RESUMEN
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by promoting guanine nucleotide exchange. Here, we investigate the coupling of G proteins with GPCRs and describe the events that ultimately lead to the ejection of GDP from its binding pocket in the Gα subunit, the rate-limiting step during G-protein activation. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the temporal progression of structural rearrangements of GDP-bound Gs protein (Gs·GDP; hereafter GsGDP) upon coupling to the ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR) in atomic detail. The binding of GsGDP to the ß2AR is followed by long-range allosteric effects that significantly reduce the energy needed for GDP release: the opening of α1-αF helices, the displacement of the αG helix and the opening of the α-helical domain. Signal propagation to the Gs occurs through an extended receptor interface, including a lysine-rich motif at the intracellular end of a kinked transmembrane helix 6, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis and functional assays. From this ß2AR-GsGDP intermediate, Gs undergoes an in-plane rotation along the receptor axis to approach the ß2AR-Gsempty state. The simulations shed light on how the structural elements at the receptor-G-protein interface may interact to transmit the signal over 30 Å to the nucleotide-binding site. Our analysis extends the current limited view of nucleotide-free snapshots to include additional states and structural features responsible for signaling and G-protein coupling specificity.
RESUMEN
AlphaFold2 (AF2) models have had wide impact but mixed success in retrospective ligand recognition. We prospectively docked large libraries against unrefined AF2 models of the σ2 and serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors, testing hundreds of new molecules and comparing results with those obtained from docking against the experimental structures. Hit rates were high and similar for the experimental and AF2 structures, as were affinities. Success in docking against the AF2 models was achieved despite differences between orthosteric residue conformations in the AF2 models and the experimental structures. Determination of the cryo-electron microscopy structure for one of the more potent 5-HT2A ligands from the AF2 docking revealed residue accommodations that resembled the AF2 prediction. AF2 models may sample conformations that differ from experimental structures but remain low energy and relevant for ligand discovery, extending the domain of structure-based drug design.
Asunto(s)
Aprendizaje Profundo , Descubrimiento de Drogas , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2A , Agonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2 , Antagonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2 , Humanos , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Diseño de Fármacos , Descubrimiento de Drogas/métodos , Ligandos , Conformación Proteica , Pliegue de Proteína , Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2A/química , Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2A/ultraestructura , Receptores sigma/química , Receptores sigma/metabolismo , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequeñas/química , Agonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2/química , Agonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2/farmacología , Antagonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2/química , Antagonistas del Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2/farmacologíaRESUMEN
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by stimulating guanine nucleotide exchange in the Gα subunit1. To visualize this mechanism, we developed a time-resolved cryo-EM approach that examines the progression of ensembles of pre-steady-state intermediates of a GPCR-G-protein complex. By monitoring the transitions of the stimulatory Gs protein in complex with the ß2-adrenergic receptor at short sequential time points after GTP addition, we identified the conformational trajectory underlying G-protein activation and functional dissociation from the receptor. Twenty structures generated from sequential overlapping particle subsets along this trajectory, compared to control structures, provide a high-resolution description of the order of main events driving G-protein activation in response to GTP binding. Structural changes propagate from the nucleotide-binding pocket and extend through the GTPase domain, enacting alterations to Gα switch regions and the α5 helix that weaken the G-protein-receptor interface. Molecular dynamics simulations with late structures in the cryo-EM trajectory support that enhanced ordering of GTP on closure of the α-helical domain against the nucleotide-bound Ras-homology domain correlates with α5 helix destabilization and eventual dissociation of the G protein from the GPCR. These findings also highlight the potential of time-resolved cryo-EM as a tool for mechanistic dissection of GPCR signalling events.
