1
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Underwood O, Fritzwanker S, Glenn J, Blum NK, Batista-Gondin A, Drube J, Hoffmann C, Briddon SJ, Schulz S, Canals M. Key phosphorylation sites for robust β-arrestin2 binding at the MOR revisited. Commun Biol 2024; 7:933. [PMID: 39095612 PMCID: PMC11297201 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06571-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Desensitisation of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is proposed to underlie the initiation of opioid analgesic tolerance and previous work has shown that agonist-induced phosphorylation of the MOR C-tail contributes to this desensitisation. Moreover, phosphorylation is important for β-arrestin recruitment to the receptor, and ligands of different efficacies induce distinct phosphorylation barcodes. The C-tail 370TREHPSTANT379 motif harbours Ser/Thr residues important for these regulatory functions. 375Ser is the primary phosphorylation site of a ligand-dependent, hierarchical, and sequential process, whereby flanking 370Thr, 376Thr and 379Thr get subsequently and rapidly phosphorylated. Here we used GRK KO cells, phosphosite specific antibodies and site-directed mutagenesis to evaluate the contribution of the different GRK subfamilies to ligand-induced phosphorylation barcodes and β-arrestin2 recruitment. We show that both GRK2/3 and GRK5/6 subfamilies promote phosphorylation of 370Thr and 375Ser. Importantly, only GRK2/3 induce phosphorylation of 376Thr and 379Thr, and we identify these residues as key sites to promote robust β-arrestin recruitment to the MOR. These data provide insight into the mechanisms of MOR regulation and suggest that the cellular complement of GRK subfamilies plays an important role in determining the tissue responses of opioid agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Underwood
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Sebastian Fritzwanker
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Jaqueline Glenn
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Nina Kathleen Blum
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Arisbel Batista-Gondin
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Julia Drube
- Institut fur Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hoffmann
- Institut fur Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB - Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Stephen J Briddon
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
- 7TM Antibodies GmbH, Hans-Knöll-Straße 6, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Meritxell Canals
- Division of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Birmingham, Midlands, UK.
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2
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Zeghal M, Matte K, Venes A, Patel S, Laroche G, Sarvan S, Joshi M, Rain JC, Couture JF, Giguère PM. Development of a V5-tag-directed nanobody and its implementation as an intracellular biosensor of GPCR signaling. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105107. [PMID: 37517699 PMCID: PMC10470007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) form the foundation of any cell signaling network. Considering that PPIs are highly dynamic processes, cellular assays are often essential for their study because they closely mimic the biological complexities of cellular environments. However, incongruity may be observed across different PPI assays when investigating a protein partner of interest; these discrepancies can be partially attributed to the fusion of different large functional moieties, such as fluorescent proteins or enzymes, which can yield disparate perturbations to the protein's stability, subcellular localization, and interaction partners depending on the given cellular assay. Owing to their smaller size, epitope tags may exhibit a diminished susceptibility to instigate such perturbations. However, while they have been widely used for detecting or manipulating proteins in vitro, epitope tags lack the in vivo traceability and functionality needed for intracellular biosensors. Herein, we develop NbV5, an intracellular nanobody binding the V5-tag, which is suitable for use in cellular assays commonly used to study PPIs such as BRET, NanoBiT, and Tango. The NbV5:V5 tag system has been applied to interrogate G protein-coupled receptor signaling, specifically by replacing larger functional moieties attached to the protein interactors, such as fluorescent or luminescent proteins (∼30 kDa), by the significantly smaller V5-tag peptide (1.4 kDa), and for microscopy imaging which is successfully detected by NbV5-based biosensors. Therefore, the NbV5:V5 tag system presents itself as a versatile tool for live-cell imaging and a befitting adaptation to existing cellular assays dedicated to probing PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Zeghal
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Matte
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angelica Venes
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shivani Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geneviève Laroche
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabina Sarvan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monika Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jean-François Couture
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick M Giguère
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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3
