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Enkavi G, Girych M, Moliner R, Vattulainen I, Castrén E. TrkB transmembrane domain: bridging structural understanding with therapeutic strategy. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:445-456. [PMID: 38433044 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
TrkB (neuronal receptor tyrosine kinase-2, NTRK2) is the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and is a critical regulator of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity. The past few years have witnessed an increasing understanding of the structure and function of TrkB, including its transmembrane domain (TMD). TrkB interacts with membrane cholesterol, which bidirectionally regulates TrkB signaling. Additionally, TrkB has recently been recognized as a binding target of antidepressant drugs. A variety of different antidepressants, including typical and rapid-acting antidepressants, as well as psychedelic compounds, act as allosteric potentiators of BDNF signaling through TrkB. This suggests that TrkB is the common target of different antidepressant compounds. Although more research is needed, current knowledge suggests that TrkB is a promising target for further drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giray Enkavi
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mykhailo Girych
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rafael Moliner
- Neuroscience Center/HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Vattulainen
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Eero Castrén
- Neuroscience Center/HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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2
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Shimatani M, Morita T, Yanuar R, Nezu A, Tanimura A. Local anesthetics inhibit muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated calcium responses and the recruitment of β-arrestin in HSY human parotid cells. J Oral Biosci 2024:S1349-0079(24)00078-1. [PMID: 38614428 DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2024.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Local anesthetics act on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); thus, their potential as allosteric modulators of GPCRs has attracted attention. Intracellular signaling via GPCRs involves both G-protein- and β-arrestin-mediated pathways. To determine the effects of local anesthetics on muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR), a family of GPCRs, we analyzed the effects of local anesthetics on mAChR-mediated Ca2+ responses and formation of receptor-β-arrestin complexes in the HSY human parotid cell line. METHODS Ca2+ responses were monitored by fura-2 spectrofluorimetry. Ligand-induced interactions between mAChR and β-arrestin were examined using a β-arrestin GPCR assay kit. RESULTS Lidocaine reduced mAChR-mediated Ca2+ responses but did not change the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in non-stimulated cells. The membrane-impermeant lidocaine analog QX314 and procaine inhibited mAChR-mediated Ca2+ responses, with EC50 values of 48.0 and 20.4 μM, respectively, for 50 μM carbachol-stimulated Ca2+ responses. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the pretreatment of cells with QX314 reduced carbachol-induced Ca2+ release, indicating that QX314 reduced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Lidocaine and QX314 did not affect store-operated Ca2+ entry as they did not alter the thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ response. QX314 and procaine reduced the carbachol-mediated recruitment of β-arrestin, and administration of procaine suppressed pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion in mice. CONCLUSION Local anesthetics, including QX314, act on mAChR to reduce carbachol-induced Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and the recruitment of β-arrestin. These findings support the notion that local anesthetics and their derivatives are starting points for the development of functional allosteric modulators of mAChR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Shimatani
- Division of Reconstructive Surgery for Oral and Maxillofacial Region, Department of Human Biology and Pathophysiology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takao Morita
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, The Nippon Dental University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Rezon Yanuar
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Akihiro Nezu
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Akihiko Tanimura
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Rahman MT, Chaminda Lakmal HH, Hussain J, Jin C. Targeting the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system: a patent review for the last two decades. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2024; 34:71-81. [PMID: 38573177 PMCID: PMC11027024 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2024.2338099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neuropeptide relaxin-3/RXFP3 system belongs to the relaxin/insulin superfamily and is involved in many important physiological processes, such as stress responses, appetite control, and motivation for reward. Although relaxin-3 is the endogenous agonist for RXFP3, it can also bind to and activate RXFP1 and RXFP4. Consequently, research has been focused on the development of RXFP3-specific peptides and small-molecule ligands to validate the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system as a novel drug target. AREAS COVERED This review provides an overview of patents on the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system covering ligand development and pharmacological studies since 2003. Related patents and literature reports were obtained from established sources including SciFinder, Google Patents, and Espacenet for patents and SciFinder, PubMed, and Google Scholar for literature reports. EXPERT OPINION There has been an increasing amount of patent activities around relaxin-3/RXFP3, highlighting the importance of this novel neuropeptide system for drug discovery. The development of relaxin-3 derived peptides and small-molecule modulators, as well as behavioral studies in rodents, have shown that the relaxin-3/RXFP3 system is a promising drug target for treating various metabolic and neuropsychiatric diseases including obesity, anxiety, and alcohol addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Toufiqur Rahman
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Javeena Hussain
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Chunyang Jin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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4
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Zhu C, Lan X, Wei Z, Yu J, Zhang J. Allosteric modulation of G protein-coupled receptors as a novel therapeutic strategy in neuropathic pain. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:67-86. [PMID: 38239234 PMCID: PMC10792987 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a debilitating pathological condition that presents significant therapeutic challenges in clinical practice. Unfortunately, current pharmacological treatments for neuropathic pain lack clinical efficacy and often lead to harmful adverse reactions. As G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are widely distributed throughout the body, including the pain transmission pathway and descending inhibition pathway, the development of novel neuropathic pain treatments based on GPCRs allosteric modulation theory is gaining momentum. Extensive research has shown that allosteric modulators targeting GPCRs on the pain pathway can effectively alleviate symptoms of neuropathic pain while reducing or eliminating adverse effects. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the progress made in GPCRs allosteric modulators in the treatment of neuropathic pain, and discuss the potential benefits and adverse factors of this treatment. We will also concentrate on the development of biased agonists of GPCRs, and based on important examples of biased agonist development in recent years, we will describe universal strategies for designing structure-based biased agonists. It is foreseeable that, with the continuous improvement of GPCRs allosteric modulation and biased agonist theory, effective GPCRs allosteric drugs will eventually be available for the treatment of neuropathic pain with acceptable safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wei
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Jianqiang Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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5
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Zhang M, Lan X, Li X, Lu S. Pharmacologically targeting intracellular allosteric sites of GPCRs for drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103803. [PMID: 37852356 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a family of cell surface proteins that can sense a variety of extracellular stimuli and mediate multiple signaling transduction pathways involved in human physiology. Recent advances in GPCR structural biology have revealed a relatively conserved intracellular allosteric site in multiple GPCRs, which can be utilized to modulate receptors from the inside. This novel intracellular site partially overlaps with the G-protein and β-arrestin coupling sites, providing a novel avenue for biological intervention. Here, we review evidence available for GPCR structures complexed with intracellular small-molecule allosteric modulators, elucidating drug-target interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Moreover, we highlight the potential of intracellular allosteric modulators in achieving biased signaling, which provides insights into biased allosteric mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004, China; Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaobing Lan
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004, China; Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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6
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Irobalieva RN, Manolaridis I, Jackson SM, Ni D, Pardon E, Stahlberg H, Steyaert J, Locher KP. Structural Basis of the Allosteric Inhibition of Human ABCG2 by Nanobodies. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168234. [PMID: 37597690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
ABCG2 is an ATP-binding cassette transporter that exports a wide range of xenobiotic compounds and has been recognized as a contributing factor for multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Substrate and inhibitor interactions with ABCG2 have been extensively studied and small molecule inhibitors have been developed that prevent the export of anticancer drugs from tumor cells. Here, we explore the potential for inhibitors that target sites other than the substrate binding pocket of ABCG2. We developed novel nanobodies against ABCG2 and used functional analyses to select three inhibitory nanobodies (Nb8, Nb17 and Nb96) for structural studies by single particle cryo-electron microscopy. Our results showed that these nanobodies allosterically bind to different regions of the nucleotide binding domains. Two copies of Nb8 bind to the apex of the NBDs preventing them from fully closing. Nb17 binds near the two-fold axis of the transporter and interacts with both NBDs. Nb96 binds to the side of the NBD and immobilizes a region connected to key motifs involved in ATP binding and hydrolysis. All three nanobodies prevent the transporter from undergoing conformational changes required for substrate transport. These findings advance our understanding of the molecular basis of modulation of ABCG2 by external binders, which may contribute to the development of a new generation of inhibitors. Furthermore, this is the first example of modulation of human multidrug resistance transporters by nanobodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossitza N Irobalieva
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Manolaridis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Scott M Jackson
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Dongchun Ni
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy (LBEM), Institute of Physics, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Dept. of Fund. Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium; VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Henning Stahlberg
- Laboratory of Biological Electron Microscopy (LBEM), Institute of Physics, School of Basic Science, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland; Dept. of Fund. Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium; VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kaspar P Locher
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
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7
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Maria-Solano MA, Choi S. Dynamic allosteric networks drive adenosine A 1 receptor activation and G-protein coupling. eLife 2023; 12:RP90773. [PMID: 37656635 PMCID: PMC10473838 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) present specific activation pathways and signaling among receptor subtypes. Hence, an extensive knowledge of the structural dynamics of the receptor is critical for the development of therapeutics. Here, we target the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R), for which a negligible number of drugs have been approved. We combine molecular dynamics simulations, enhanced sampling techniques, network theory and pocket detection to decipher the activation pathway of A1R, decode the allosteric networks and identify transient pockets. The A1R activation pathway reveal hidden intermediate and pre-active states together with the inactive and fully-active states observed experimentally. The protein energy networks computed throughout these conformational states successfully unravel the extra and intracellular allosteric centers and the communication pathways that couples them. We observe that the allosteric networks are dynamic, being increased along activation and fine-tuned in presence of the trimeric G-proteins. Overlap of transient pockets and energy networks uncover how the allosteric coupling between pockets and distinct functional regions of the receptor is altered along activation. By an in-depth analysis of the bridge between activation pathway, energy networks and transient pockets, we provide a further understanding of A1R. This information can be useful to ease the design of allosteric modulators for A1R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Maria-Solano
- Global AI Drug Discovery Center, College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Sun Choi
- Global AI Drug Discovery Center, College of Pharmacy and Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ewha Womans UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
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8
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Abstract