Asunto(s)
Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gs , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2 , Humanos , Sitios de Unión , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gs/química , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gs/efectos de los fármacos , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gs/metabolismo , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gs/ultraestructura , Guanosina Trifosfato/metabolismo , Guanosina Trifosfato/farmacología , Modelos Moleculares , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Unión Proteica , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2/metabolismo , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2/química , Receptores Adrenérgicos beta 2/ultraestructura , Factores de Tiempo , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Dominios Proteicos , Estructura Secundaria de Proteína , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a family C G-protein-coupled receptor1 (GPCR) that has a central role in regulating systemic calcium homeostasis2,3. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy and functional assays to investigate the activation of human CaSR embedded in lipid nanodiscs and its coupling to functional Gi versus Gq proteins in the presence and absence of the calcimimetic drug cinacalcet. High-resolution structures show that both Gi and Gq drive additional conformational changes in the activated CaSR dimer to stabilize a more extensive asymmetric interface of the seven-transmembrane domain (7TM) that involves key protein-lipid interactions. Selective Gi and Gq coupling by the receptor is achieved through substantial rearrangements of intracellular loop 2 and the C terminus, which contribute differentially towards the binding of the two G-protein subtypes, resulting in distinct CaSR-G-protein interfaces. The structures also reveal that natural polyamines target multiple sites on CaSR to enhance receptor activation by zipping negatively charged regions between two protomers. Furthermore, we find that the amino acid L-tryptophan, a well-known ligand of CaSR extracellular domains, occupies the 7TM bundle of the G-protein-coupled protomer at the same location as cinacalcet and other allosteric modulators. Together, these results provide a framework for G-protein activation and selectivity by CaSR, as well as its allosteric modulation by endogenous and exogenous ligands.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Unión al GTP Heterotriméricas , Receptores Sensibles al Calcio , Humanos , Regulación Alostérica/efectos de los fármacos , Cinacalcet/farmacología , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gi-Go/metabolismo , Subunidades alfa de la Proteína de Unión al GTP Gq-G11/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Heterotriméricas/metabolismo , Ligandos , Lípidos , Nanoestructuras/química , Poliaminas/metabolismo , Conformación Proteica/efectos de los fármacos , Receptores Sensibles al Calcio/química , Receptores Sensibles al Calcio/metabolismo , Receptores Sensibles al Calcio/ultraestructura , Especificidad por Sustrato , Triptófano/metabolismo , Calcio/metabolismoRESUMEN
Drugs acting as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) to enhance the activation of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) and to suppress parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion can treat hyperparathyroidism but suffer from side effects including hypocalcemia and arrhythmias. Seeking new CaSR modulators, we docked libraries of 2.7 million and 1.2 billion molecules against transforming pockets in the active-state receptor dimer structure. Consistent with simulations suggesting that docking improves with library size, billion-molecule docking found new PAMs with a hit rate that was 2.7-fold higher than the million-molecule library and with hits up to 37-fold more potent. Structure-based optimization of ligands from both campaigns led to nanomolar leads, one of which was advanced to animal testing. This PAM displays 100-fold the potency of the standard of care, cinacalcet, in ex vivo organ assays, and reduces serum PTH levels in mice by up to 80% without the hypocalcemia typical of CaSR drugs. Cryo-EM structures with the new PAMs show that they induce residue rearrangements in the binding pockets and promote CaSR dimer conformations that are closer to the G-protein coupled state compared to established drugs. These findings highlight the promise of large library docking for therapeutic leads, especially when combined with experimental structure determination and mechanism.
RESUMEN
AlphaFold2 (AF2) and RosettaFold have greatly expanded the number of structures available for structure-based ligand discovery, even though retrospective studies have cast doubt on their direct usefulness for that goal. Here, we tested unrefined AF2 models prospectively, comparing experimental hit-rates and affinities from large library docking against AF2 models vs the same screens targeting experimental structures of the same receptors. In retrospective docking screens against the σ2 and the 5-HT2A receptors, the AF2 structures struggled to recapitulate ligands that we had previously found docking against the receptors' experimental structures, consistent with published results. Prospective large library docking against the AF2 models, however, yielded similar hit rates for both receptors versus docking against experimentally-derived structures; hundreds of molecules were prioritized and tested against each model and each structure of each receptor. The success of the AF2 models was achieved despite differences in orthosteric pocket residue conformations for both targets versus the experimental structures. Intriguingly, against the 5-HT2A receptor the most potent, subtype-selective agonists were discovered via docking against the AF2 model, not the experimental structure. To understand this from a molecular perspective, a cryoEM structure was determined for one of the more potent and selective ligands to emerge from docking against the AF2 model of the 5-HT2A receptor. Our findings suggest that AF2 models may sample conformations that are relevant for ligand discovery, much extending the domain of applicability of structure-based ligand discovery.
