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Zheng Y, Gao M, Wijtmans M, Vischer HF, Leurs R. Synthesis and Pharmacological Characterization of New Photocaged Agonists for Histamine H 3 and H 4 Receptors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:536. [PMID: 38675496 PMCID: PMC11053687 DOI: 10.3390/ph17040536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The modulation of biological processes with light-sensitive chemical probes promises precise temporal and spatial control. Yet, the design and synthesis of suitable probes is a challenge for medicinal chemists. This article introduces a photocaging strategy designed to modulate the pharmacology of histamine H3 receptors (H3R) and H4 receptors (H4R). Employing the photoremovable group BODIPY as the caging entity for two agonist scaffolds-immepip and 4-methylhistamine-for H3R and H4R, respectively, we synthesized two BODIPY-caged compounds, 5 (VUF25657) and 6 (VUF25678), demonstrating 10-100-fold reduction in affinity for their respective receptors. Notably, the caged H3R agonist, VUF25657, exhibits approximately a 100-fold reduction in functional activity. The photo-uncaging of VUF25657 at 560 nm resulted in the release of immepip, thereby restoring binding affinity and potency in functional assays. This approach presents a promising method to achieve optical control of H3R receptor pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rob Leurs
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (Y.Z.); (M.G.); (M.W.); (H.F.V.)
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2
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Gao M, Dekker ME, Leurs R, Vischer HF. Pharmacological characterization of seven human histamine H 3 receptor isoforms. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 968:176450. [PMID: 38387718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The histamine H3 receptor (H3R) regulates as a presynaptic G protein-coupled receptor the release of histamine and other neurotransmitters in the brain, and is consequently a potential therapeutic target for neuronal disorders. The human H3R encodes for seven splice variants that vary in the length of intracellular loop 3 and/or the C-terminal tail but are all able to induce heterotrimeric Gi protein signaling. The last two decades H3R drug discovery and lead optimization has been exclusively focused on the 445 amino acids-long reference isoform H3R-445. In this study, we pharmacologically characterized for the first time all seven H3R isoforms by determining their binding affinities for reference histamine H3 receptor agonists and inverse agonists. The H3R-453, H3R-415, and H3R-413 isoforms display similar binding affinities for all ligands as the H3R-445. However, increased agonist binding affinities were observed for the three shorter isoforms H3R-329, H3R-365, and H3R-373, whereas inverse agonists such as the approved anti-narcolepsy drug pitolisant (Wakix®) displayed significantly decreased binding affinities for the latter two isoforms. This opposite change in binding affinity of agonist versus inverse agonists on H3R-365 and H3R-373 is associated with their higher constitutive activity in a cAMP biosensor assay as compared to the other five isoforms. The observed differences in pharmacology between longer and shorter H3R isoforms should be considered in future drug discovery programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meichun Gao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mabel E Dekker
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rob Leurs
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Henry F Vischer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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3
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Tricomi J, Landini L, Nieddu V, Cavallaro U, Baker JG, Papakyriakou A, Richichi B. Rational design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of a cohort of novel beta-adrenergic receptors ligands enables an assessment of structure-activity relationships. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 246:114961. [PMID: 36495629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical applications of molecules that are able to modulate β-adrenergic signaling have become increasingly attractive over the last decade, revealing that β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) are key targets for a plethora of therapeutic interventions, including cancer. Despite successes in β-AR drug discovery, identification of β-AR ligands that are useful as selective chemical tools in pharmacological studies of the three β-AR subtypes, or lead compounds for drug development is still a highly challenging task. This is mainly due to the intrinsic plasticity of β-ARs as G protein-coupled receptors in conjunction with the requirement for functional receptor subtype selectivity, tissue specificity and minimal off-target effects. With the aim to provide insight into structure-activity relationships for the three β-AR subtypes, we have synthesized and obtained the pharmacological profile of a series of structurally diverse compounds (named MC) that were designed based on the aryloxy-propanolamine scaffold of SR59230A. Comparative analysis of their predicted binding mode within the active and inactive states of the receptors in combination with their pharmacological profile revealed key structural elements that control their activity as agonists or antagonists, in addition to clues about substituents that mediate selectivity for one receptor subtype over the others. We anticipate that these results will facilitate selective β-AR drug development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Tricomi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy
| | - Luca Landini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy; Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece
| | - Valentina Nieddu
- Unit of Gynaecological Oncology Research, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ugo Cavallaro
- Unit of Gynaecological Oncology Research, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Jillian G Baker
- Cell Signalling Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Athanasios Papakyriakou
- Institute of Biosciences and Applications, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", 15341 Agia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece.