Gonadotropins regulate reproductive functions by binding to G protein-coupled receptors (FSHR and LHCGR) expressed in the gonads. They activate multiple, cell-specific signalling pathways, consisting of ligand-dependent intracellular events. Signalling cascades may be modulated by synthetic compounds which bind allosteric sites of FSHR and LHCGR or by membrane receptor interactions. Despite the hormone binding to the orthosteric site, allosteric ligands, and receptor heteromerizations may reshape intracellular signalling pattern. These molecules act as positive, negative, or neutral allosteric modulators, as well as non-competitive or inverse agonist ligands, providing a set of new compounds of a different nature and with unique pharmacological characteristics. Gonadotropin receptor allosteric modulation is gathering increasing interest from the scientific community and may be potentially exploited for clinical purposes. This review summarizes the current knowledge on gonadotropin receptor allosteric modulation and their potential, clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Lazzaretti
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Baggiovara Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Manuela Simoni
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Baggiovara Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Genomic Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Baggiovara Hospital, Modena, Italy
| | - Livio Casarini
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Baggiovara Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Center for Genomic Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elia Paradiso
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Baggiovara Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Xin Y, Liu S, Liu Y, Qian Z, Liu H, Zhang B, Guo T, Thompson GJ, Stevens RC, Sharpless KB, Dong J, Shui W. Affinity selection of double-click triazole libraries for rapid discovery of allosteric modulators for GLP-1 receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220767120. [PMID: 36893261 PMCID: PMC10243133 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220767120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently developed double-click reaction sequence [G. Meng et al., Nature 574, 86-89 (2019)] is expected to vastly expand the number and diversity of synthetically accessible 1,2,3-triazole derivatives. However, it remains elusive how to rapidly navigate the extensive chemical space created by double-click chemistry for bioactive compound discovery. In this study, we selected a particularly challenging drug target, the glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), to benchmark our new platform for the design, synthesis, and screening of double-click triazole libraries. First, we achieved a streamlined synthesis of customized triazole libraries on an unprecedented scale (composed of 38,400 new compounds). By interfacing affinity-selection mass spectrometry and functional assays, we identified a series of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) with unreported scaffolds that can selectively and robustly enhance the signaling activity of the endogenous GLP-1(9-36) peptide. Intriguingly, we further revealed an unexpected binding mode of new PAMs which likely act as a molecular glue between the receptor and the peptide agonist. We anticipate the merger of double-click library synthesis with the hybrid screening platform allows for efficient and economic discovery of drug candidates or chemical probes for various therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Xin
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Shuo Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200240, China
| | - Yan Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
| | - Zhen Qian
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
| | - Hongyue Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Bingjie Zhang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
| | - Taijie Guo
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200240, China
| | | | - Raymond C. Stevens
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
| | - K. Barry Sharpless
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA92037
| | - Jiajia Dong
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200240, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhangjiang Institute for Advanced Study, National Facility for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai200240, China
- Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Shanghai200232, China
| | - Wenqing Shui
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai201210, China
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Ferrisi R, Polini B, Ricardi C, Gado F, Mohamed KA, Baron G, Faiella S, Poli G, Rapposelli S, Saccomanni G, Aldini G, Chiellini G, Laprairie RB, Manera C, Ortore G. New Insights into Bitopic Orthosteric/Allosteric Ligands of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24. [PMID: 36768458 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Very recently, we have developed a new generation of ligands targeting the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R), namely JR compounds, which combine the pharmacophoric portion of the CB2R positive allosteric modulator (PAM), EC21a, with that of the CB2R selective orthosteric agonist LV62, both synthesized in our laboratories. The functional examination enabled us to identify JR14a, JR22a, and JR64a as the most promising compounds of the series. In the current study, we focused on the assessment of the bitopic (dualsteric) nature of these three compounds. Experiments in cAMP assays highlighted that only JR22a behaves as a CB2R bitopic (dualsteric) ligand. In parallel, computational studies helped us to clarify the binding mode of these three compounds at CB2R, confirming the bitopic (dualsteric) nature of JR22a. Finally, the potential of JR22a to prevent neuroinflammation was investigated on a human microglial cell inflammatory model.
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11
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Nepal B, Das S, Reith ME, Kortagere S. Overview of the structure and function of the dopamine transporter and its protein interactions. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1150355. [PMID: 36935752 PMCID: PMC10020207 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1150355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays an integral role in dopamine neurotransmission through the clearance of dopamine from the extracellular space. Dysregulation of DAT is central to the pathophysiology of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders and as such is an attractive therapeutic target. DAT belongs to the solute carrier family 6 (SLC6) class of Na+/Cl- dependent transporters that move various cargo into neurons against their concentration gradient. This review focuses on DAT (SCL6A3 protein) while extending the narrative to the closely related transporters for serotonin and norepinephrine where needed for comparison or functional relevance. Cloning and site-directed mutagenesis experiments provided early structural knowledge of DAT but our contemporary understanding was achieved through a combination of crystallization of the related bacterial transporter LeuT, homology modeling, and subsequently the crystallization of drosophila DAT. These seminal findings enabled a better understanding of the conformational states involved in the transport of substrate, subsequently aiding state-specific drug design. Post-translational modifications to DAT such as phosphorylation, palmitoylation, ubiquitination also influence the plasma membrane localization and kinetics. Substrates and drugs can interact with multiple sites within DAT including the primary S1 and S2 sites involved in dopamine binding and novel allosteric sites. Major research has centered around the question what determines the substrate and inhibitor selectivity of DAT in comparison to serotonin and norepinephrine transporters. DAT has been implicated in many neurological disorders and may play a role in the pathology of HIV and Parkinson's disease via direct physical interaction with HIV-1 Tat and α-synuclein proteins respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binod Nepal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sanjay Das
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maarten E. Reith
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Sandhya Kortagere
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Sandhya Kortagere,
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Sedenkova KN, Zverev DV, Nazarova AA, Lavrov MI, Radchenko EV, Grishin YK, Gabrel’yan AV, Zamoyski VL, Grigoriev VV, Averina EB, Palyulin VA. Novel Nanomolar Allosteric Modulators of AMPA Receptor of Bis(pyrimidine) Series: Synthesis, Biotesting and SAR Analysis. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27238252. [PMID: 36500341 PMCID: PMC9741252 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of AMPA receptors represent attractive candidates for the development of drugs for the treatment of cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders. Dimeric molecules have been reported to have an especially potent modulating effect, due to the U-shaped form of the AMPA receptor's allosteric binding site. In the present work, novel bis(pyrimidines) were studied as AMPA receptor modulators. A convenient and flexible preparative approach to bis(pyrimidines) containing a hydroquinone linker was elaborated, and a series of derivatives with varied substituents was obtained. The compounds were examined in the patch clamp experiments for their influence on the kainate-induced currents, and 10 of them were found to have potentiating properties. The best potency was found for 2-methyl-4-(4-((2-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-yl)oxy)phenoxy)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-cyclohepta[d]pyrimidine, which potentiated the kainate-induced currents by up to 77% in all tested concentrations (10-12-10-6 M). The results were rationalized via the modeling of modulator complexes with the dimeric ligand binding domain of the GluA2 AMPA receptor, using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The prediction of ADMET, physicochemical, and PAINS properties of the studied bis(pyrimidines) confirmed that PAMs of this type may act as the potential lead compounds for the development of neuroprotective drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kseniya N. Sedenkova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Denis V. Zverev
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A. Nazarova
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mstislav I. Lavrov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Eugene V. Radchenko
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri K. Grishin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey V. Gabrel’yan
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Severny proezd 1, Chernogolovka, 142432 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir L. Zamoyski
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Severny proezd 1, Chernogolovka, 142432 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir V. Grigoriev
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Severny proezd 1, Chernogolovka, 142432 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena B. Averina
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Palyulin
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence:
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13
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Nguyen HTM, van der Westhuizen ET, Langmead CJ, Tobin AB, Sexton PM, Christopoulos A, Valant C. Opportunities and challenges for the development of M 1 muscarinic receptor positive allosteric modulators in the treatment for neurocognitive deficits. Br J Pharmacol 2022. [PMID: 36355830 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting allosteric sites of M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1 receptors) is a promising strategy to treat neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Indeed, the last two decades have seen an impressive body of work focussing on the design and development of positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for the M1 receptor. This has led to the identification of a structurally diverse range of highly selective M1 PAMs. In preclinical models, M1 PAMs have shown rescue of cognitive deficits and improvement of endpoints predictive of symptom domains of schizophrenia. Yet, to date only a few M1 PAMs have reached early-stage clinical trials, with many of them failing to progress further due to on-target mediated cholinergic adverse effects that have plagued the development of this class of ligand. This review covers the recent preclinical and clinical studies in the field of M1 receptor drug discovery for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia, with a specific focus on M1 PAM, highlighting both the undoubted potential but also key challenges for the successful translation of M1 PAMs from bench-side to bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huong T M Nguyen
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Christopher J Langmead
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew B Tobin
- Centre for Translational Pharmacology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Patrick M Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash University, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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14
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Żuk J, Bartuzi D, Miszta P, Kaczor AA. The Role of Lipids in Allosteric Modulation of Dopamine D 2 Receptor-In Silico Study. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27041335. [PMID: 35209123 PMCID: PMC8874991 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopamine D2 receptor, belonging to the class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), is an important drug target for several diseases, including schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. The D2 receptor can be activated by the natural neurotransmitter dopamine or by synthetic ligands, which in both cases leads to the receptor coupling with a G protein. In addition to receptor modulation by orthosteric or allosteric ligands, it has been shown that lipids may affect the behaviour of membrane proteins. We constructed a model of a D2 receptor with a long intracellular loop (ICL3) coupled with Giα1 or Giα2 proteins, embedded in a complex asymmetric membrane, and simulated it in complex with positive, negative or neutral allosteric ligands. In this study, we focused on the influence of ligand binding and G protein coupling on the membrane–receptor interactions. We show that there is a noticeable interplay between the cell membrane, G proteins, D2 receptor and its modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Żuk
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modelling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (D.B.)