RESUMEN
GPR56 is a widely expressed adhesion GPCR (AGPCR) that has pleotropic roles in brain development, platelet function, cancer, and more. Nearly all AGPCRs possess extracellular regions that bind protein ligands and conceal a cryptic tethered peptide agonist. AGPCR reception of mechanical or shear force is thought to release the tethered agonist permitting its binding to the AGPCR orthosteric site for consequent activation of G protein signaling. This multistep mechanism of AGPCR activation is difficult to target, emphasizing the need for tool compounds and potential therapeutics that modulate AGPCRs directly. We expanded our cell-based pilot screen for GPR56 small molecule activators to screen >200,000 compounds and identified two promising agonists: 2-(furan-2-yl)-1-[(4-phenylphenyl)carbonyl]pyrrolidine, or compound 4, and propan-2-yl-4-(2-bromophenyl)-2,7,7-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carboxylate, or compound 36. Both compounds activated GPR56 receptors enginered to have impaired tethered agonists and/or be cleavage deficient. Compound 4 activated a subset of group VIII AGPCRs while compound 36 had exclusive specificity for GPR56 among the GPCRs tested. Compound 36 SAR analysis identified an analog with the isopropyl R group replaced with a cyclopentyl ring and the electrophilic bromine replaced with a CF3 group. Analog 36.40 had 40% increased potency over compound 36 and was 20-fold more potent than synthetic peptidomimetics designed from the GPR56 tethered agonist. The new GPCR56 tool compounds discovered in this screen may be used to further advance understanding of GPR56 function and aid development of AGPCR-targeted therapeutics. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Adhesion G protein coupled receptors (AGPCRs) are a large, clinically relevant class of GPCRs with no available therapeutics, in part due to their unique mechanism of activation. GPR56 is a widely expressed model AGPCR involved in cancer metastasis, hemostasis, and neuron myelination. In the present study, we identified novel small molecule agonists for GPR56. These molecules are among the most potent identified thus far and may become useful leads in the development of a GPR56-targeted therapeutic.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G , Humanos , Adhesión Celular , Péptidos/química , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/agonistas , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are endogenous ligands of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), a G protein-coupled receptor that regulates a number of therapeutically relevant physiological responses. Hence, understanding the structural and functional consequences of eCB-CB1 interactions has important implications for designing effective drugs targeting this receptor. To characterize the molecular details of eCB interaction with CB1, we utilized AMG315, an analog of the eCB anandamide to determine the structure of the AMG315-bound CB1 signaling complex. Compared to previous structures, the ligand binding pocket shows some differences. Using docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and signaling assays we investigated the functional consequences of ligand interactions with the "toggle switch" residues F2003.36 and W3566.48. Further, we show that ligand-TM2 interactions drive changes to residues on the intracellular side of TM2 and are a determinant of efficacy in activating G protein. These intracellular TM2 rearrangements are unique to CB1 and are exploited by a CB1-specific allosteric modulator.
Asunto(s)
Bioensayo , Endocannabinoides , Ligandos , Reordenamiento Génico , Simulación de Dinámica MolecularRESUMEN
Mammalian Ric-8 proteins act as chaperones to regulate the cellular abundance of heterotrimeric G protein α subunits. The Ric-8A isoform chaperones Gαi/o, Gα12/13, and Gαq/11 subunits, while Ric-8B acts on Gαs/olf subunits. Here, we determined cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Ric-8B in complex with Gαs and Gαolf, revealing isoform differences in the relative positioning and contacts between the C-terminal α5 helix of Gα within the concave pocket formed by Ric-8 α-helical repeat elements. Despite the overall architectural similarity with our earlier structures of Ric-8A complexed to Gαq and Gαi1, Ric-8B distinctly accommodates an extended loop found only in Gαs/olf proteins. The structures, along with results from Ric-8 protein thermal stability assays and cell-based Gαolf folding assays, support a requirement for the Gα C-terminal region for binding specificity, and highlight that multiple structural elements impart specificity for Ric-8/G protein binding.
