystokinin 1 receptor (CCK1R) is activated permanently by type II photodynamic action (i.e., by singlet oxygen) in the freshly isolated rat pancreatic acini, in contrast to reversible activation by CCK. But how CCK1R is photodynamically activated is not known. Therefore, in the present work, we subjected membrane proteins extracted from isolated rat pancreatic acini to photodynamic action with photosensitiser sulphonated aluminium phthalocyanine (SALPC), and used reducing gel electrophoresis and Western blot to detect possible changes in CCK1R oligomerization status. Photodynamic action (SALPC 1 µM, light 36.7 mW cm^- 2 × 10 min) was found to convert dimeric CCK1R nearly quantitatively to monomers. Such conversion was dependent on both irradiance (8.51-36.7 mW cm^- 2) and irradiation time (1-20 min). Minimum effective irradiance was found to be 11.1 mW cm^- 2 (× 10 min, with SALPC 1 µM), and brief photodynamic action (SALPC 1 µM, 36.7 mW cm^- 2 × 1 min) was effective. Whilst CCK stimulation of purified membrane proteins alone had no effect on CCK1R dimer/monomer balance, sub-threshold photodynamic action (SALPC 100 nM, 36.7 mW cm^- 2 × 10 min) plus CCK revealed a bell-shaped CCK dose response curve for CCK1R monomerization, which was remarkably similar to the dose response curve for CCK-stimulated amylase secretion in isolated rat pancreatic acini. These two lines of evidence together suggest that during photodynamic CCK1R activation, CCK1R is permanently monomerized, thus providing a unique approach for permanent G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation which has not been achieved before.

Muscarinic receptor oligomerization

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been classically described as monomeric entities that function by binding in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio to both ligand and downstream signalling proteins. However, in recent years, a growing number of studies has supported the hypothesis that these receptors can interact to form dimers and higher order oligomers although the molecular basis for these interactions, the overall quaternary arrangements and the functional importance of GPCR oligomerization remain topics of intense speculation. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors belong to class A of the GPCR family. Each muscarinic receptor subtype has its own particular distribution throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the central nervous system, muscarinic receptors regulate several sensory, cognitive, and motor functions while, in the peripheral nervous system, they are involved in the regulation of heart rate, stimulation of glandular secretion and smooth muscle contraction. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors have long been used as a model for the study of GPCR structure and function and to address aspects of GPCR dimerization using a broad range of approaches. In this review, the prevailing knowledge regarding the quaternary arrangement for the various muscarinic acetylcholine receptors has been summarized by discussing work ranging from initial results obtained using more traditional biochemical approaches to those generated with more modern biophysical techniques. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Neuropharmacology on Muscarinic Receptors'.

Oligomerization and cooperativity in GPCRs from the perspective of the angiotensin AT1 and dopamine D2 receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) can form homo- and heterodimers or constitute higher oligomeric clusters with other heptahelical GPCRs. In this article, multiscale molecular modeling approaches as well as experimental techniques which are used to study oligomerization of GPCRs are reviewed. In particular, the effect of dimerization/oligomerization to the ligand binding affinity of individual protomers and also on the efficacy of the oligomer are discussed by including diverse examples from the literature. In addition, possible allosteric effects that may emerge upon interaction of GPCRs with membrane components, like cholesterol, is also discussed. Investigation of these above-mentioned interactions may greatly contribute to the candidate molecule screening studies and development of novel therapeutics with fewer adverse effects.

Engineered Cross-Linking to Study the Pore Architecture of the CRAC Channel

ORAI1 constitutes the pore-forming subunit of the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel, a prototypical store-operated channel that is essential for the activation of cells of the immune system. Here we describe a convenient yet powerful cross-linking approach to examine the pore architecture of CRAC channels using ORAI1 proteins engineered to contain one or two cysteine residues. The generalizable cross-linking in situ approach can also be readily extended to study other integral membrane proteins expressed in various types of cells.