| | - Damian Bartuzi
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modelling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (D.B.)
| | - Przemysław Miszta
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological, Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, PL-02093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka A. Kaczor
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances with Computer Modelling Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 4A Chodźki St., PL-20093 Lublin, Poland; (J.Ż.); (D.B.)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81-448-72-73
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15
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Marcoli M, Agnati LF, Franco R, Cortelli P, Anderlini D, Guidolin D, Cervetto C, Maura G. Modulating brain integrative actions as a new perspective on pharmacological approaches to neuropsychiatric diseases. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1038874. [PMID: 36699033 PMCID: PMC9868467 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1038874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
A critical aspect of drug development in the therapy of neuropsychiatric diseases is the "Target Problem", that is, the selection of a proper target after not simply the etiopathological classification but rather the detection of the supposed structural and/or functional alterations in the brain networks. There are novel ways of approaching the development of drugs capable of overcoming or at least reducing the deficits without triggering deleterious side effects. For this purpose, a model of brain network organization is needed, and the main aspects of its integrative actions must also be established. Thus, to this aim we here propose an updated model of the brain as a hyper-network in which i) the penta-partite synapses are suggested as key nodes of the brain hyper-network and ii) interacting cell surface receptors appear as both decoders of signals arriving to the network and targets of central nervous system diseases. The integrative actions of the brain networks follow the "Russian Doll organization" including the micro (i.e., synaptic) and nano (i.e., molecular) levels. In this scenario, integrative actions result primarily from protein-protein interactions. Importantly, the macromolecular complexes arising from these interactions often have novel structural binding sites of allosteric nature. Taking G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as potential targets, GPCRs heteromers offer a way to increase the selectivity of pharmacological treatments if proper allosteric drugs are designed. This assumption is founded on the possible selectivity of allosteric interventions on G protein-coupled receptors especially when organized as "Receptor Mosaics" at penta-partite synapse level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Marcoli
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- *Correspondence: Manuela Marcoli, ; Luigi F. Agnati,
| | - Luigi F. Agnati
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic Sciences and Neuroscience, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- *Correspondence: Manuela Marcoli, ; Luigi F. Agnati,
| | - Rafael Franco
- CiberNed Network Center for Neurodegenerative diseases, National Spanish Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Neurobiology laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine. Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- School of Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Deanna Anderlini
- Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Diego Guidolin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Cervetto
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Maura
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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Mannes M, Martin C, Menet C, Ballet S. Wandering beyond small molecules: peptides as allosteric protein modulators. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 43:406-423. [PMID: 34857409 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have seen the rise of allosteric modulation as an innovative approach for drug design and discovery, efforts which culminated in the development of several clinical candidates. Allosteric modulation of many drug targets, including mainly membrane-embedded receptors, have been vastly explored through small molecule screening campaigns, but much less attention has been paid to peptide-based allosteric modulators. However, peptides have a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry due to the typically higher potency and selectivity for their targets, as compared with small molecule therapeutics. Therefore, peptides represent one of the most promising classes of molecules that can modulate key biological pathways. Here, we report on the allosteric modulation of proteins (ranging from G protein-coupled receptors to specific protein-protein interactions) by peptides for applications in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Christel Menet
- Confo Therapeutics N.V., Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 30, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels, Belgium.
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17
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Elhassan RM, Hou X, Fang H. Recent advances in the development of allosteric protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors for drug discovery. Med Res Rev 2021; 42:1064-1110. [PMID: 34791703 DOI: 10.1002/med.21871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) superfamily catalyzes tyrosine de-phosphorylation which affects a myriad of cellular processes. Imbalance in signal pathways mediated by PTPs has been associated with development of many human diseases including cancer, metabolic, and immunological diseases. Several compelling evidence suggest that many members of PTP family are novel therapeutic targets. However, the clinical development of conventional PTP-based active-site inhibitors originally was hampered by the poor selectivity and pharmacokinetic properties. In this regard, PTPs has been widely dismissed as "undruggable." Nonetheless, allosteric modulation has become increasingly an influential and alternative approach that can be exploited for drug development against PTPs. Unlike active-site inhibitors, allosteric inhibitors exhibit a remarkable target-selectivity, drug-likeness, potency, and in vivo activity. Intriguingly, there has been a high interest in novel allosteric PTPs inhibitors within the last years. In this review, we focus on the recent advances of allosteric inhibitors that have been explored in drug discovery and have shown an excellent result in the development of PTPs-based therapeutics. A special emphasis is placed on the structure-activity relationship and molecular mechanistic studies illustrating applications in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham M Elhassan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xuben Hou
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Natural Products (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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18
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Olson KM, Traynor JR, Alt A. Allosteric Modulator Leads Hiding in Plain Site: Developing Peptide and Peptidomimetics as GPCR Allosteric Modulators. Front Chem 2021; 9:671483. [PMID: 34692635 PMCID: PMC8529114 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.671483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators (AMs) of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are desirable drug targets because they can produce fewer on-target side effects, improved selectivity, and better biological specificity (e.g., biased signaling or probe dependence) than orthosteric drugs. An underappreciated source for identifying AM leads are peptides and proteins-many of which were evolutionarily selected as AMs-derived from endogenous protein-protein interactions (e.g., transducer/accessory proteins), intramolecular receptor contacts (e.g., pepducins or extracellular domains), endogenous peptides, and exogenous libraries (e.g., nanobodies or conotoxins). Peptides offer distinct advantages over small molecules, including high affinity, good tolerability, and good bioactivity, and specific disadvantages, including relatively poor metabolic stability and bioavailability. Peptidomimetics are molecules that combine the advantages of both peptides and small molecules by mimicking the peptide's chemical features responsible for bioactivity while improving its druggability. This review 1) discusses sources and strategies to identify peptide/peptidomimetic AMs, 2) overviews strategies to convert a peptide lead into more drug-like "peptidomimetic," and 3) critically analyzes the advantages, disadvantages, and future directions of peptidomimetic AMs. While small molecules will and should play a vital role in AM drug discovery, peptidomimetics can complement and even exceed the advantages of small molecules, depending on the target, site, lead, and associated factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Olson
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John R. Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Alt
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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19
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Nasrallah C, Cannone G, Briot J, Rottier K, Berizzi AE, Huang CY, Quast RB, Hoh F, Banères JL, Malhaire F, Berto L, Dumazer A, Font-Ingles J, Gómez-Santacana X, Catena J, Kniazeff J, Goudet C, Llebaria A, Pin JP, Vinothkumar KR, Lebon G. Agonists and allosteric modulators promote signaling from different metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 conformations. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109648. [PMID: 34469715 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are dimeric G-protein-coupled receptors activated by the main excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate. mGluR activation by agonists binding in the venus flytrap domain is regulated by positive (PAM) or negative (NAM) allosteric modulators binding to the 7-transmembrane domain (7TM). We report the cryo-electron microscopy structures of fully inactive and intermediate-active conformations of mGlu5 receptor bound to an antagonist and a NAM or an agonist and a PAM, respectively, as well as the crystal structure of the 7TM bound to a photoswitchable NAM. The agonist induces a large movement between the subunits, bringing the 7TMs together and stabilizing a 7TM conformation structurally similar to the inactive state. Using functional approaches, we demonstrate that the PAM stabilizes a 7TM active conformation independent of the conformational changes induced by agonists, representing an alternative mode of mGlu activation. These findings provide a structural basis for different mGluR activation modes. Cryo-EM analysis of thermostabilized mGlu5 receptor bound to inhibitors or activators X-ray structure of trans-Alloswitch-1 bound to thermostable mGlu5 7TMs Photopharmacology provides insight into allosteric regulation of mGlu5 7TMs Multiple conformations of mGlu5 receptor activate G protein
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20
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Nassour H, Hoang TA, Martin RD, Dallagnol JCC, Billard É, Létourneau M, Novellino E, Carotenuto A, Allen BG, Tanny JC, Fournier A, Hébert TE, Chatenet D. Lipidated peptides derived from intracellular loops 2 and 3 of the urotensin II receptor act as biased allosteric ligands. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101057. [PMID: 34389356 PMCID: PMC8424217 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, the urotensinergic system, composed of one G protein-coupled receptor and two endogenous ligands, has garnered significant attention as a promising new target for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases. Indeed, this system is associated with various biomarkers of cardiovascular dysfunctions and is involved in changes in cardiac contractility, fibrosis and hypertrophy contributing, like the angiotensinergic system, to the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure. Significant investment has been made toward the development of clinically relevant UT ligands for therapeutic intervention, but with little or no success to date. This system therefore remains to be therapeutically exploited. Pepducins and other lipidated peptides have been used as both mechanistic probes and potential therapeutics; therefore, pepducins derived from the human urotensin II receptor might represent unique tools to generate signaling bias and study hUT signaling networks. Two hUT-derived pepducins, derived from the second and the third intracellular loop of the receptor (hUT-Pep2 and [Trp1, Leu2]hUT-Pep3, respectively) were synthesized and pharmacologically characterized. Our results demonstrated that hUT-Pep2 and [Trp1, Leu2]hUT-Pep3 acted as biased ago-allosteric modulators, triggered ERK1/2 phosphorylation and to a lesser extent, IP1 production and stimulated cell proliferation yet were devoid of contractile activity. Interestingly, both hUT-derived pepducins were able to modulate human urotensin II (hUII)- and urotensin II-related peptide (URP)-mediated contraction albeit to different extents. These new derivatives represent unique tools to reveal the intricacies of hUT signaling and also a novel avenue for the design of allosteric ligands selectively targeting hUT signaling potentially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Nassour
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Tuan Anh Hoang
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ryan D Martin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Juliana C C Dallagnol
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada; Department of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Étienne Billard
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Myriam Létourneau
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Bruce G Allen
- Department of Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jason C Tanny
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Alain Fournier
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - David Chatenet
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Ville de Laval, Québec, Canada.