Asunto(s)
Factores de Intercambio de Guanina Nucleótido , Pliegue de Proteína , Animales , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Factores de Intercambio de Guanina Nucleótido/química , Mamíferos/metabolismo , Chaperonas Moleculares/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismoRESUMEN
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate heterotrimeric G proteins by stimulating the exchange of guanine nucleotide in the Gα subunit. To visualize this mechanism, we developed a time-resolved cryo-EM approach that examines the progression of ensembles of pre-steady-state intermediates of a GPCR-G protein complex. Using variability analysis to monitor the transitions of the stimulatory Gs protein in complex with the ß 2 -adrenergic receptor (ß 2 AR) at short sequential time points after GTP addition, we identified the conformational trajectory underlying G protein activation and functional dissociation from the receptor. Twenty transition structures generated from sequential overlapping particle subsets along this trajectory, compared to control structures, provide a high-resolution description of the order of events driving G protein activation upon GTP binding. Structural changes propagate from the nucleotide-binding pocket and extend through the GTPase domain, enacting alterations to Gα Switch regions and the α5 helix that weaken the G protein-receptor interface. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with late structures in the cryo-EM trajectory support that enhanced ordering of GTP upon closure of the alpha-helical domain (AHD) against the nucleotide-bound Ras-homology domain (RHD) correlates with irreversible α5 helix destabilization and eventual dissociation of the G protein from the GPCR. These findings also highlight the potential of time-resolved cryo-EM as a tool for mechanistic dissection of GPCR signaling events.
RESUMEN
Drugs targeting the µ-opioid receptor (µOR) are the most effective analgesics available but are also associated with fatal respiratory depression through a pathway that remains unclear. Here we investigated the mechanistic basis of action of lofentanil (LFT) and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), two µOR agonists with different safety profiles. LFT, one of the most lethal opioids, and MP, a kratom plant derivative with reduced respiratory depression in animal studies, exhibited markedly different efficacy profiles for G protein subtype activation and ß-arrestin recruitment. Cryo-EM structures of µOR-Gi1 complex with MP (2.5 Å) and LFT (3.2 Å) revealed that the two ligands engage distinct subpockets, and molecular dynamics simulations showed additional differences in the binding site that promote distinct active-state conformations on the intracellular side of the receptor where G proteins and ß-arrestins bind. These observations highlight how drugs engaging different parts of the µOR orthosteric pocket can lead to distinct signaling outcomes.
Asunto(s)
Analgésicos Opioides , Transducción de Señal , Animales , beta-Arrestinas/metabolismo , Analgésicos Opioides/química , Analgésicos Opioides/farmacología , Proteínas de Unión al GTP/metabolismo , Sitios de UniónRESUMEN
Mu-opioid receptor (µOR) agonists such as fentanyl have long been used for pain management, but are considered a major public health concern owing to their adverse side effects, including lethal overdose1. Here, in an effort to design safer therapeutic agents, we report an approach targeting a conserved sodium ion-binding site2 found in µOR3 and many other class A G-protein-coupled receptors with bitopic fentanyl derivatives that are functionalized via a linker with a positively charged guanidino group. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the most potent bitopic ligands in complex with µOR highlight the key interactions between the guanidine of the ligands and the key Asp2.50 residue in the Na+ site. Two bitopics (C5 and C6 guano) maintain nanomolar potency and high efficacy at Gi subtypes and show strongly reduced arrestin recruitment-one (C6 guano) also shows the lowest Gz efficacy among the panel of µOR agonists, including partial and biased morphinan and fentanyl analogues. In mice, C6 guano displayed µOR-dependent antinociception with attenuated adverse effects, supporting the µOR sodium ion-binding site as a potential target for the design of safer analgesics. In general, our study suggests that bitopic ligands that engage the sodium ion-binding pocket in class A G-protein-coupled receptors can be designed to control their efficacy and functional selectivity profiles for Gi, Go and Gz subtypes and arrestins, thus modulating their in vivo pharmacology.
Asunto(s)
Diseño de Fármacos , Fentanilo , Morfinanos , Receptores Opioides mu , Animales , Ratones , Analgésicos Opioides/química , Analgésicos Opioides/metabolismo , Arrestinas/metabolismo , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Fentanilo/análogos & derivados , Fentanilo/química , Fentanilo/metabolismo , Ligandos , Morfinanos/química , Morfinanos/metabolismo , Receptores Opioides mu/agonistas , Receptores Opioides mu/química , Receptores Opioides mu/metabolismo , Receptores Opioides mu/ultraestructura , Sitios de Unión , NocicepciónRESUMEN
Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has widened the field of structure-based drug discovery by allowing for routine determination of membrane protein structures previously intractable. Despite representing one of the largest classes of therapeutic targets, most inactive-state G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have remained inaccessible for cryo-EM because their small size and membrane-embedded nature impedes projection alignment for high-resolution map reconstructions. Here we demonstrate that the same single-chain camelid antibody (nanobody) recognizing a grafted intracellular loop can be used to obtain cryo-EM structures of inactive-state GPCRs at resolutions comparable or better than those obtained by X-ray crystallography. Using this approach, we obtained structures of neurotensin 1 receptor bound to antagonist SR48692, µ-opioid receptor bound to alvimopan, apo somatostatin receptor 2 and histamine receptor 2 bound to famotidine. We expect this rapid, straightforward approach to facilitate the broad exploration of GPCR inactive states without the need for extensive engineering and crystallization.
