Evidence for the presence of disulfide bridges in opioid receptors essential for ligand binding. Possible role in receptor activation

Exploring molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition by opioid receptors with metadynamics

Opioid receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of utmost significance in the development of potent analgesic drugs for the treatment of severe pain. An accurate evaluation at the molecular level of the ligand binding pathways into these receptors may play a key role in the design of new molecules with more desirable properties and reduced side effects. The recent characterization of high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of non-rhodopsin GPCRs for diffusible hormones and neurotransmitters presents an unprecedented opportunity to build improved homology models of opioid receptors, and to study in more detail their molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition. In this study, possible pathways for entry of the nonselective antagonist naloxone (NLX) from the water environment into the well-accepted alkaloid binding pocket of a delta opioid receptor (DOR) molecular model based on the beta2-adrenergic receptor crystal structure are explored using microsecond-scale well-tempered metadynamics simulations. Using as collective variables distances that account for the position of NLX and of the receptor extracellular loop 2 in relation to the DOR binding pocket, we were able to distinguish between the different states visited by the ligand (i.e., docked, undocked, and metastable bound intermediates) and to predict a free energy of binding close to experimental values after correcting for possible drawbacks of the sampling approach. The strategy employed herein holds promise for its application to the docking of diverse ligands to the opioid receptors as well as to other GPCRs.

Morphine-induced nitric oxide production in isolated, iris-ciliary bodies

Considerable evidence suggests that the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP signaling pathway plays an integral role in opioid receptor-mediated responses in the cardiovascular and immune systems. Previous studies in our laboratory and others have shown that nitric oxide (NO) plays a role in morphine-induced reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in the New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit. The present study is designed to determine the effect of morphine on NO production in the isolated, iris-ciliary body (ICB), site of aqueous humor production, as this effect could be associated with morphine-stimulated changes in aqueous humor dynamics and iris function. ICBs obtained from normal NZW rabbits were utilized in these experiments. In some experiments, ICB samples were treated with morphine (1, 10 and 100 microM) for 1 h and later examined for changes in NO levels using a NO detection kit. In other experiments, tissue samples were pretreated with naloxone (non-selective opioid receptor antagonist), L-NAME (non-selective NO-synthase inhibitor) or GSH (sulfhydryl reagent) for 30 min, followed by treatment with morphine (10 muM). Morphine caused a concentration-dependent increase in the release of NO from ICBs. Levels of NO detected in the incubation medium of ICB samples increased from 1.49 +/- 0.19 (control) to 8.81 +/- 2.20 microM/mg protein (morphine-treated; 100 microM). Morphine-stimulated release of NO was significantly inhibited in tissues pretreated with 10 microM naloxone, L-NAME, or GSH. Results obtained from this study suggest that morphine stimulates NO release from the ICB through a mechanism that involves activation of NO-releasing opioid receptors. These results support the in vivo effects of morphine demonstrated in previous studies.

Construction and characterization of a kappa opioid receptor devoid of all free cysteines

We have constructed an optimized mutant of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), which is devoid of its 10 free cysteines. It was necessary to test different amino acid replacements at various positions and we used a structural model and homology with other receptor family members as a guide. This mutant binds ligands and couples to the cognate G-proteins in a very similar fashion to wild-type KOR. The addition of the antagonist naloxone during cell growth greatly enhances heterogeneous expression of the mutant in mammalian cells, such that amounts similar to wild-type could be produced. We showed by fluorescence microscopy that naloxone stabilizes the mutant in the plasma membrane. This mutant, which now permits the insertion of single cysteines, was designed for use in spectroscopic studies of ligand-induced receptor conformational changes as well as to simplify folding studies.

Modeling and simulation of the human delta opioid receptor

A model for the human delta opioid receptor has been generated via sequence alignment, structure building using the crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin as a template, and refinement by molecular dynamics simulation. The model building suggested that, in addition to the previously postulated interaction between D128 and Y308, an internal salt bridge also exists between residues D128 and R192, both of which are conserved in all the opioid receptors. The model and salt bridge were then shown to be stable during a 20-nsec simulation in a lipid bilayer. It is therefore proposed that both of these interactions play a role in stabilizing the inactive state of the receptor. The model is also used in an effort to rationalize many of the mutational studies performed on delta opioid receptors, and to suggest a plausible explanation for the differences between known delta opioid agonists and antagonists.