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21
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Silva GM, Borges RS, Santos KLB, Federico LB, Francischini IAG, Gomes SQ, Barcelos MP, Silva RC, Santos CBR, Silva CHTP. Revisiting the Proposition of Binding Pockets and Bioactive Poses for GSK-3β Allosteric Modulators Addressed to Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8252. [PMID: 34361017 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) is an enzyme pertinently linked to neurodegenerative diseases since it is associated with the regulation of key neuropathological features in the central nervous system. Among the different kinds of inhibitors of this kinase, the allosteric ones stand out due to their selective and subtle modulation, lowering the chance of producing side effects. The mechanism of GSK-3β allosteric modulators may be considered still vague in terms of elucidating a well-defined binding pocket and a bioactive pose for them. In this context, we propose to reinvestigate and reinforce such knowledge by the application of an extensive set of in silico methodologies, such as cavity detection, ligand 3D shape analysis and docking (with robust validation of corresponding protocols), and molecular dynamics. The results here obtained were consensually consistent in furnishing new structural data, in particular by providing a solid bioactive pose of one of the most representative GSK-3β allosteric modulators. We further applied this to the prospect for new compounds by ligand-based virtual screening and analyzed the potential of the two obtained virtual hits by quantum chemical calculations. All potential hits achieved will be subsequently tested by in vitro assays in order to validate our approaches as well as to unveil novel chemical entities as GSK-3β allosteric modulators.
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22
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de Vries RMJM, Meijer FA, Doveston RG, Leijten-van de Gevel IA, Brunsveld L. Cooperativity between the orthosteric and allosteric ligand binding sites of RORγt. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2021287118. [PMID: 33536342 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021287118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
RORγt is a nuclear receptor associated with several diseases. Various synthetic ligands have been developed that target the canonical orthosteric or a second, allosteric pocket of RORγt. We show that orthosteric and allosteric ligands can simultaneously bind to RORγt and that their potency is positively influenced by the other ligand, a phenomenon called cooperative dual ligand binding. The mechanism behind cooperative binding in proteins is poorly understood, primarily due to the lack of structural data. We solved 12 crystal structures of RORγt, simultaneously bound to various orthosteric and allosteric ligands. In combination with molecular dynamics, we reveal a mechanism responsible for the cooperative binding behavior. Our comprehensive structural studies provide unique insights into how cooperative binding occurs in proteins. Cooperative ligand binding is an important phenomenon in biological systems where ligand binding influences the binding of another ligand at an alternative site of the protein via an intramolecular network of interactions. The underlying mechanisms behind cooperative binding remain poorly understood, primarily due to the lack of structural data of these ternary complexes. Using time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) studies, we show that cooperative ligand binding occurs for RORγt, a nuclear receptor associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To provide the crucial structural insights, we solved 12 crystal structures of RORγt simultaneously bound to various orthosteric and allosteric ligands. The presence of the orthosteric ligand induces a clamping motion of the allosteric pocket via helices 4 to 5. Additional molecular dynamics simulations revealed the unusual mechanism behind this clamping motion, with Ala355 shifting between helix 4 and 5. The orthosteric RORγt agonists regulate the conformation of Ala355, thereby stabilizing the conformation of the allosteric pocket and cooperatively enhancing the affinity of the allosteric inverse agonists.
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23
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Barresi E, Giacomelli C, Marchetti L, Baglini E, Salerno S, Greco G, Da Settimo F, Martini C, Trincavelli ML, Taliani S. Novel positive allosteric modulators of A 2B adenosine receptor acting as bone mineralisation promoters. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:286-294. [PMID: 33334192 PMCID: PMC7751416 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1862103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Small-molecules acting as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the A2B adenosine receptor (A2B AR) could potentially represent a novel therapeutic strategy for pathological conditions characterised by altered bone homeostasis, including osteoporosis. We investigated a library of compounds (4-13) exhibiting different degrees of chemical similarity with three indole derivatives (1-3), which have been recently identified by us as PAMs of the A2B AR able to promote mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and bone formation. Evaluation of mineralisation activity of 4-13 in the presence and in the absence of the agonist BAY60-6583 allowed the identification of lead compounds with therapeutic potential as anti-osteoporosis agents. Further biological characterisation of one of the most performing compounds, the benzofurane derivative 9, confirmed that such a molecule behaves as PAM of the A2B AR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emma Baglini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Greco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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24
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Mannes M, Martin C, Triest S, Pia Dimmito M, Mollica A, Laeremans T, Menet CJ, Ballet S. Development of Generic G Protein Peptidomimetics Able to Stabilize Active State G s Protein-Coupled Receptors for Application in Drug Discovery. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10247-10254. [PMID: 33596327 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202100180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent an important group of membrane proteins that play a central role in modern medicine. Unfortunately, conformational promiscuity hampers full therapeutic exploitation of GPCRs, since the largest population of the receptor will adopt a basal conformation, which subsequently challenges screens for agonist drug discovery programs. Herein, we describe a set of peptidomimetics able to mimic the ability of G proteins in stabilizing the active state of the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2 AR) and the dopamine 1 receptor (D1R). During fragment-based screening efforts, these (un)constrained peptide analogues of the α5 helix in Gs proteins, were able to identify agonism pre-imprinted fragments for the examined GPCRs, and as such, they behave as a generic tool, enabling an engagement in agonist earmarked discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Triest
- Confo Therapeutics N.V., Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 94, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marilisa Pia Dimmito
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Adriano Mollica
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Toon Laeremans
- Confo Therapeutics N.V., Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 94, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christel J Menet
- Confo Therapeutics N.V., Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 94, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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25
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Barresi E, Martini C, Da Settimo F, Greco G, Taliani S, Giacomelli C, Trincavelli ML. Allosterism vs. Orthosterism: Recent Findings and Future Perspectives on A 2B AR Physio-Pathological Implications. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:652121. [PMID: 33841166 PMCID: PMC8024542 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.652121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of GPCR (G-coupled protein receptor) allosteric modulators has attracted increasing interest in the last decades. The use of allosteric modulators in therapy offers several advantages with respect to orthosteric ones, as they can fine-tune the tissue responses to the endogenous agonist. Since the discovery of the first A1 adenosine receptor (AR) allosteric modulator in 1990, several efforts have been made to develop more potent molecules as well as allosteric modulators for all adenosine receptor subtypes. There are four subtypes of AR: A1, A2A, A2B, and A3. Positive allosteric modulators of the A1 AR have been proposed for the cure of pain. A3 positive allosteric modulators are thought to be beneficial during inflammatory processes. More recently, A2A and A2B AR allosteric modulators have also been disclosed. The A2B AR displays the lowest affinity for its endogenous ligand adenosine and is mainly activated as a consequence of tissue damage. The A2B AR activation has been found to play a crucial role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in the protection of the heart from ischemic injury, and in the process of bone formation. In this context, allosteric modulators of the A2B AR may represent pharmacological tools useful to develop new therapeutic agents. Herein, we provide an up-to-date highlight of the recent findings and future perspectives in the field of orthosteric and allosteric A2B AR ligands. Furthermore, we compare the use of orthosteric ligands with positive and negative allosteric modulators for the management of different pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Giovanni Greco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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26
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Duarte Y, Rojas M, Canan J, Pérez EG, González-Nilo F, García-Colunga J. Different Classes of Antidepressants Inhibit the Rat α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor by Interacting within the Ion Channel: A Functional and Structural Study. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040998. [PMID: 33668529 PMCID: PMC7918632 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several antidepressants inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in a non-competitive and voltage-dependent fashion. Here, we asked whether antidepressants with a different structure and pharmacological profile modulate the rat α7 nAChR through a similar mechanism by interacting within the ion-channel. We applied electrophysiological (recording of the ion current elicited by choline, ICh, which activates α7 nAChRs from rat CA1 hippocampal interneurons) and in silico approaches (homology modeling of the rat α7 nAChR, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations). The antidepressants inhibited ICh with the order: norfluoxetine ~ mirtazapine ~ imipramine < bupropion ~ fluoxetine ~ venlafaxine ~ escitalopram. The constructed homology model of the rat α7 nAChR resulted in the extracellular vestibule and the channel pore is highly negatively charged, which facilitates the permeation of cations and the entrance of the protonated form of antidepressants. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out within the ion−channel of the α7 nAChR, revealing that the antidepressants adopt poses along the receptor channel, with slightly different binding-free energy values. Furthermore, the inhibition of ICh and free energy values for each antidepressant-receptor complex were highly correlated. Thus, the α7 nAChR is negatively modulated by a variety of antidepressants interacting in the ion−channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorley Duarte
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago 8370146, Chile; (Y.D.); (M.R.); (J.C.); (F.G.-N.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Neuroscience of Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2381850, Chile
| | - Maximiliano Rojas
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago 8370146, Chile; (Y.D.); (M.R.); (J.C.); (F.G.-N.)