Asunto(s)
Descubrimiento de Drogas , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/química , Cristalografía por Rayos X , CristalizaciónRESUMEN
There is considerable interest in screening ultralarge chemical libraries for ligand discovery, both empirically and computationally1-4. Efforts have focused on readily synthesizable molecules, inevitably leaving many chemotypes unexplored. Here we investigate structure-based docking of a bespoke virtual library of tetrahydropyridines-a scaffold that is poorly sampled by a general billion-molecule virtual library but is well suited to many aminergic G-protein-coupled receptors. Using three inputs, each with diverse available derivatives, a one pot C-H alkenylation, electrocyclization and reduction provides the tetrahydropyridine core with up to six sites of derivatization5-7. Docking a virtual library of 75 million tetrahydropyridines against a model of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR) led to the synthesis and testing of 17 initial molecules. Four of these molecules had low-micromolar activities against either the 5-HT2A or the 5-HT2B receptors. Structure-based optimization led to the 5-HT2AR agonists (R)-69 and (R)-70, with half-maximal effective concentration values of 41 nM and 110 nM, respectively, and unusual signalling kinetics that differ from psychedelic 5-HT2AR agonists. Cryo-electron microscopy structural analysis confirmed the predicted binding mode to 5-HT2AR. The favourable physical properties of these new agonists conferred high brain permeability, enabling mouse behavioural assays. Notably, neither had psychedelic activity, in contrast to classic 5-HT2AR agonists, whereas both had potent antidepressant activity in mouse models and had the same efficacy as antidepressants such as fluoxetine at as low as 1/40th of the dose. Prospects for using bespoke virtual libraries to sample pharmacologically relevant chemical space will be considered.
Asunto(s)
Antidepresivos , Pirrolidinas , Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2A , Animales , Ratones , Antidepresivos/farmacología , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Fluoxetina/administración & dosificación , Fluoxetina/farmacología , Alucinógenos/administración & dosificación , Alucinógenos/farmacología , Ligandos , Pirrolidinas/administración & dosificación , Pirrolidinas/farmacología , Receptor de Serotonina 5-HT2A/metabolismo , Bibliotecas de Moléculas PequeñasRESUMEN
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2-family receptors represent essential targets for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and all other psychedelic drugs. Although the primary psychedelic drug effects are mediated by the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor (HTR2A), the 5-HT2B serotonin receptor (HTR2B) has been used as a model receptor to study the activation mechanisms of psychedelic drugs due to its high expression and similarity to HTR2A. In this study, we determined the cryo-EM structures of LSD-bound HTR2B in the transducer-free, Gq-protein-coupled, and ß-arrestin-1-coupled states. These structures provide distinct signaling snapshots of LSD's action, ranging from the transducer-free, partially active state to the transducer-coupled, fully active states. Insights from this study will both provide comprehensive molecular insights into the signaling mechanisms of the prototypical psychedelic LSD and accelerate the discovery of novel psychedelic drugs.
Asunto(s)
Alucinógenos , Dietilamida del Ácido Lisérgico , Alucinógenos/metabolismo , Alucinógenos/farmacología , Dietilamida del Ácido Lisérgico/química , Dietilamida del Ácido Lisérgico/metabolismo , Dietilamida del Ácido Lisérgico/farmacología , Receptores de Serotonina , Serotonina , beta-Arrestinas/metabolismoRESUMEN
The formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) is primarily responsible for detection of short peptides bearing N-formylated methionine (fMet) that are characteristic of protein synthesis in bacteria and mitochondria. As a result, FPR1 is critical to phagocyte migration and activation in bacterial infection, tissue injury and inflammation. How FPR1 distinguishes between formyl peptides and non-formyl peptides remains elusive. Here we report cryo-EM structures of human FPR1-Gi protein complex bound to S. aureus-derived peptide fMet-Ile-Phe-Leu (fMIFL) and E. coli-derived peptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF). Both structures of FPR1 adopt an active conformation and exhibit a binding pocket containing the R2015.38XXXR2055.42 (RGIIR) motif for formyl group interaction and receptor activation. This motif works together with D1063.33 for hydrogen bond formation with the N-formyl group and with fMet, a model supported by MD simulation and functional assays of mutant receptors with key residues for recognition substituted by alanine. The cryo-EM model of agonist-bound FPR1 provides a structural basis for recognition of bacteria-derived chemotactic peptides with potential applications in developing FPR1-targeting agents.