Regulation of the Oligomeric Status of CCR3 with Binding Ligands Revealed by Single-Molecule Fluorescence Imaging

The relationship between the oligomeric status and functions of chemokine receptor CCR3 is still controversial. We use total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy at the single-molecule level to visualize the oligomeric status of CCR3 and its regulation of the membrane of stably transfected T-REx-293 cells. We find that the population of the dimers and oligomers of CCR3 can be modulated by the binding of ligands. Natural agonists can induce an increase in the level of dimers and oligomers at high concentrations, whereas antagonists do not have a significant influence on the oligomeric status. Moreover, monomeric CCR3 exhibits a stronger chemotactic response in the migration assay of stably transfected CCR3 cells. Together, these data support the notion that CCR3 exists as a mixture of monomers and dimers under nearly physiological conditions and the monomeric CCR3 receptor is the minimal functional unit in cellular signaling transduction. To the best of our knowledge, these results constitute the first report of the oligomeric status of CCR3 and its regulation.

Spatial Intensity Distribution Analysis: Studies of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Oligomerisation

Spatial intensity distribution analysis (SpIDA) is a recently developed approach for determining quaternary structure information on fluorophore-labelled proteins of interest in situ. It can be applied to live or fixed cells and native tissue. Using confocal images, SpIDA generates fluorescence intensity histograms that are analysed by super-Poissonian distribution functions to obtain density and quantal brightness values of the fluorophore-labelled protein of interest. This allows both expression level and oligomerisation state of the protein to be determined. We describe the application of SpIDA to investigate the oligomeric state of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) at steady state and following cellular challenge, and consider how SpIDA may be used to explore GPCR quaternary organisation in pathophysiology and to stratify medicines.

GPCRs may exist and function as monomers: however, abundant evidence suggests they can form dimers/oligomers.

This concept has implications for drug discovery as it may offer opportunities to modulate the effects of known pharmaceuticals or identify new drug therapies.

A variety of approaches have been applied to this issue from traditional biochemical techniques, via resonance energy transfer approaches to recently developed image analysis-based techniques such as SpIDA. This uses mathematical analysis of confocal microscopy images to generate quantal brightness and density information for a fluorophore-tagged receptor.

SpIDA can be applied to live or fixed cells and native tissue.

SpIDA has been applied to GPCRs from each of the major subfamilies to explore their oligomerisation status at steady state and their regulation by receptor density and ligand binding.

Structural-Functional Features of the Thyrotropin Receptor: A Class A G-Protein-Coupled Receptor at Work

The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) is a member of the glycoprotein hormone receptors, a sub-group of class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). TSHR and its endogenous ligand thyrotropin (TSH) are of essential importance for growth and function of the thyroid gland and proper function of the TSH/TSHR system is pivotal for production and release of thyroid hormones. This receptor is also important with respect to pathophysiology, such as autoimmune (including ophthalmopathy) or non-autoimmune thyroid dysfunctions and cancer development. Pharmacological interventions directly targeting the TSHR should provide benefits to disease treatment compared to currently available therapies of dysfunctions associated with the TSHR or the thyroid gland. Upon TSHR activation, the molecular events conveying conformational changes from the extra- to the intracellular side of the cell across the membrane comprise reception, conversion, and amplification of the signal. These steps are highly dependent on structural features of this receptor and its intermolecular interaction partners, e.g., TSH, antibodies, small molecules, G-proteins, or arrestin. For better understanding of signal transduction, pathogenic mechanisms such as autoantibody action and mutational modifications or for developing new pharmacological strategies, it is essential to combine available structural data with functional information to generate homology models of the entire receptor. Although so far these insights are fragmental, in the past few decades essential contributions have been made to investigate in-depth the involved determinants, such as by structure determination via X-ray crystallography. This review summarizes available knowledge (as of December 2016) concerning the TSHR protein structure, associated functional aspects, and based on these insights we suggest several receptor complex models. Moreover, distinct TSHR properties will be highlighted in comparison to other class A GPCRs to understand the molecular activation mechanisms of this receptor comprehensively. Finally, limitations of current knowledge and lack of information are discussed highlighting the need for intensified efforts toward TSHR structure elucidation.