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Wang H, Hetzer F, Huang W, Qu Q, Meyerowitz J, Kaindl J, Hübner H, Skiniotis G, Kobilka BK, Gmeiner P. Structure-Based Evolution of G Protein-Biased μ-Opioid Receptor Agonists. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202200269. [PMID: 35385593 PMCID: PMC9322534 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202200269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The μ-opioid receptor (μOR) is the major target for opioid analgesics. Activation of μOR initiates signaling through G protein pathways as well as through β-arrestin recruitment. μOR agonists that are biased towards G protein signaling pathways demonstrate diminished side effects. PZM21, discovered by computational docking, is a G protein biased μOR agonist. Here we report the cryoEM structure of PZM21 bound μOR in complex with Gi protein. Structure-based evolution led to multiple PZM21 analogs with more pronounced Gi protein bias and increased lipophilicity to improve CNS penetration. Among them, FH210 shows extremely low potency and efficacy for arrestin recruitment. We further determined the cryoEM structure of FH210 bound to μOR in complex with Gi protein and confirmed its expected binding pose. The structural and pharmacological studies reveal a potential mechanism to reduce β-arrestin recruitment by the μOR, and hold promise for developing next-generation analgesics with fewer adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqing Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Florian Hetzer
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Weijiao Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Qianhui Qu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Present address: Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Justin Meyerowitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jonas Kaindl
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Hübner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
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4
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Wang H, Hetzer F, Huang W, Qu Q, Meyerowitz J, Kaindl J, Hübner H, Skiniotis G, Kobilka BK, Gmeiner P. Strukturbasierte Entwicklung von G‐Protein bevorzugenden μ‐Opioidrezeptor Agonisten. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202200269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haoqing Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
| | - Florian Hetzer
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10 91058 Erlangen Deutschland
| | - Weijiao Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
| | - Qianhui Qu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department of Structural Biology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
- Derzeitige Adresse: Shanghai Stomatological Hospital Institutes of Biomedical Sciences Fudan University Shanghai 200032 China
| | - Justin Meyerowitz
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department of Structural Biology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
| | - Jonas Kaindl
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10 91058 Erlangen Deutschland
| | - Harald Hübner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10 91058 Erlangen Deutschland
| | - Georgios Skiniotis
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Department of Structural Biology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
| | - Brian K. Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA USA
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Strasse 10 91058 Erlangen Deutschland
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5
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Kelly B, Hollingsworth SA, Blakemore DC, Owen RM, Storer RI, Swain NA, Aydin D, Torella R, Warmus JS, Dror RO. Delineating the Ligand-Receptor Interactions That Lead to Biased Signaling at the μ-Opioid Receptor. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3696-3707. [PMID: 34251810 PMCID: PMC8317888 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Biased agonists, which selectively stimulate certain signaling pathways controlled by a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), hold great promise as drugs that maximize efficacy while minimizing dangerous side effects. Biased agonists of the μ-opioid receptor (μOR) are of particular interest as a means to achieve analgesia through G protein signaling without dose-limiting side effects such as respiratory depression and constipation. Rational structure-based design of biased agonists remains highly challenging, however, because the ligand-mediated interactions that are key to activation of each signaling pathway remain unclear. We identify several compounds for which the R- and S-enantiomers have distinct bias profiles at the μOR. These compounds serve as excellent comparative tools to study bias because the identical physicochemical properties of enantiomer pairs ensure that differences in bias profiles are due to differences in interactions with the μOR binding pocket. Atomic-level simulations of compounds at μOR indicate that R- and S-enantiomers adopt different poses that form distinct interactions with the binding pocket. A handful of specific interactions with highly conserved binding pocket residues appear to be responsible for substantial differences in arrestin recruitment between enantiomers. Our results offer guidance for rational design of biased agonists at μOR and possibly at related GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Kelly
- Departments of Computer Science, Molecular and
Cellular Physiology, and Structural Biology & Institute for Computational and
Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford,
California 94305, United States
| | - Scott A. Hollingsworth
- Departments of Computer Science, Molecular and
Cellular Physiology, and Structural Biology & Institute for Computational and
Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford,
California 94305, United States
| | - David C. Blakemore
- Pfizer Medicine Design,
Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Robert M. Owen
- Pfizer Medicine Design, The
Portway, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K.