Mutation of human mu opioid receptor extracellular "disulfide cysteine" residues alters ligand binding but does not prevent receptor targeting to the cell plasma membrane

The mu opioid receptor, a primary site of action in the brain for opioid neuropeptides and opiate drugs of abuse, is a member of the seven transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. Two cysteine residues, one in each of the first two of three extracellular loops (ECLs), are highly conserved among GPCRs, and there is direct or circumstantial evidence that the residues form a disulfide bond in many of these receptors. Such a bond would dramatically govern the topology of the ECLs, and possibly affect the position of the membrane-spanning domains. Recent findings from several laboratories indicate the importance of the ECLs for opioid ligand selectivity. These conserved cysteine residues in the mu opioid receptor were studied using site-directed mutagenesis. Little or no specific binding of radiolabled opiate alkaloid or opioid peptide agonists or antagonists was observed for receptors mutated at either "disulfide cysteine" residue. Each mutant mu opioid receptor was expressed in both transiently- and stably-transfected cells, in some cases at levels comparable to the wild type receptor. The two point mutants possessing serine-for-cysteine substitutions were also observed to successfully reach the cell plasma membrane, as evidenced by electron microscopy. Consistent with related work with other GPCRs, the mu opioid receptor apparently also employs the extracellular disulfide bond. This information now permits accurate molecular modeling of extracellular aspects of the receptor, including plausible scenarios of mu receptor docking of opioid ligands known to require specific extracellular loop features for high affinity binding.

Functional significance of cysteine residues in the δ opioid receptor studied by site-directed mutagenesis

Previous work suggested that sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bridges have important functions in opioid binding to the delta opioid receptor. The question regarding which cysteines are essential for ligand binding was approached by replacement of cysteine residues in the cloned delta opioid receptor using site-directed mutagenesis. The wild-type and mutant receptors were expressed stably in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The two extracellular cysteine residues and the six located in transmembrane domains were mutated to serine or alanine, one at a time. Replacement of either of the extracellular cysteines produced a receptor devoid of delta agonist and antagonist binding activity. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry, performed with anti delta opioid receptor antibodies in washed cell monolayers in one of these mutants (Cys-Ser121), and immunoblots, performed on cell extracts, indicate that the receptor was expressed and seems to be associated with the cell membrane. The existence of an essential extracellular disulfide bridge, previously postulated by analogy to other G protein coupled receptors, is strongly supported by our results. Replacement of any one of the six transmembrane cysteines was virtually without effect on the ability of the receptor to bind delta agonists and antagonists. Since there is strong evidence that the transmembrane domains are involved in ligand binding, these results suggest that the cysteine residues, even those near or at the binding site, are not essential for receptor binding. Furthermore, these results support the idea that the striking effects of sulfhydryl reagents on ligand binding of opioid receptors are likely to be due to steric hindrance by the large moieties transferred to the sulfhydryl groups of cysteine residues by these reagents.Key words: opioid receptor, cysteine, sulfhydryl, site-directed mutagenesis.

Nociceptin activation of the human ORL1 receptor expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells: functional homology with opioid receptors

Opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptor, a member of the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors has significant primary sequence homology to the mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors. The ORL1 receptor is selectively activated by the recently discovered peptide nociceptin. To probe the functional homology amongst these receptors, a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line expressing the human ORL1 receptor has been characterized. Nociceptin inhibited forskolin-stimulated increases in intracellular cAMP with an IC50 of 70 pM. Stimulation by nociceptin caused a 2-fold increase in the rate of [35S]GTPgammaS binding to membranes derived from CHO cells expressing the ORL1 receptor. Following incubation with nociceptin mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was increased by 2-fold in cells expressing the ORL1 receptor. In non-transfected CHO cells, nociceptin had no effect on cAMP accumulation, the rate of [35S]GTPgammaS binding or mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Human ORL1 receptors expressed in CHO cells selectively bound [125I][Tyr14]nociceptin with a Kd of 2.1 pM and a Bmax of 2.6 pmol/mg protein. Similar to opioid receptors, nociceptin binding to the ORL1 receptor was altered by Na+, GTPgammaS and dithiothreitol. Na+ increased the Kd of nociceptin binding to the ORL1 receptor. GTPgammaS decreased the apparent Bmax of [125I][Tyr14]nociceptin binding but had no effect on the Kd of the remaining sites. Pretreatment with dithiothreitol inhibited nociceptin binding to the ORL1 receptor. Nociceptin binding was insensitive to low nanomolar concentrations of opioid receptor-selective agonists and antagonists. However, high micromolar levels of opioid receptor-selective agents inhibited the binding. Morphine, naloxone, naltrindole, nor-Binaltorphimine and CTAP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2) inhibited nociceptin binding to ORL1 receptor with Ki values of 36, 24, 0.4, 8 and 28 microM, respectively. These results imply that ORL1 is a G-protein-coupled receptor with functional as well as structural homology to opioid receptors. In addition, opioid receptor ligands may serve as starting templates for the development of ORL1 specific ligands.

Identification in the mu-opioid receptor of cysteine residues responsible for inactivation of ligand binding by thiol alkylating and reducing agents

Inactivation by thiol reducing and alkylating agents of ligand binding to the human mu-opioid receptor was examined. Dithiothreitol reduced the number of [3H]diprenorphine binding sites. Replacement by seryl residues of either C142 or C219 in extracellular loops 1 and 2 of the mu receptor resulted in a complete loss of opioid binding. A disulfide bound linking C142 to C219 may thus be essential to maintain a functional conformation of the receptor. We also demonstrated that inactivation of ligand binding upon alkylation by N-ethylmaleimide occurred at two sites. Alteration of the more sensitive (IC50 = 20 microM) did not modify antagonists binding but decreased agonist affinity almost 10-fold. Modification of the less reactive site (IC50 = 2 mM) decreased the number of both agonist and antagonist binding sites. The alkylation site of higher sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide was shown by mutagenesis experiments to be constituted of both C81 and C332 in transmembrane domains 1 and 7 of the mu-opioid receptor.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 is a disulfide-linked dimer

The sequences of the metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) show little homology with other members of the G protein-coupled receptor family and exhibit several distinctive features, including a large N-terminal extracellular domain with 17 cysteines in conserved positions. Here we demonstrate that mGluR5, as well as other mGluRs, behave as species approximately twice as large as expected from their sequence, but reducing conditions cause a decrease to the predicted molecular mass. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments using wild type and epitope-tagged receptors demonstrate that this is due to specific, disulfide-dependent dimerization of the receptor. The intermolecular disulfide that mediates dimerization occurs in the extracellular domain, within about 17 kDa from the N terminus.

Studies on inhibition of mu and delta opioid receptor binding by dithiothreitol and N-ethylmaleimide. His223 is critical for mu opioid receptor binding and inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide

The sensitivity of mu and delta receptor binding to dithiothreitol and N-ethylmaleimide was examined to probe receptor structure and function. Binding to both receptor types was inhibited by dithiothreitol (IC50 values = 250 mM), suggesting the presence of inaccessible but critical disulfide linkages. mu receptor binding was inhibited with more rapid kinetics and at lower N-ethylmaleimide concentrations than delta receptor binding. Ligand protection against N-ethylmaleimide inactivation suggested that alkylation was occurring within, or in the vicinity of, the receptor binding pocket. Sodium ions dramatically affected the IC50 of N-ethylmaleimide toward both receptor types in a ligand-dependent manner. Analysis of receptor chimeras suggested that the site of N-ethylmaleimide alkylation on the mu receptor was between transmembrane domains 3 and 5. Substitution of cysteines between transmembrane domains 3 and 5 and elsewhere had no effect on receptor binding or sensitivity toward N-ethylmaleimide. Serine substitution of His223 in the putative second extracellular loop linking transmembrane domains 4 and 5 protected against N-ethylmaleimide inactivation. The H223S substitution decreased the affinity of bremazocine 25-fold, highlighting the importance of this residue for the formation of the high affinity bremazocine binding site in the mu opioid receptor.