Insights into Basal Signaling Regulation, Oligomerization, and Structural Organization of the Human G-Protein Coupled Receptor 83

The murine G-protein coupled receptor 83 (mGPR83) is expressed in the hypothalamus and was previously suggested to be involved in the regulation of metabolism. The neuropeptide PEN has been recently identified as a potent GPR83 ligand. Moreover, GPR83 constitutes functionally relevant hetero-oligomers with other G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) such as the ghrelin receptor (GHSR) or GPR171. Previous deletion studies also revealed that the long N-terminal extracellular receptor domain (eNDo) of mGPR83 may act as an intra-molecular ligand, which participates in the regulation of basal signaling activity, which is a key feature of GPCR function. Here, we investigated particular amino acids at the eNDo of human GPR83 (hGPR83) by side-directed mutagenesis to identify determinants of the internal ligand. These studies were accompanied by structure homology modeling to combine functional insights with structural information. The capacity for hetero-oligomer formation of hGPR83 with diverse family A GPCRs such as the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) was also investigated, with a specific emphasis on the impact of the eNDo on oligomerization and basal signaling properties. Finally, we demonstrate that hGPR83 exhibits an unusual basal signaling for different effectors, which also supports signaling promiscuity. hGPR83 interacts with a variety of hypothalamic GPCRs such as the MC4R or GHSR. These interactions are not dependent on the ectodomain and most likely occur at interfaces constituted in the transmembrane regions. Moreover, several amino acids at the transition between the eNDo and transmembrane helix 1 were identified, where mutations lead also to biased basal signaling modulation.

Oligomerization of GPCRs involved in endocrine regulation

More than 800 different human membrane-spanning G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) serve as signal transducers at biological barriers. These receptors are activated by a wide variety of ligands such as peptides, ions and hormones, and are able to activate a diverse set of intracellular signaling pathways. GPCRs are of central importance in endocrine regulation, which underpins the significance of comprehensively studying these receptors and interrelated systems. During the last decade, the capacity for multimerization of GPCRs was found to be a common and functionally relevant property. The interaction between GPCR monomers results in higher order complexes such as homomers (identical receptor subtype) or heteromers (different receptor subtypes), which may be present in a specific and dynamic monomer/oligomer equilibrium. It is widely accepted that the oligomerization of GPCRs is a mechanism for determining the fine-tuning and expansion of cellular processes by modification of ligand action, expression levels, and related signaling outcome. Accordingly, oligomerization provides exciting opportunities to optimize pharmacological treatment with respect to receptor target and tissue selectivity or for the development of diagnostic tools. On the other hand, GPCR heteromerization may be a potential reason for the undesired side effects of pharmacological interventions, faced with numerous and common mutual signaling modifications in heteromeric constellations. Finally, detailed deciphering of the physiological occurrence and relevance of specific GPCR/GPCR-ligand interactions poses a future challenge. This review will tackle the aspects of GPCR oligomerization with specific emphasis on family A GPCRs involved in endocrine regulation, whereby only a subset of these receptors will be discussed in detail.

Structural Insight into Specificity of Interactions between Nonconventional Three-finger Weak Toxin from Naja kaouthia (WTX) and Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Weak toxin from Naja kaouthia (WTX) belongs to the group of nonconventional "three-finger" snake neurotoxins. It irreversibly inhibits nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and allosterically interacts with muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs). Using site-directed mutagenesis, NMR spectroscopy, and computer modeling, we investigated the recombinant mutant WTX analogue (rWTX) which, compared with the native toxin, has an additional N-terminal methionine residue. In comparison with the wild-type toxin, rWTX demonstrated an altered pharmacological profile, decreased binding of orthosteric antagonist N-methylscopolamine to human M1- and M2-mAChRs, and increased antagonist binding to M3-mAChR. Positively charged arginine residues located in the flexible loop II were found to be crucial for rWTX interactions with all types of mAChR. Computer modeling suggested that the rWTX loop II protrudes to the M1-mAChR allosteric ligand-binding site blocking the entrance to the orthosteric site. In contrast, toxin interacts with M3-mAChR by loop II without penetration into the allosteric site. Data obtained provide new structural insight into the target-specific allosteric regulation of mAChRs by "three-finger" snake neurotoxins.