| | - Barbara Richichi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
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Targowska-Duda KM, Maj M, Drączkowski P, Budzyńska B, Boguszewska-Czubara A, Wróbel TM, Laitinen T, Kaczmar P, Poso A, Kaczor AA. WaterMap guided structure-based virtual screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202100721. [PMID: 35157366 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Structure-based virtual screening of the Enamine database of 1.7 million compounds followed by WaterMap calculations (a molecular dynamics simulation-based method) was applied to identify novel AChE inhibitors. The inhibitory potency of 29 selected compounds against electric eel (ee) AChE was determined using the Ellman's method. Three compounds were found active (success rate 10%). For the most potent compound (~40% of inhibition at 10 μM), 20 derivatives were discovered based on the Enamine similarity search. Finally, five compounds were found promising (IC 50 ranged from 6.3 µM to 17.5 µM) inhibitors of AChE. The performed similarity and fragment analysis confirmed significant structural novelty of novel AChE inhibitors. Toxicity/safety of selected compounds was determined in zebrafish model.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maciej Maj
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Department of Biopharmacy, POLAND
| | - Piotr Drączkowski
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, POLAND
| | - Barbara Budzyńska
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Independent Laboratory of Behavioral Studies, POLAND
| | - Anna Boguszewska-Czubara
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Department of Medical Chemistry, POLAND
| | - Tomasz M Wróbel
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, POLAND
| | - Tuomo Laitinen
- University of Eastern Finland - Kuopio Campus: Ita-Suomen yliopisto - Kuopion kampus, School of Pharmacy, FINLAND
| | - Patrycja Kaczmar
- Medical University of Lublin: Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie, Department of Biopharmacy, POLAND
| | - Antti Poso
- University of Eastern Finland - Kuopio Campus: Ita-Suomen yliopisto - Kuopion kampus, School of Pharmacy, FINLAND
| | - Agnieszka Anna Kaczor
- Medical University of Lublin, Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, 4A Chodzki St, 20093, Lublin, POLAND
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Nicoli A, Dunkel A, Giorgino T, de Graaf C, Di Pizio A. Classification Model for the Second Extracellular Loop of Class A GPCRs. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:511-522. [PMID: 35113559 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) is the longest and the most diverse loop among class A G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). It connects the transmembrane (TM) helices 4 and 5 and contains a highly conserved cysteine through which it is bridged with TM3. In this paper, experimental ECL2 structures were analyzed based on their sequences, shapes, and intramolecular contacts. To take into account the flexibility, we incorporated into our analyses information from the molecular dynamics trajectories available on the GPCRmd website. Despite the high sequence variability, shapes of the analyzed structures, defined by the backbone volume overlaps, can be clustered into seven main groups. Conformational differences within the clusters can be then identified by intramolecular interactions with other GPCR structural domains. Overall, our work provides a reorganization of the structural information of the ECL2 of class A GPCR subfamilies, highlighting differences and similarities on sequence and conformation levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nicoli
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Andreas Dunkel
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Toni Giorgino
- Biophysics Institute, National Research Council (CNR-IBF), 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6DG, U.K
| | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
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Adelusi TI, Oyedele AQK, Boyenle ID, Ogunlana AT, Adeyemi RO, Ukachi CD, Idris MO, Olaoba OT, Adedotun IO, Kolawole OE, Xiaoxing Y, Abdul-Hammed M. Molecular modeling in drug discovery. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.100880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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Ballante F, Kooistra AJ, Kampen S, de Graaf C, Carlsson J. Structure-Based Virtual Screening for Ligands of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: What Can Molecular Docking Do for You? Pharmacol Rev 2021; 73:527-565. [PMID: 34907092 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of membrane proteins in the human genome and are important therapeutic targets. During the last decade, the number of atomic-resolution structures of GPCRs has increased rapidly, providing insights into drug binding at the molecular level. These breakthroughs have created excitement regarding the potential of using structural information in ligand design and initiated a new era of rational drug discovery for GPCRs. The molecular docking method is now widely applied to model the three-dimensional structures of GPCR-ligand complexes and screen for chemical probes in large compound libraries. In this review article, we first summarize the current structural coverage of the GPCR superfamily and the understanding of receptor-ligand interactions at atomic resolution. We then present the general workflow