| | - Jonathan Canan
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago 8370146, Chile; (Y.D.); (M.R.); (J.C.); (F.G.-N.)
| | - Edwin G. Pérez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile;
| | - Fernando González-Nilo
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Av. República 330, Santiago 8370146, Chile; (Y.D.); (M.R.); (J.C.); (F.G.-N.)
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Neuroscience of Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2381850, Chile
| | - Jesús García-Colunga
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla, Boulevard Juriquilla 3001, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-442-238-1063
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Tizabi Y, Getachew B, Copeland RL, Aschner M. Nicotine and the nicotinic cholinergic system in COVID-19. FEBS J 2020; 287:3656-3663. [PMID: 32790936 PMCID: PMC7436654 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to address the devastating pandemic, COVID‐19, caused by SARS‐CoV‐2. The efforts to understand the details of this disease in hope of providing effective treatments are commendable. It is clear now that the virus can cause far more damage in patients with comorbid conditions—particularly in those with respiratory, cardiovascular, or immune‐compromised system—than in patients without such comorbidities. Drug use can further exacerbate the condition. In this regard, the ill effects of smoking are amply documented, and no doubt can be a confounding factor in COVID‐19 progression. Although conflicting hypotheses on the potential role of nicotine in COVID‐19 pathology have recently been offered, we believe that nicotine itself, through its interaction with the nicotinic cholinergic system, as well as ACE2, may not only be of use in a variety of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, but may also be of potential use in COVID‐19. Thus, on one hand, while we strongly support smoking cessation as a means of harm reduction associated with COVID‐19, on the other hand, we support a potential therapeutic role for nicotine, nicotinic agonists, or positive allosteric modulators of nicotinic cholinergic receptors in COVID‐19, owing to their varied effects including mood regulation, anti‐inflammatory, and purported interference with SARS‐CoV‐2 entry and/or replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bruk Getachew
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert L Copeland
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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28
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Mazzolari A, Gervasoni S, Pedretti A, Fumagalli L, Matucci R, Vistoli G. Repositioning Dequalinium as Potent Muscarinic Allosteric Ligand by Combining Virtual Screening Campaigns and Experimental Binding Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21175961. [PMID: 32825082 PMCID: PMC7503225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21175961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure-based virtual screening is a truly productive repurposing approach provided that reliable target structures are available. Recent progresses in the structural resolution of the G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) render these targets amenable for structure-based repurposing studies. Hence, the present study describes structure-based virtual screening campaigns with a view to repurposing known drugs as potential allosteric (and/or orthosteric) ligands for the hM2 muscarinic subtype which was indeed resolved in complex with an allosteric modulator thus allowing a precise identification of this binding cavity. First, a docking protocol was developed and optimized based on binding space concept and enrichment factor optimization algorithm (EFO) consensus approach by using a purposely collected database including known allosteric modulators. The so-developed consensus models were then utilized to virtually screen the DrugBank database. Based on the computational results, six promising molecules were selected and experimentally tested and four of them revealed interesting affinity data; in particular, dequalinium showed a very impressive allosteric modulation for hM2. Based on these results, a second campaign was focused on bis-cationic derivatives and allowed the identification of other two relevant hM2 ligands. Overall, the study enhances the understanding of the factors governing the hM2 allosteric modulation emphasizing the key role of ligand flexibility as well as of arrangement and delocalization of the positively charged moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Mazzolari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Silvia Gervasoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Rosanna Matucci
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-5019349
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29
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Shattock
- School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yvonne Daniel
- Public Health England, NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme, London, UK
| | | | - Andrew Retter
- Department of Haematology, Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Katherine Henderson
- Emergency Medicine, Guy's and Saint Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Infection Service, London, UK
| | - Sarah Wilson
- Viapath Blood Sciences Laboratories, Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
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30
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Abstract
Cross-coupling reactions have played a critical role enabling the rapid expansion of structure-activity relationships (SAR) during the drug discovery phase to identify a clinical candidate and facilitate subsequent drug development processes. The reliability and flexibility of this methodology have attracted great interest in the pharmaceutical industry, becoming one of the most used approaches from Lead Generation to Lead Optimization. In this mini-review, we present an overview of cross-coupling reaction applications to medicinal chemistry efforts, in particular the Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions as a remarkable resource for the generation of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. To further appreciate the impact of this methodology, the authors discuss some recent examples of clinical candidates that utilize key cross-coupling reactions in their large-scale synthetic process. Looking into future opportunities, the authors highlight the versatility of the cross-coupling reactions towards new chemical modalities like DNA-encoded libraries (DELs), new generation of peptides and cyclopeptides, allosteric modulators, and proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria-Jesus Blanco
- Medicinal Chemistry. Sage Therapeutics, Inc. 215 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA;
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31
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Mitra S, Khatri SN, Maulik M, Bult-Ito A, Schulte M. Allosterism of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: Therapeutic Potential for Neuroinflammation Underlying Brain Trauma and Degenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4918. [PMID: 32664647 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a key physiological phenomenon that can be pervasive when dysregulated. Persistent chronic inflammation precedes several pathophysiological conditions forming one of the critical cellular homeostatic checkpoints. With a steady global surge in inflammatory diseases, it is imperative to delineate underlying mechanisms and design suitable drug molecules targeting the cellular partners that mediate and regulate inflammation. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have a confirmed role in influencing inflammatory pathways and have been a subject of scientific scrutiny underlying drug development in recent years. Drugs designed to target allosteric sites on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors present a unique opportunity to unravel the role of the cholinergic system in regulating and restoring inflammatory homeostasis. Such a therapeutic approach holds promise in treating several inflammatory conditions and diseases with inflammation as an underlying pathology. Here, we briefly describe the potential of cholinergic allosterism and some allosteric modulators as a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of neuroinflammation.
