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Dawson JRD, Wadman GM, Zhang P, Tebben A, Carter PH, Gu S, Shroka T, Borrega-Roman L, Salanga CL, Handel TM, Kufareva I. Molecular determinants of antagonist interactions with chemokine receptors CCR2 and CCR5. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.15.567150. [PMID: 38014122 PMCID: PMC10680698 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.15.567150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
By driving monocyte chemotaxis, the chemokine receptor CCR2 shapes inflammatory responses and the formation of tumor microenvironments. This makes it a promising target in inflammation and immuno-oncology; however, despite extensive efforts, there are no FDA-approved CCR2-targeting therapeutics. Cited challenges include the redundancy of the chemokine system, suboptimal properties of compound candidates, and species differences that confound the translation of results from animals to humans. Structure-based drug design can rationalize and accelerate the discovery and optimization of CCR2 antagonists to address these challenges. The prerequisites for such efforts include an atomic-level understanding of the molecular determinants of action of existing antagonists. In this study, using molecular docking and artificial-intelligence-powered compound library screening, we uncover the structural principles of small molecule antagonism and selectivity towards CCR2 and its sister receptor CCR5. CCR2 orthosteric inhibitors are shown to universally occupy an inactive-state-specific tunnel between receptor helices 1 and 7; we also discover an unexpected role for an extra-helical groove accessible through this tunnel, suggesting its potential as a new targetable interface for CCR2 and CCR5 modulation. By contrast, only shape complementarity and limited helix 8 hydrogen bonding govern the binding of various chemotypes of allosteric antagonists. CCR2 residues S1012.63 and V2446.36 are implicated as determinants of CCR2/CCR5 and human/mouse orthosteric and allosteric antagonist selectivity, respectively, and the role of S1012.63 is corroborated through experimental gain-of-function mutagenesis. We establish a critical role of induced fit in antagonist recognition, reveal strong chemotype selectivity of existing structures, and demonstrate the high predictive potential of a new deep-learning-based compound scoring function. Finally, this study expands the available CCR2 structural landscape with computationally generated chemotype-specific models well-suited for structure-based antagonist design.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R D Dawson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Grant M Wadman
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Percy H Carter
- Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ, USA
- (current affiliation) Blueprint Medicines, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Siyi Gu
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- (current affiliation) Lycia Therapeutics, South San Francisco, CA
| | - Thomas Shroka
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- (current affiliation) Avidity Biosciences Inc., San Diego, CA
| | - Leire Borrega-Roman
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Catherina L Salanga
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tracy M Handel
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Irina Kufareva
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Qiu S, Cai Y, Yao H, Lin C, Xie Y, Tang S, Zhang A. Small molecule metabolites: discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:132. [PMID: 36941259 PMCID: PMC10026263 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01399-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 112.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic abnormalities lead to the dysfunction of metabolic pathways and metabolite accumulation or deficiency which is well-recognized hallmarks of diseases. Metabolite signatures that have close proximity to subject's phenotypic informative dimension, are useful for predicting diagnosis and prognosis of diseases as well as monitoring treatments. The lack of early biomarkers could lead to poor diagnosis and serious outcomes. Therefore, noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring methods with high specificity and selectivity are desperately needed. Small molecule metabolites-based metabolomics has become a specialized tool for metabolic biomarker and pathway analysis, for revealing possible mechanisms of human various diseases and deciphering therapeutic potentials. It could help identify functional biomarkers related to phenotypic variation and delineate biochemical pathways changes as early indicators of pathological dysfunction and damage prior to disease development. Recently, scientists have established a large number of metabolic profiles to reveal the underlying mechanisms and metabolic networks for therapeutic target exploration in biomedicine. This review summarized the metabolic analysis on the potential value of small-molecule candidate metabolites as biomarkers with clinical events, which may lead to better diagnosis, prognosis, drug screening and treatment. We also discuss challenges that need to be addressed to fuel the next wave of breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Qiu
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Ying Cai
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Hong Yao
- First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Chunsheng Lin
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yiqiang Xie
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Songqi Tang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Aihua Zhang
- International Advanced Functional Omics Platform, Scientific Experiment Center, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), College of Chinese Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Xueyuan Road 3, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150040, China.
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Jin H, Xia J, Liu Z, Wang XS, Zhang L. A unique ligand-steered strategy for CC chemokine receptor 2 homology modeling to facilitate structure-based virtual screening. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 97:944-961. [PMID: 33386704 PMCID: PMC8048943 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) antagonists that disrupt CCR2/MCP-1 interaction are expected to treat a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The lack of CCR2 crystal structure limits the application of structure-based drug design (SBDD) to this target. Although a few three-dimensional theoretical models have been reported, their accuracy remains to be improved in terms of templates and modeling approaches. In this study, we developed a unique ligand-steered strategy for CCR2 homology modeling. It starts with an initial model based on the X-ray structure of the closest homolog so far, that is, CXCR4. Then, it uses Elastic Network Normal Mode Analysis (EN-NMA) and flexible docking (FD) by AutoDock Vina software to generate ligand-induced fit models. It selects optimal model(s) as well as scoring function(s) via extensive evaluation of model performance based on a unique benchmarking set constructed by our in-house tool, that is, MUBD-DecoyMaker. The model of 81_04 presents the optimal enrichment when combined with the scoring function of PMF04, and the proposed binding mode between CCR2 and Teijin lead by this model complies with the reported mutagenesis data. To highlight the advantage of our strategy, we compared it with the only reported ligand-steered strategy for CCR2 homology modeling, that is, Discovery Studio/Ligand Minimization. Lastly, we performed prospective virtual screening based on 81_04 and CCR2 antagonist bioassay. The identification of two hit compounds, that is, E859-1281 and MolPort-007-767-945, validated the efficacy of our model and the ligand-steered strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural MedicinesDepartment of New Drug Research and DevelopmentInstitute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiang Simon Wang
- Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery Core for District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR)Laboratory of Cheminformatics and Drug DesignDepartment of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of PharmacyHoward UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsSchool of Pharmaceutical SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
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