| | - R. Ian Storer
- Pfizer Medicine Design, The
Portway, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K.
| | - Nigel A. Swain
- Pfizer Medicine Design, The
Portway, Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GS, U.K.
| | - Deniz Aydin
- Departments of Computer Science, Molecular and
Cellular Physiology, and Structural Biology & Institute for Computational and
Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford,
California 94305, United States
| | - Rubben Torella
- Pfizer Medicine Design, 610
Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Joseph S. Warmus
- Pfizer Medicine Design,
Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, United States
| | - Ron O. Dror
- Departments of Computer Science, Molecular and
Cellular Physiology, and Structural Biology & Institute for Computational and
Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford,
California 94305, United States
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6
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The Open Question of How GPCRs Interact with GPCR Kinases (GRKs). Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11030447. [PMID: 33802765 PMCID: PMC8002388 DOI: 10.3390/biom11030447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which regulate a vast number of eukaryotic processes, are desensitized by various mechanisms but, most importantly, by the GPCR kinases (GRKs). Ever since GRKs were first identified, investigators have sought to determine which structural features of GRKs are used to select for the agonist-bound states of GPCRs and how this binding event in turn enhances GRK catalytic activity. Despite a wealth of molecular information from high-resolution crystal structures of GRKs, the mechanisms driving activation have remained elusive, in part because the GRK N-terminus and active site tether region, previously proposed to serve as a receptor docking site and to be key to kinase domain closure, are often disordered or adopt inconsistent conformations. However, two recent studies have implicated other regions of GRKs as being involved in direct interactions with active GPCRs. Atomic resolution structures of GPCR–GRK complexes would help refine these models but are, so far, lacking. Here, we assess three distinct models for how GRKs recognize activated GPCRs, discuss limitations in the approaches used to generate them, and then experimentally test a hypothetical GPCR interaction site in GRK2 suggested by the two newest models.
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7
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Pineyro G, Nagi K. Signaling diversity of mu- and delta- opioid receptor ligands: Re-evaluating the benefits of β-arrestin/G protein signaling bias. Cell Signal 2020; 80:109906. [PMID: 33383156 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Opioid analgesics are elective for treating moderate to severe pain but their use is restricted by severe side effects. Signaling bias has been proposed as a viable means for improving this situation. To exploit this opportunity, continuous efforts are devoted to understand how ligand-specific modulations of receptor functions could mediate the different in vivo effects of opioids. Advances in the field have led to the development of biased agonists based on hypotheses that allocated desired and undesired effects to specific signaling pathways. However, the prevalent hypothesis associating β-arrestin to opioid side effects was recently challenged and multiple of the newly developed biased drugs may not display the superior side effects profile that was sought. Moreover, biased agonism at opioid receptors is now known to be time- and cell-dependent, which adds a new layer of complexity for bias estimation. Here, we first review the signaling mechanisms underlying desired and undesired effects of opioids. We then describe biased agonism at opioid receptors and discuss the different perspectives that support the desired and undesired effects of opioids in view of exploiting biased signaling for therapeutic purposes. Finally, we explore how signaling kinetics and cellular background can influence the magnitude and directionality of bias at those receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Pineyro
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine research center, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Karim Nagi
- College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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8
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Dunn AD, Reed B, Erazo J, Ben-Ezra A, Kreek MJ. Signaling Properties of Structurally Diverse Kappa Opioid Receptor Ligands: Toward in Vitro Models of in Vivo Responses. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3590-3600. [PMID: 31313902 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biased ligands preferentially activate certain signaling pathways downstream of their target receptor, leading to differential physiological or behavioral responses downstream. The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) is a drug target for diseases involving mood and reward, such as depression and addiction. Biased KOR ligands offer the potential to overcome negative side effects that have previously hampered the therapeutic development of KOR agonists by preferentially activating certain signaling pathways. Understanding relationships between ligand bias and behavior is difficult, however, because differences in cellular context and bias quantification methods lead to variation between studies. Here, a set of 21 structurally diverse KOR ligands were tested in parallel, to systematically quantify ligand bias at the KOR. Compounds included the endogenous peptide