Asunto(s)
Moléculas de Patrón Molecular Asociado a Patógenos , Staphylococcus aureus , Factores Quimiotácticos/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Humanos , N-Formilmetionina Leucil-Fenilalanina/química , Neutrófilos/metabolismo , Moléculas de Patrón Molecular Asociado a Patógenos/metabolismo , Péptidos/metabolismo , Staphylococcus aureus/metabolismoRESUMEN
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and other membrane proteins are valuable drug targets, and their dynamic nature makes them attractive systems for study with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free energy approaches. Here, we report the development, implementation, and validation of OPLS-AA/M force field parameters to enable simulations of these systems. These efforts include the introduction of post-translational modifications including lipidations and phosphorylation. We also modify previously reported parameters for lipids to be more consistent with the OPLS-AA force field standard and extend their coverage. These new parameters are validated on a variety of test systems, with the results compared to high-level quantum mechanics calculations, experimental data, and simulations with other force fields. The results demonstrate that the new parameters reliably reproduce the behavior of membrane protein systems.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de la Membrana , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Entropía , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas GRESUMEN
The µ-opioid receptor (µOR) is the major target for opioid analgesics. Activation of µOR initiates signaling through G protein pathways as well as through ß-arrestin recruitment. µOR agonists that are biased towards G protein signaling pathways demonstrate diminished side effects. PZM21, discovered by computational docking, is a G protein biased µOR agonist. Here we report the cryoEM structure of PZM21 bound µOR in complex with Gi protein. Structure-based evolution led to multiple PZM21 analogs with more pronounced Gi protein bias and increased lipophilicity to improve CNS penetration. Among them, FH210 shows extremely low potency and efficacy for arrestin recruitment. We further determined the cryoEM structure of FH210 bound to µOR in complex with Gi protein and confirmed its expected binding pose. The structural and pharmacological studies reveal a potential mechanism to reduce ß-arrestin recruitment by the µOR, and hold promise for developing next-generation analgesics with fewer adverse effects.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Unión al GTP , Receptores Opioides mu , Analgésicos Opioides/química , Analgésicos Opioides/farmacología , Proteínas de Unión al GTP/metabolismo , Receptores Opioides mu/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , beta-Arrestinas/metabolismo , beta-Arrestinas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are characterized by the presence of auto-proteolysing extracellular regions that are involved in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions1. Self cleavage within the aGPCR auto-proteolysis-inducing (GAIN) domain produces two protomers-N-terminal and C-terminal fragments-that remain non-covalently attached after receptors reach the cell surface1. Upon dissociation of the N-terminal fragment, the C-terminus of the GAIN domain acts as a tethered agonist (TA) peptide to activate the seven-transmembrane domain with a mechanism that has been poorly understood2-5. Here we provide cryo-electron microscopy snapshots of two distinct members of the aGPCR family, GPR56 (also known as ADGRG1) and latrophilin 3 (LPHN3 (also known as ADGRL3)). Low-resolution maps of the receptors in their N-terminal fragment-bound state indicate that the GAIN domain projects flexibly towards the extracellular space, keeping the encrypted TA peptide away from the seven-transmembrane domain. High-resolution structures of GPR56 and LPHN3 in their active, G-protein-coupled states, reveal that after dissociation of the extracellular region, the decrypted TA peptides engage the seven-transmembrane domain core with a notable conservation of interactions that also involve extracellular loop 2. TA binding stabilizes breaks in the middle of transmembrane helices 6 and 7 that facilitate aGPCR coupling and activation of heterotrimeric G proteins. Collectively, these results enable us to propose a general model for aGPCR activation.