A G protein-coupled receptor dimer imaging assay reveals selectively modified pharmacology of neuropeptide Y Y1/Y5 receptor heterodimers

The ability of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to form dimers, and particularly heterodimers, offers potential for targeted therapeutics with improved selectivity. However, studying dimer pharmacology is challenging, because of signaling cross-talk or because dimerization may often be transient in nature. Here we develop a system to isolate the pharmacology of precisely defined GPCR dimers, trapped by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Specific effects of agonist activation on such dimers are quantified using automated imaging and analysis of their internalization, controlled for by simultaneous assessment of endocytosis of one coexpressed protomer population. We applied this BiFC system to study example neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor dimers. Incorporation of binding-site or phosphorylation-site mutations into just one protomer of a Y1/Y1 BiFC homodimer had no impact on efficient NPY-stimulated endocytosis, demonstrating that single-site agonist occupancy, and one phosphorylated monomer within this dimer, was sufficient. For two Y1 receptor heterodimer combinations (with the Y4 receptor or β2-adrenoceptor), agonist and antagonist pharmacology was explained by independent actions on the respective orthosteric binding sites. However, Y1/Y5 receptor BiFC dimers, compared with the constituent subtypes, were characterized by reduced potency and efficacy of Y5-selective peptide agonists, the inactivity of Y1-selective antagonists, and a change from surmountable to nonsurmountable antagonism for three unrelated Y5 antagonists. Thus, allosteric interactions between Y1 and Y5 receptors modify the pharmacology of the heterodimer, with implications for potential antiobesity agents that target centrally coexpressed Y1 and Y5 receptors to suppress appetite.

Computational structural biology of opioid receptors

The publication of high-resolution structures for all of the opioid receptor subfamilies has unveiled exciting opportunities for mechanistic insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the biology of nociception, reward, and higher cognitive functions, as well as promises for progress in several clinical areas such as pain management, physiological dependence, addiction, and mood disorders. To turn this promise into novel and improved therapeutic entities, however, this information needs to be supplemented with research strategies that explore the dynamic behavior of the proteins and their interactions with other receptors and ligands in their physiological environment.Here we describe state-of-the-art molecular dynamics computational protocols, based on all-atom and coarse-grained modeling techniques, designed to estimate crucial thermodynamic and kinetic parameters describing the binding of small-molecule ligands and the formation of supramolecular complexes.

Dimers of G-protein coupled receptors as versatile storage and response units

The status and use of transmembrane, extracellular and intracellular domains in oligomerization of heptahelical G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are reviewed and for transmembrane assemblies also supplemented by new experimental evidence. The transmembrane-linked GPCR oligomers typically have as the minimal unit an asymmetric ~180 kDa pentamer consisting of receptor homodimer or heterodimer and a G-protein αβγ subunit heterotrimer. With neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors, this assembly is converted to ~90 kDa receptor monomer-Gα complex by receptor and Gα agonists, and dimers/heteropentamers are depleted by neutralization of Gαi subunits by pertussis toxin. Employing gradient centrifugation, quantification and other characterization of GPCR dimers at the level of physically isolated and identified heteropentamers is feasible with labeled agonists that do not dissociate upon solubilization. This is demonstrated with three neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors and could apply to many receptors that use large peptidic agonists.

Differential stability of the crystallographic interfaces of mu- and kappa-opioid receptors

The recent mu-opioid receptor (MOPr) and kappa-opioid receptor (KOPr) crystal structures have inspired hypotheses of physiologically relevant dimerization contacts, specifically: a closely packed interface involving transmembrane (TM) helices TM5 and TM6, and a less compact interface, involving TM1, TM2, and helix 8 (H8). While the former was only found in MOPr crystals, similar arrangements of the latter were identified for both KOPr and MOPr. The relevance of these interfaces outside of a crystal lattice is called into question by the possibility that they might be influenced by the specific crystallization conditions. In this study, we have employed umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulations of coarse-grained representations of the interacting MOPr or KOPr crystallographic structures, in the absence of the T4 lysozyme, and in an explicit lipid-water environment, to determine the strength of receptor dimerization at the different crystallographic interfaces. We note that the shape of the interface plays a dominant role in the strength of the interaction, and the pattern of contacting residues defines the shape of the potential of mean force. This information can be used to guide experiments aimed at exploring the role of dimerization in opioid receptor function.