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32
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Perszyk RE, Myers SJ, Yuan H, Gibb AJ, Furukawa H, Sobolevsky AI, Traynelis SF. Hodgkin-Huxley-Katz Prize Lecture: Genetic and pharmacological control of glutamate receptor channel through a highly conserved gating motif. J Physiol 2020; 598:3071-3083. [PMID: 32468591 DOI: 10.1113/jp278086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate receptors are essential ligand-gated ion channels in the central nervous system that mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in response to the release of glutamate from presynaptic terminals. The structural and biophysical basis underlying the function of these receptors has been studied for decades by a wide range of approaches. However recent structural, pharmacological and genetic studies have provided new insight into the regions of this protein that are critical determinants of receptor function. Lack of variation in specific areas of the protein amino acid sequences in the human population has defined three regions in each receptor subunit that are under selective pressure, which has focused research efforts and driven new hypotheses. In addition, these three closely positioned elements reside near a cavity that is shown by multiple studies to be a likely site of action for allosteric modulators, one of which is currently in use as an FDA-approved anticonvulsant. These structural elements are capable of controlling gating of the pore, and appear to permit some modulators bound within the cavity to also alter permeation properties. This creates a new precedent whereby features of the channel pore can be modulated by exogenous drugs that bind outside the pore. The convergence of structural, genetic, biophysical and pharmacological approaches is a powerful means to gain insight into the complex biological processes defined by neurotransmitter receptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley E Perszyk
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Scott J Myers
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Hongjie Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Alasdair J Gibb
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hiro Furukawa
- WM Keck Structural Biology Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY, 11724, USA
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Stephen F Traynelis
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,Center for Functional Evaluation of Rare Variants (CFERV), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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33
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Reyes-Espinosa F, Nieto-Pescador MG, Bocanegra-García V, Lozano-Guzmán E, Rivera G. In Silico Analysis of FDA Drugs as P2X4 Modulators for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. Mol Inform 2020; 39:e1900111. [PMID: 32511896 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201900111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown the potential application of ivermectins in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Ivermectin is a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of P2X4R and this molecule exerts its action in the transmembrane region (known as the TM region) of trimeric channel structure (the pocket formed by Asp331, Met336, Trp46, Trp50, and Tyr42). The aim of this study is to identify FDA drugs with potential PAM properties, by exploring the P2X4Rs from four organisms (Danio rerio, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Homo sapiens). The in silico study consists of carrying out the molecular docking of 1656 FDA-approved drugs on the structure of P2X4R, using the commercially available compounds from the ZINC15 database for virtual screening. To strengthen the reliability of the results, two docking protocols were used involving the use of two programs, Autodock 4.2 and Autodock Vina. Nine FDA drugs with potential PAM properties were identified. In addition, eight molecules with potential negative allosteric modulator (NAM) action, and 13 molecules with potential allosteric modulator (AM) action were identified. The FDA drugs identified in this study with PAM, NAM, and AM action, shared in the P2X4Rs of the four organisms, can provide a guideline to proceed with research concerning new drugs for the study and treatment of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Reyes-Espinosa
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, México
| | - María G Nieto-Pescador
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, 34120, Durango, México
| | - Virgilio Bocanegra-García
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, México
| | - Eduardo Lozano-Guzmán
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, 34120, Durango, México
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, 88710, Reynosa, México
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34
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Nyamai DW, Tastan Bishop Ö. Identification of Selective Novel Hits against Plasmodium falciparum Prolyl tRNA Synthetase Active Site and a Predicted Allosteric Site Using in silico Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3803. [PMID: 32471245 PMCID: PMC7312540 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been increased interest in aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) as potential malarial drug targets. These enzymes play a key role in protein translation by the addition of amino acids to their cognate tRNA. The aaRSs are present in all Plasmodium life cycle stages, and thus present an attractive malarial drug target. Prolyl tRNA synthetase is a class II aaRS that functions in charging tRNA with proline. Various inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum ProRS (PfProRS) active site have been designed. However, none have gone through clinical trials as they have been found to be highly toxic to human cells. Recently, a possible allosteric site was reported in PfProRS with two possible allosteric modulators: glyburide and TCMDC-124506. In this study, we sought to identify novel selective inhibitors targeting PfProRS active site and possible novel allosteric modulators of this enzyme. To achieve this, virtual screening of South African natural compounds against PfProRS and the human homologue was carried out using AutoDock Vina. The modulation of protein motions by ligand binding was studied by molecular dynamics (MD) using the GROningen MAchine for Chemical Simulations (GROMACS) tool. To further analyse the protein global motions and energetic changes upon ligand binding, principal component analysis (PCA), and free energy landscape (FEL) calculations were performed. Further, to understand the effect of ligand binding on the protein communication, dynamic residue network (DRN) analysis of the MD trajectories was carried out using the MD-TASK tool. A total of ten potential natural hit compounds were identified with strong binding energy scores. Binding of ligands to the protein caused observable global and residue level changes. Dynamic residue network calculations showed increase in betweenness centrality (BC) metric of residues at the allosteric site implying these residues are important in protein communication. A loop region at the catalytic domain between residues 300 and 350 and the anticodon binding domain showed significant contributions to both PC1 and PC2. Large motions were observed at a loop in the Z-domain between residues 697 and 710 which was also in agreement with RMSF calculations that showed increase in flexibility of residues in this region. Residues in this loop region are implicated in ATP binding and thus a change in dynamics may affect ATP binding affinity. Free energy landscape (FEL) calculations showed that the holo protein (protein-ADN complex) and PfProRS-SANC184 complexes were stable, as shown by the low energy with very few intermediates and hardly distinguishable low energy barriers. In addition, FEL results agreed with backbone RMSD distribution plots where stable complexes showed a normal RMSD distribution while unstable complexes had multimodal RMSD distribution. The betweenness centrality metric showed a loss of functional importance of key ATP binding site residues upon allosteric ligand binding. The deep basins in average L observed at the allosteric region imply that there is high accessibility of residues at this region. To further analyse BC and average L metrics data, we calculated the ΔBC and ΔL values by taking each value in the holo protein BC or L matrix less the corresponding value in the ligand-bound complex BC or L matrix. Interestingly, in allosteric complexes, residues located in a loop region implicated in ATP binding had negative ΔL values while in orthosteric complexes these residues had positive ΔL values. An increase in contact frequency between residues Ser263, Thr267, Tyr285, and Leu707 at the allosteric site and residues Thr397, Pro398, Thr402, and Gln395 at the ATP binding TXE loop was observed. In summary, this study identified five potential orthosteric inhibitors and five allosteric modulators against PfProRS. Allosteric modulators changed ATP binding site dynamics, as shown by RMSF, PCA, and DRN calculations. Changes in dynamics of the ATP binding site and increased contact frequency between residues at the proposed allosteric site and the ATP binding site may explain how allosteric modulators distort the ATP binding site and thus might inhibit PfProRS. The scaffolds of the identified hits in the study can be used as a starting point for antimalarial inhibitor development with low human cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa;
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Abstract
Introduction: Ligands at the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) act by modulating the effect of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). The benzodiazepine drugs are conventionally categorized as positive allosteric modulators enhancing the chloride ion current GABA-induced. In literature there are also reported ligands that act as negative allosteric modulators, reducing chloride ion current, and silent allosteric modulators not influencing the chloride ion flux.Areas covered: This review covers patents published from 2014 to present on ligands for the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABAARs. Patents filed from different companies and research groups report many compounds that may be used in the treatment/prevention of a large variety of diseases.Expert opinion: Since the discovery of the first benzodiazepine about 60 years have passed and about 50 years since the identification of their target, GABAA receptor. Even if benzodiazepines are the most popular anxiolytic drugs, the research in this field is still very active. From patents/application analysis arises that most of them claim methods for alleviating specific symptoms in different neurodegenerative diseases and their related memory deficits. Noteworthy is the presence of the α4- and α5-GABAA receptor subtype ligands as new pharmacological tools for airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation diseases, and asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Crocetti
- NEUROFARBA, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gabriella Guerrini
- NEUROFARBA, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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36
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Vega Alanis BA, Iorio MT, Silva LL, Bampali K, Ernst M, Schnürch M, Mihovilovic MD. Allosteric GABA A Receptor Modulators-A Review on the Most Recent Heterocyclic Chemotypes and Their Synthetic Accessibility. Molecules 2020; 25:E999. [PMID: 32102309 PMCID: PMC7070463 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25040999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptor modulators are structurally almost as diverse as their target protein. A plethora of heterocyclic scaffolds has been described as modulating this extremely important receptor family. Some made it into clinical trials and, even on the market, some were dismissed. This review focuses on the synthetic accessibility and potential for library synthesis of GABAA receptor modulators containing at least one heterocyclic scaffold, which were disclosed within the last 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Angelica Vega Alanis
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/193, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.A.V.A.); (M.T.I.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Maria Teresa Iorio
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/193, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.A.V.A.); (M.T.I.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Luca L. Silva
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Konstantina Bampali
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Margot Ernst
- Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 4, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Michael Schnürch
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/193, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.A.V.A.); (M.T.I.); (M.D.M.)
| | - Marko D. Mihovilovic
- Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9/193, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.A.V.A.); (M.T.I.); (M.D.M.)
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Sheik Amamuddy O, Veldman W, Manyumwa C, Khairallah A, Agajanian S, Oluyemi O, Verkhivker GM, Tastan Bishop Ö. Integrated Computational Approaches and Tools forAllosteric Drug Discovery. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E847. [PMID: 32013012 PMCID: PMC7036869 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding molecular mechanisms underlying the complexity of allosteric regulationin proteins has attracted considerable attention in drug discovery due to the benefits and versatilityof allosteric modulators in providing desirable selectivity against protein targets while minimizingtoxicity and other side effects. The proliferation of novel computational approaches for predictingligand-protein interactions and binding using dynamic and network-centric perspectives has ledto new insights into allosteric mechanisms and facilitated computer-based discovery of allostericdrugs. Although no absolute method of experimental and in silico allosteric drug/site discoveryexists, current methods are still being improved. As such, the critical analysis and integration ofestablished approaches into robust, reproducible, and customizable computational pipelines withexperimental feedback could make allosteric drug discovery more efficient and reliable. In this article,we review computational approaches for allosteric drug discovery and discuss how these tools can beutilized to develop consensus workflows for in silico identification of allosteric sites and modulatorswith some applications to pathogen resistance and precision medicine. The emerging realization thatallosteric modulators can exploit distinct regulatory mechanisms and can provide access to targetedmodulation of protein activities could open opportunities for probing biological processes and insilico design of drug combinations with improved therapeutic indices and a broad range of activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Sheik Amamuddy
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (O.S.A.); (W.V.); (C.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Wayde Veldman
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (O.S.A.); (W.V.); (C.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Colleen Manyumwa
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (O.S.A.); (W.V.); (C.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Afrah Khairallah
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (O.S.A.); (W.V.); (C.M.); (A.K.)
| | - Steve Agajanian
- Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (S.A.); (O.O.)
| | - Odeyemi Oluyemi
- Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (S.A.); (O.O.)
| | - Gennady M. Verkhivker
- Graduate Program in Computational and Data Sciences, Keck Center for Science and Engineering, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA; (S.A.); (O.O.)
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | - Özlem Tastan Bishop
- Research Unit in Bioinformatics (RUBi), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (O.S.A.); (W.V.); (C.M.); (A.K.)