of structure-based virtual screening and strategies to discover GPCR ligands in chemical libraries. We assess the state of the art of this research field by summarizing prospective applications of virtual screening based on experimental structures. Strategies to identify compounds with specific efficacy and selectivity profiles are discussed, illustrating the opportunities and limitations of the molecular docking method. Our overview shows that structure-based virtual screening can discover novel leads and will be essential in pursuing the next generation of GPCR drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Extraordinary advances in the structural biology of G protein-coupled receptors have revealed the molecular details of ligand recognition by this large family of therapeutic targets, providing novel avenues for rational drug design. Structure-based docking is an efficient computational approach to identify novel chemical probes from large compound libraries, which has the potential to accelerate the development of drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Ballante
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (F.B., S.K., J.C.); Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (A.J.K.); and Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Albert J Kooistra
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (F.B., S.K., J.C.); Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (A.J.K.); and Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Stefanie Kampen
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (F.B., S.K., J.C.); Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (A.J.K.); and Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Chris de Graaf
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (F.B., S.K., J.C.); Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (A.J.K.); and Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
| | - Jens Carlsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (F.B., S.K., J.C.); Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (A.J.K.); and Sosei Heptares, Steinmetz Building, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, United Kingdom (C.d.G.)
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Gulezian E, Crivello C, Bednenko J, Zafra C, Zhang Y, Colussi P, Hussain S. Membrane protein production and formulation for drug discovery. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:657-674. [PMID: 34270922 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Integral membrane proteins (MPs) are important drug targets across most fields of medicine, but historically have posed a major challenge for drug discovery due to difficulties in producing them in functional forms. We review the state of the art in drug discovery strategies using recombinant multipass MPs, and outline methods to successfully express, stabilize, and formulate them for small-molecule and monoclonal antibody therapeutics development. Advances in structure-based drug design and high-throughput screening are allowing access to previously intractable targets such as ion channels and transporters, propelling the field towards the development of highly specific therapies targeting desired conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Gulezian
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA
| | | | - Janna Bednenko
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA
| | - Claudia Zafra
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA
| | - Yihui Zhang
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA
| | - Paul Colussi
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA
| | - Sunyia Hussain
- TetraGenetics Inc., 91 Mystic Street, Arlington, MA 02474, USA.
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Scharf MM, Zimmermann M, Wilhelm F, Stroe R, Waldhoer M, Kolb P. A Focus on Unusual ECL2 Interactions Yields β 2 -Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists with Unprecedented Scaffolds. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:882-890. [PMID: 32301583 PMCID: PMC7318225 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201900715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The binding pockets of aminergic G protein-coupled receptors are often targeted by drugs and virtual screening campaigns. In order to find ligands with unprecedented scaffolds for one of the best-investigated receptors of this subfamily, the β2 -adrenergic receptor, we conducted a docking-based screen insisting that molecules would address previously untargeted residues in extracellular loop 2. We here report the discovery of ligands with a previously undescribed coumaran-based scaffold. Furthermore, we provide an analysis of the added value that X-ray structures in different conformations deliver for such docking screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena M. Scharf
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps-University MarburgMarbacher Weg 635037MarburgGermany
| | | | - Florian Wilhelm
- InterAx BiotechPARK innovAARE5234VilligenSwitzerland
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering ETHETH ZürichMattenstrasse 264058BaselSwitzerland
| | - Raimond Stroe
- InterAx BiotechPARK innovAARE5234VilligenSwitzerland
- Department of Drug Design and PharmacologyUniversity of CopenhagenUniversitetsparken 22100CopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Peter Kolb
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryPhilipps-University MarburgMarbacher Weg 635037MarburgGermany
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