ligand Dynorphin A(1-17), two novel compounds synthesized for our research, and 18 additional compounds of different structural classes, including morphinans and the natural product Salvinorin A. Compounds were tested for their activity in early KOR signaling pathways (G-protein and β-arrestin recruitment) in KOR-expressing U2OS cells, and ligand bias was calculated. A subset of compounds was tested for sedative properties in the rotarod assay in mice. We found that rotarod sedation significantly correlated with β-arrestin signaling in this system, indicating that this in vitro system can be used to accurately describe this in vivo behavior caused by KOR agonists. Additionally, downstream signaling pathways ERK1/2 and mTOR were evaluated, and we determined that signaling via both of these pathways could diverge from KOR-mediated G-protein and arrestin signaling in this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia D. Dunn
- Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Brian Reed
- Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Jose Erazo
- Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Ariel Ben-Ezra
- Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Mary Jeanne Kreek
- Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
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9
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Zhang X, Chen S, Chen H, Pan H, Zhao Y. Inhibition of β-ARK1 Ameliorates Morphine-induced Tolerance and Hyperalgesia Via Modulating the Activity of Spinal NMDA Receptors. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:5393-5407. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0780-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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10
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Chan HCS, McCarthy D, Li J, Palczewski K, Yuan S. Designing Safer Analgesics via μ-Opioid Receptor Pathways. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2017; 38:1016-1037. [PMID: 28935293 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Pain is both a major clinical and economic problem, affecting more people than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. While a variety of prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available for pain management, opioid medications, especially those acting on the μ-opioid receptor (μOR) and related pathways, have proven to be the most effective, despite some serious side effects including respiration depression, pruritus, dependence, and constipation. It is therefore imperative that both academia and industry develop novel μOR analgesics which retain their opioid analgesic properties but with fewer or no adverse effects. In this review we outline recent progress towards the discovery of safer opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- H C Stephen Chan
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Membranes, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH B3 495 (Bâtiment CH) Station 6, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland; Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
| | - Dillon McCarthy
- Department of Chemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Jianing Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shuguang Yuan
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Membranes, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH B3 495 (Bâtiment CH) Station 6, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland.
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11
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Hothersall JD, Torella R, Humphreys S, Hooley M, Brown A, McMurray G, Nickolls SA. Residues W320 and Y328 within the binding site of the μ-opioid receptor influence opiate ligand bias. Neuropharmacology 2017; 118:46-58. [PMID: 28283391 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The development of G protein-biased agonists for the μ-opioid receptor (MOR) offers a clear drug discovery rationale for improved analgesia and reduced side-effects of opiate pharmacotherapy. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing ligand bias is limited, which hinders our ability to rationally design biased compounds. We have investigated the role of MOR binding site residues W320 and Y328 in controlling bias, by receptor mutagenesis. The pharmacology of a panel of ligands in a cAMP and a β-arrestin2 assay were compared between the wildtype and mutated receptors, with bias factors calculated by operational analysis using ΔΔlog(τ/KA) values. [3H]diprenorphine competition binding was used to estimate affinity changes. Introducing the mutations W320A and Y328F caused changes in pathway bias, with different patterns of change between ligands. For example, DAMGO increased relative β-arrestin2 activity at the W320A mutant, whilst its β-arrestin2 response was completely lost at Y328F. In contrast, endomorphin-1 gained activity with Y328F but lost activity at W320A, in both pathways. For endomorphin-2 there was a directional shift from cAMP bias at the wildtype towards more β-arrestin2 bias at W320A. We also observe clear uncoupling between mutation-driven changes in function and binding affinity. These findings suggest that the mutations influenced the balance of pathway activation in a ligand-specific manner, thus identifying residues in the MOR binding pocket that govern ligand bias. This increases our understanding of how ligand/receptor binding interactions can be translated into agonist-specific pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Daniel Hothersall
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom; Heptares Therapeutics, BioPark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3AX, United Kingdom.