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Xu X, Chen Y, Fu Q, Ni D, Zhang J, Li X, Lu S. The chemical diversity and structure-based discovery of allosteric modulators for the PIF-pocket of protein kinase PDK1. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2019; 34:361-374. [PMID: 30734603 PMCID: PMC6327997 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2018.1553167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) is an important protein in mediating the PI3K-AKT pathway and is thus identified as a promising target. The catalytic activity of PDK1 is tightly regulated by allosteric modulators, which bind to the PDK1 Interacting Fragment (PIF) pocket of the kinase domain that is topographically distinct from the orthosteric, ATP binding site. Allosteric modulators by attaching to the less conserved PIF-pocket have remarkable advantages such as higher selectivity, less side effect, and lower toxicity. Targeting allosteric PIF-pocket of PDK1 has become the focus of recent attention. In this review, we summarise the current advances in the structure-based discovery of PDK1 allosteric modulators. We will first present the three-dimensional structure of PDK1 and illustrate the allosteric regulatory mechanism of PDK1 through the modulation of the PIF-pocket. Then, the recent advances of PDK1 allosteric modulators targeting the PIF-pocket will be recapitulated detailly according to the structural similarity of allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingyi Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Duan Ni
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Changhai Hospital, Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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González-Gutiérrez JP, Pessoa-Mahana HA, Iturriaga-Vásquez PE, Reyes-Parada MI, Guerra-Díaz NE, Hodar-Salazar M, Viscarra F, Paillali P, Núñez-Vivanco G, Lorca-Carvajal MA, Mella-Raipán J, Zúñiga MC. Synthesis of Novel Nicotinic Ligands with Multimodal Action: Targeting Acetylcholine α4β2, Dopamine and Serotonin Transporters. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24203808. [PMID: 31652614 PMCID: PMC6832503 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24203808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), serotonin transporters (SERT) and dopamine transporters (DAT) represent targets for the development of novel nicotinic derivatives acting as multiligands associated with different health conditions, such as depressive, anxiety and addiction disorders. In the present work, a series of functionalized esters structurally related to acetylcholine and nicotine were synthesized and pharmacologically assayed with respect to these targets. The synthesized compounds were studied in radioligand binding assays at α4β2 nAChR, h-SERT and h-DAT. SERT experiments showed not radioligand [3H]-paroxetine displacement, but rather an increase in the radioligand binding percentage at the central binding site was observed. Compound 20 showed Ki values of 1.008 ± 0.230 μM for h-DAT and 0.031 ± 0.006 μM for α4β2 nAChR, and [3H]-paroxetine binding of 191.50% in h-SERT displacement studies, being the only compound displaying triple affinity. Compound 21 displayed Ki values of 0.113 ± 0.037 μM for α4β2 nAChR and 0.075 ± 0.009 μM for h-DAT acting as a dual ligand. Molecular docking studies on homology models of α4β2 nAChR, h-DAT and h-SERT suggested potential interactions among the compounds and agonist binding site at the α4/β2 subunit interfaces of α4β2 nAChR, central binding site of h-DAT and allosteric modulator effect in h-SERT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo González-Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, 8380492 Santiago, Chile.
| | - Hernán Armando Pessoa-Mahana
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, 8380492 Santiago, Chile.
| | - Patricio Ernesto Iturriaga-Vásquez
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile.
- Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research Applied to the Environment, Universidad de La Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile.
| | - Miguel Iván Reyes-Parada
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica y Aplicada (CIBAP), Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, 9170022 Santiago, Chile.
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 3467987 Sede Talca, Chile.
| | - Nicolas Esteban Guerra-Díaz
- Departamento de Química Orgánica y Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, 8380492 Santiago, Chile.
| | - Martin Hodar-Salazar
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile.
| | - Franco Viscarra
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile.
| | - Pablo Paillali
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Universidad de la Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile.
| | - Gabriel Núñez-Vivanco
- Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular, Universidad de Talca, 3340000 Talca, Chile.
- Escuela de Ingeniería Civil en Bioinformática, Universidad de Talca, Av. Lircay 3340000 Talca, Chile.
| | | | - Jaime Mella-Raipán
- Instituto de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - María Carolina Zúñiga
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica and Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, 8380492 Santiago, Chile.
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40
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Muntean BS, Patil DN, Madoux F, Fossetta J, Scampavia L, Spicer TP, Martemyanov KA. A High-Throughput Time-Resolved Fluorescence Energy Transfer Assay to Screen for Modulators of RGS7/Gβ5/R7BP Complex. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2019; 16:150-161. [PMID: 29658790 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2017.839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are excellent drug targets exploited by majority of the Food and Drug Administration-approved medications, but when modulated, are often accompanied by significant adverse effects. Targeting of other elements in GPCR pathways for improved safety and efficacy is thus an unmet need. The strength of GPCR signaling is tightly regulated by regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins, making them attractive drug targets. We focused on a prominent RGS complex in the brain consisting of RGS7 and its binding partners Gβ5 and R7BP. These complexes play critical roles in regulating multiple GPCRs and essential physiological processes, yet no small molecule modulators are currently available to modify its function. In this study, we report a novel high-throughput approach to screen for small molecule modulators of the intramolecular transitions in the RGS7/Gβ5/R7BP complex known to be involved in its allosteric regulation. We developed a time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer-based in vitro assay that utilizes full-length recombinant proteins and shows consistency, excellent assay statistics, and high level of sensitivity. We demonstrated the potential of this approach by screening two compound libraries (LOPAC 1280 and MicroSource Spectrum). This study confirms the feasibility of the chosen strategy for identifying small molecule modulators of RGS7/Gβ5/R7BP complex for impacting signaling downstream of the GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Muntean
- 1 Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Dipak N Patil
- 1 Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Franck Madoux
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | | | - Louis Scampavia
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Timothy P Spicer
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
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Silva GM, Barcelos MP, Poiani JGC, Hage-Melim LIDS, da Silva CHTDP. Allosteric Modulators of Potential Targets Related to Alzheimer's Disease: a Review. ChemMedChem 2019; 14:1467-1483. [PMID: 31310701 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Among neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, and there is an urgent need to discover new and efficacious forms of treatment for it. Pathological patterns of AD include cholinergic dysfunction, increased β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide concentration, the appearance of neurofibrillary tangles, among others, all of which are strongly associated with specific biological targets. Interactions observed between these targets and potential drug candidates in AD most often occur by competitive mechanisms driven by orthosteric ligands that sometimes result in the production of side effects. In this context, the allosteric mechanism represents a key strategy; this can be regarded as the selective modulation of such targets by allosteric modulators in an advantageous manner, as this may decrease the likelihood of side effects. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of compounds that act as allosteric modulators of the main biological targets related to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Martins Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14090-901, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Mariana Pegrucci Barcelos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14090-901, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - João Gabriel Curtolo Poiani
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lorane Izabel da Silva Hage-Melim
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Curso de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek, KM-02, 68903-419, Macapá, Brazil
| | - Carlos Henrique Tomich de Paula da Silva
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14090-901, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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42
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Kenakin T. Prescient Indices of Activity: The Application of Functional System Sensitivity to Measurement of Drug Effect. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2019; 40:529-539. [PMID: 31109799 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Through pharmacological procedures, indices of drug activity can be obtained that transcend the systems in which they are measured. If (i) affinity, (ii) efficacies, (iii) orthosteric versus allosteric interaction, and (iv) rate of receptor offset can be determined, activity can be predicted in all systems. This can yield more detailed profiles (fingerprints) of efficacy to better define the required activities of follow-up molecules should the original candidates fail in the clinic. The use of functional assays of varying sensitivity is a major tool in the lead optimization process and the observation of candidate molecule profiles in multiple functional assays can reveal all properties of candidate molecules. In this review, the different indices for agonists, antagonists, and allosteric modulators are defined while highlighting the application of functional assays in deriving these indices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Room 4042 Genetic Medicine Building, CB# 7365, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7365, USA.