| | - Rubben Torella
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Sian Humphreys
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Monique Hooley
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair Brown
- Heptares Therapeutics, BioPark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Gordon McMurray
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A Nickolls
- Pfizer, Neuroscience and Pain Research Unit UK, The Portway Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GS, United Kingdom
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12
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Gundry J, Glenn R, Alagesan P, Rajagopal S. A Practical Guide to Approaching Biased Agonism at G Protein Coupled Receptors. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:17. [PMID: 28174517 PMCID: PMC5258729 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Biased agonism, the ability of a receptor to differentially activate downstream signaling pathways depending on binding of a "biased" agonist compared to a "balanced" agonist, is a well-established paradigm for G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. Biased agonists have the promise to act as smarter drugs by specifically targeting pathogenic or therapeutic signaling pathways while avoiding others that could lead to side effects. A number of biased agonists targeting a wide array of GPCRs have been described, primarily based on their signaling in pharmacological assays. However, with the promise of biased agonists as novel therapeutics, comes the peril of not fully characterizing and understanding the activities of these compounds. Indeed, it is likely that some of the compounds that have been described as biased, may not be if quantitative approaches for bias assessment are used. Moreover, cell specific effects can result in "system bias" that cannot be accounted by current approaches for quantifying ligand bias. Other confounding includes kinetic effects which can alter apparent bias and differential propagation of biological signal that results in different levels of amplification of reporters downstream of the same effector. Moreover, the effects of biased agonists frequently cannot be predicted from their pharmacological profiles, and must be tested in the vivo physiological context. Thus, the development of biased agonists as drugs requires a detailed pharmacological characterization, involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and a detailed physiological characterization. With this understanding, we stand on the edge of a new era of smarter drugs that target GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimee Gundry
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Glenn
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
| | - Priya Alagesan
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sudarshan Rajagopal
- Department of Medicine and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
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13
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Manglik A, Lin H, Aryal DK, McCorvy JD, Dengler D, Corder G, Levit A, Kling RC, Bernat V, Hübner H, Huang XP, Sassano MF, Giguère PM, Löber S, Da Duan, Scherrer G, Kobilka BK, Gmeiner P, Roth BL, Shoichet BK. Structure-based discovery of opioid analgesics with reduced side effects. Nature 2016; 537:185-190. [PMID: 27533032 PMCID: PMC5161585 DOI: 10.1038/nature19112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 673] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Morphine is an alkaloid from the opium poppy used to treat pain. The potentially lethal side effects of morphine and related opioids-which include fatal respiratory depression-are thought to be mediated by μ-opioid-receptor (μOR) signalling through the β-arrestin pathway or by actions at other receptors. Conversely, G-protein μOR signalling is thought to confer analgesia. Here we computationally dock over 3 million molecules against the μOR structure and identify new scaffolds unrelated to known opioids. Structure-based optimization yields PZM21-a potent Gi activator with exceptional selectivity for μOR and minimal β-arrestin-2 recruitment. Unlike morphine, PZM21 is more efficacious for the affective component of analgesia versus the reflexive component and is devoid of both respiratory depression and morphine-like reinforcing activity in mice at equi-analgesic doses. PZM21 thus serves as both a probe to disentangle μOR signalling and a therapeutic lead that is devoid of many of the side effects of current opioids.
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MESH Headings
- Analgesia/methods
- Analgesics, Opioid/adverse effects
- Analgesics, Opioid/chemistry
- Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology
- Animals
- Drug Discovery
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/metabolism
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Pain/drug therapy
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/deficiency
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid, mu/metabolism
- Spiro Compounds/pharmacology
- Structure-Activity Relationship
- Thiophenes/adverse effects
- Thiophenes/chemistry
- Thiophenes/pharmacology
- Urea/adverse effects
- Urea/analogs & derivatives
- Urea/chemistry
- Urea/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashish Manglik
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Henry Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Dipendra K Aryal
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - John D McCorvy
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Daniela Dengler
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gregory Corder
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Neurosurgery, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Anat Levit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Ralf C Kling
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
- Institut für Physiologie und Pathophysiologie, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Viachaslau Bernat
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Hübner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Xi-Ping Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Maria F Sassano
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Patrick M Giguère
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Stefan Löber
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Da Duan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
| | - Grégory Scherrer
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Neurosurgery, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Brian K Kobilka
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Peter Gmeiner
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schuhstraße 19, 91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC Chapel Hill Medical School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Brian K Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA
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14
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Winpenny D, Clark M, Cawkill D. Biased ligand quantification in drug discovery: from theory to high throughput screening to identify new biased μ opioid receptor agonists. Br J Pharmacol 2016; 173:1393-403. [PMID: 26791140 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Biased GPCR ligands are able to engage with their target receptor in a manner that preferentially activates distinct downstream signalling and offers potential for next generation therapeutics. However, accurate quantification of ligand bias in vitro is complex, and current best practice is not amenable for testing large numbers of compound. We have therefore sought to apply ligand bias theory to an industrial scale screening campaign for the identification of new biased μ receptor agonists. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH μ receptor assays with appropriate dynamic range were developed for both Gαi -dependent signalling and β-arrestin2 recruitment. Δlog(Emax /EC50 ) analysis was validated as an alternative for the operational model of agonism in calculating pathway bias towards Gαi -dependent signalling. The analysis was applied to a high throughput screen to characterize the prevalence and nature of pathway bias among a diverse set of compounds with μ receptor agonist activity. KEY RESULTS A high throughput screening campaign yielded 440 hits with greater than 10-fold bias relative to DAMGO. To validate these results, we quantified pathway bias of a subset of hits using the operational model of agonism. The high degree of correlation across these biased hits confirmed that Δlog(Emax /EC50 ) was a suitable method for identifying genuine biased ligands within a large collection of diverse compounds. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This work demonstrates that using Δlog(Emax /EC50 ), drug discovery can apply the concept of biased ligand quantification on a large scale and accelerate the deliberate discovery of novel therapeutics acting via this complex pharmacology.
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15
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Abstract
This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants). This paper is the thirty-seventh consecutive installment of the annual review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system. It summarizes papers published during 2014 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides, opioid receptors, opioid agonists and opioid antagonists. The particular topics that continue to be covered include the molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors related to behavior (endogenous opioids and receptors), and the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia (pain and analgesia); stress and social status (human studies); tolerance and dependence (opioid mediation of other analgesic responses); learning and memory (stress and social status); eating and drinking (stress-induced analgesia); alcohol and drugs of abuse (emotional responses in opioid-mediated behaviors); sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (opioid involvement in stress response regulation); mental illness and mood (tolerance and dependence); seizures and neurologic disorders (learning and memory); electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (opiates and conditioned place preferences (CPP)); general activity and locomotion (eating and drinking); gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (alcohol and drugs of abuse); cardiovascular responses (opiates and ethanol); respiration and thermoregulation (opiates and THC); and immunological responses (opiates and stimulants).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, United States.
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16
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“Barcode” and Differential Effects of GPCR Phosphorylation by Different GRKs. METHODS IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3798-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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