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Yohn SE, Galbraith J, Calipari ES, Conn PJ. Shared Behavioral and Neurocircuitry Disruptions in Drug Addiction, Obesity, and Binge Eating Disorder: Focus on Group I mGluRs in the Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:2125-2143. [PMID: 30933466 PMCID: PMC7898461 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulated data from clinical and preclinical studies suggest that, in drug addiction and states of overeating, such as obesity and binge eating disorder (BED), there is an imbalance in circuits that are critical for motivation, reward saliency, executive function, and self-control. Central to these pathologies and the extensive topic of this Review are the aberrations in dopamine (DA) and glutamate (Glu) within the mesolimbic pathway. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlus) are highly expressed in the mesolimbic pathway and are poised in key positions to modulate disruptions in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release observed in drug addiction, obesity, and BED. The use of allosteric modulators of group I mGlus has been studied in drug addiction, as they offer several advantages over traditional orthosteric agents. However, they have yet to be studied in obesity or BED. With the substantial overlap between the neurocircuitry involved in drug addiction and eating disorders, group I mGlus may also provide novel targets for obesity and BED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha E. Yohn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - Jordan Galbraith
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - Erin S. Calipari
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, United States
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44
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Ni D, Lu S, Zhang J. Emerging roles of allosteric modulators in the regulation of protein-protein interactions (PPIs): A new paradigm for PPI drug discovery. Med Res Rev 2019; 39:2314-2342. [PMID: 30957264 DOI: 10.1002/med.21585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are closely implicated in various types of cellular activities and are thus pivotal to health and disease states. Given their fundamental roles in a wide range of biological processes, the modulation of PPIs has enormous potential in drug discovery. However, owing to the general properties of large, flat, and featureless interfaces of PPIs, previous attempts have demonstrated that the generation of therapeutic agents targeting PPI interfaces is challenging, rendering them almost "undruggable" for decades. To date, rapid progress in chemical and structural biology techniques has promoted the exploitation of allostery as a novel approach in drug discovery. By attaching to allosteric sites that are topologically and spatially distinct from PPI interfaces, allosteric modulators can achieve improved physiochemical properties. Thus, allosteric modulators may represent an alternative strategy to target intractable PPIs and have attracted intense pharmaceutical interest. In this review, we first briefly introduce the characteristics of PPIs and then present different approaches for investigating PPIs, as well as the latest methods for modulating PPIs. Importantly, we comprehensively review the recent progress in the development of allosteric modulators to inhibit or stabilize PPIs. Finally, we conclude with future perspectives on the discovery of allosteric PPI modulators, especially the application of computational methods to aid in allosteric PPI drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duan Ni
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Clinical and Fundamental Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Clinical and Fundamental Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Medicinal Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Clinical and Fundamental Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Medicinal Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Center for Single-Cell Omics, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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45
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Stansley BJ, Conn PJ. Neuropharmacological Insight from Allosteric Modulation of mGlu Receptors. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2019; 40:240-252. [PMID: 30824180 PMCID: PMC6445545 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that regulate cell physiology throughout the nervous system. The potential of mGlu receptors as therapeutic targets has been bolstered by current research that has provided insight into the diverse modes of mGlu activation and signaling. In particular, the allosteric modulation of mGlu receptors represents a major area of focus in studies of basic pharmacology as well as drug development, largely due to the high subtype specificity achievable by targeting allosteric sites on mGlu receptors. These provide sophisticated regulation of neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission to influence behavioral output. Here, we review how these allosteric mechanisms have been leveraged preclinically to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of allosteric modulators for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, cognitive impairment, Parkinson's disease (PD), stress, and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branden J Stansley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
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Nguyen T, Gamage TF, Decker AM, German N, Langston TL, Farquhar CE, Kenakin TP, Wiley JL, Thomas BF, Zhang Y. Diarylureas Containing 5-Membered Heterocycles as CB 1 Receptor Allosteric Modulators: Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Evaluation. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:518-527. [PMID: 30188693 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators have attracted significant interest as an alternate strategy to modulate CB1 receptor signaling for therapeutic benefits that may avoid the adverse effects associated with orthosteric ligands. Here we extended our previous structure-activity relationship studies on the diarylurea-based CB1 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) by introducing five-membered heterocycles to replace the 5-pyrrolidinylpyridinyl group in PSNCBAM-1 (1), one of the first generation CB1 allosteric modulators. Many of these compounds had comparable potency to 1 in blocking the CB1 agonist CP55,940 stimulated calcium mobilization and [35S]GTP-γ-S binding. Similar to 1, most compounds showed positive cooperativity by increasing [3H]CP55,940 binding, consistent with the positive allosteric modulator (PAM)-antagonist mechanism. Interestingly, these compounds exhibited differences in ability to increase specific binding of [3H]CP55,940 and decrease binding of the antagonist [3H]SR141716. In saturation binding studies, only increases in [3H]CP55,940 Bmax, but not Kd, were observed, suggesting that these compounds stabilize low affinity receptors into a high affinity state. Among the series, the 2-pyrrolyl analogue (13) exhibited greater potency than 1 in the [35S]GTP-γ-S binding assay and significantly enhanced the maximum binding level in the [3H]CP5,5940 binding assay, indicating greater CB1 receptor affinity and/or cooperativity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Nguyen
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Thomas F. Gamage
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Ann M. Decker
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Nadezhda German
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Tiffany L. Langston
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Charlotte E. Farquhar
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Terry P. Kenakin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Jenny L. Wiley
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Brian F. Thomas
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, United States
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Immadi SS, Dopart R, Wu Z, Fu B, Kendall DA, Lu D. Exploring 6-Azaindole and 7-Azaindole Rings for Developing Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Allosteric Modulators. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2018; 3:252-258. [PMID: 30547095 PMCID: PMC6290480 DOI: 10.1089/can.2018.0046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction and Objective: Org27569 is a prototypical allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1). It belongs to the indole-2-carboxamide scaffold and has been intensively investigated in pharmacology and in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. Although azaindoles are rare in natural products and differ only by the presence of an extra ring nitrogen, they were demonstrated as valuable bioisosteres in many pharmacologically important molecules. To extend the SAR investigation of the indole-2-carboxamide class of CB1 allosteric modulators, azaindole (pyrrolopyridine) rings were used to replace the indole ring of Org27569 analogs to explore the potential of azaindole-2-carboxamides as CB1 allosteric modulators. Using 6- and 7-azaindole in lieu of the indole moiety within this class of CB1 allosteric modulators indeed improved the aqueous solubility. Materials and Methods: We synthesized 6- and 7-azaindole-2-carboxamides and their indole-2-carboxamide counterparts. The molecules were evaluated by [3H]CP55,940 binding and [35S]GTPγS binding assays for their allosteric modulation of the CB1 receptor. Results: The 7-azaindole-2-carboxamides lost the ability to bind to the CB1 receptor. The 6-azaindole-2-carboxamides (e.g., 3c and 3d) showed markedly reduced binding affinities to the CB1 receptor in comparison with their indole-2-carboxamide counterparts. However, they behaved similarly as indole-2-carboxamides in potentiating the orthosteric agonist binding and inhibiting the orthosteric agonist-induced G-protein coupling. The results indicated that some azaindole scaffolds (e.g., 6-azaindole) are worth further exploration, whereas the 7-azaindole ring is not a viable bioisostere of the indole ring in the Org27569 class of CB1 allosteric modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sri Sujana Immadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rangel College of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas
| | - Rachel Dopart
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Zhixing Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rangel College of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas
| | - Boqiao Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rangel College of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas
| | - Debra A. Kendall
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Dai Lu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rangel College of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas
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Chaturvedi M, Schilling J, Beautrait A, Bouvier M, Benovic JL, Shukla AK. Emerging Paradigm of Intracellular Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors. Trends Biochem Sci 2018; 43:533-546. [PMID: 29735399 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recognize a diverse array of extracellular stimuli, and they mediate a broad repertoire of signaling events involved in human physiology. Although the major effort on targeting GPCRs has typically been focused on their extracellular surface, a series of recent developments now unfold the possibility of targeting them from the intracellular side as well. Allosteric modulators binding to the cytoplasmic surface of GPCRs have now been described, and their structural mechanisms are elucidated by high-resolution crystal structures. Furthermore, pepducins, aptamers, and intrabodies targeting the intracellular face of GPCRs have also been successfully utilized to modulate receptor signaling. Moreover, small molecule compounds, aptamers, and synthetic intrabodies targeting β-arrestins have also been discovered to modulate GPCR endocytosis and signaling. Here, we discuss the emerging paradigm of intracellular targeting of GPCRs, and outline the current challenges, potential opportunities, and future outlook in this particular area of GPCR biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Chaturvedi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India
| | - Justin Schilling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Alexandre Beautrait
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Michel Bouvier
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Jeffrey L Benovic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Arun K Shukla
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India.
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He Y, Shen J. Aminobenzisoxazole compounds as agonists of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: a patent evaluation (WO 2017027600). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2018; 28:429-436. [PMID: 29566578 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2018.1455827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION alpha 7 subtype nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) ligands, that is, ligands that interact with the orthosteric or allosteric binding sites of α7 nAChR, hold great potential for several therapeutic applications. Numerous compounds have been designed targeting α7 nAChR but most of them cannot be used therapeutically for various reasons. Areas covered: The patent application describes a series of germinal substituted aminobenzisoxazole compounds as α7 nAChR ligands. These compounds were claimed as potential therapeutics for treating and/or improving cognitive function. All of the (R)-stereoisomer presented high binding activities for α7 nAChR and several compounds displayed excellent selectivity over 5-HT3R. Expert opinion: The privileged structure-derived modification via bioisosterism and scaffold hopping is an important approach for seeking novel α7 nAChR ligands. The claimed germinal substituted aminobenzisoxazole derivatives with low tPSA values as well as low number of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors are supposed to have sufficient BBB penetration. Although there is a lack of essential biological data and the molecular mechanisms are not clear, these compounds stand for a new type of α7 nAChR ligands and deserve further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang He
- a CAS Key Laboratory for Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China
| | - Jingshan Shen
- a CAS Key Laboratory for Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai , China
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Manetti D, Bellucci C, Chiaramonte N, Dei S, Teodori E, Romanelli MN. Designing selective modulators for the nicotinic receptor subtypes: challenges and opportunities. Future Med Chem 2018; 10:433-59. [PMID: 29451400 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinic receptors are membrane proteins involved in several physiological processes. They are considered suitable drug targets for various CNS disorders or conditions, as shown by the large number of compounds which have entered clinical trials. In recent years, nonconventional agonists have been discovered: positive allosteric modulators, allosteric agonists, site-specific agonists and silent desensitizers are compounds able to modulate the receptor interacting at sites different from the orthodox one, or to desensitize the receptor without prior opening. While these new findings can further complicate the pharmacology of these proteins and the design and optimization of ligands, they undoubtedly offer new opportunities to find drugs for the many therapeutic indications involving nicotinic receptors.
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