The kappa-opioid receptor expressed on the mouse lymphoma cell line R1.1 contains a sulfhydryl group at the binding site

Studies were directed at determining whether the kappa-opioid receptor expressed on the mouse R1.1 thymoma cell line contained either a disulfide bond or a sulfhydryl group at the opioid binding site. The binding of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist [3H](-)-bremazocine to R1.1 cell membranes was unchanged following treatment with the disulfide bond-reducing reagent dithiothreitol at concentrations up to 130 mM. However, treatment of membranes with the sulfhydryl-alkylating reagent N-ethylmaleimide, followed by extensive washing, reduced [3H](-)-bremazocine binding by as much as 90%. Inhibition of [3H](-)-bremazocine binding by N-ethylmaleimide was concentration- and time-dependent. When R1.1 cell membranes were treated with 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide for 10 min at 24 degrees C, the Bmax value for [3H](-)-bremazocine binding decreased by 50%, with no change in receptor affinity. N-Ethylmaleimide-induced reduction of [3H](-)-bremazocine binding was attenuated by pretreatment of membranes with the kappa-selective opioids U50,488 and U69,593. The results indicate that a sulfhydryl group is present at or near the binding site on the kappa-opioid receptor expressed by the R1.1 thymoma cell line.

Affinity labeling of the mu opioid receptor in bovine striatal membranes with [3H]-14 beta-(bromoacetamido)-7,8-dihydromorphine

[3H]-14 beta-(Bromoacetamido)-7,8-dihydromorphine ([3H]H2BAM) was synthesized and tested for its ability to selectively label mu opioid receptors in bovine striatal membranes. Incubating membranes with N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone and dithiothreitol before the addition of [3H]H2BAM reduced nonspecific [3H]H2BAM binding so that [3H]H2BAM binding to opioid receptors was up to 70% of the total [3H]H2BAM binding and was dependent on [3H]H2BAM concentration, incubation time, and pH of the reaction. At pH 7.5, [3H]H2BAM bound selectively to the mu opioid receptor, but mainly noncovalently. After the initial binding of [3H]H2BAM to the receptor, membranes were washed and then incubated at 37 degrees C in 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, for 3 h, a time that resulted in greater than 80% of the [3H]H2BAM associated with the receptor becoming covalently bound to the opioid receptor. The mu-selective peptide [D-Ala2,(Me)Phe4,Gly(ol)5]enkephalin inhibited [3H]H2BAM labeling of membranes, while delta- or kappa-selective compounds were ineffective. Both NaCl and the nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analog guanylyl 5'-imidodiphosphate reduced the incorporation of [3H]H2BAM into membranes. When [3H]H2BAM-labeled striatal membranes were separated under reducing conditions on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, two proteins with molecular weights of 54,000 and 44,000 were specifically labeled. The 54-kDa protein was present in a greater amount than the 44-kDa protein. Both proteins bound to wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose and concanavalin A-Sepharose, suggesting that both proteins contain multiple carbohydrate moieties. Despite the inclusion of protease inhibitors, the 44-kDa protein may be a proteolytic fragment of the 54-kDa protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Roles of sulfhydryl and disulfide groups in the binding of CP-55,940 to rat brain cannabinoid receptor

The roles of sulfhydryl and disulfide groups in the specific binding of synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 to the cannabinoid receptor in membrane preparations from the rat cerebral cortex have been examined. Various sulfhydryl blocking reagents including p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (p-CMB), N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), o-iodosobenzoic acid (o-ISB), and methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) inhibited the specific binding of [3H]CP-55,940 to the cannabinoid receptor in a dose-dependent manner. About 80-95% inhibition was obtained at a 0.1 mM concentration of these reagents. Scatchard analysis of saturation experiments indicates that most of these sulfhydryl modifying reagents reduce both the binding affinity (Kd) and capacity (Bmax). On the other hand, DL-dithiothreitol (DTT), a disulfide reducing agent, also irreversibly inhibited the specific binding of [3H]CP-55,940 to the receptor and about 50% inhibition was obtained at a 5 mM concentration. Furthermore, 5 mM DTT was abelt to dissociate 50% of the bound ligand from the ligand-receptor complex. The marked inhibition of [3H]CP-55,940 binding by sulfhydryl reagents suggests that at least one free sulfhydryl group is essential to the binding of the ligand to the receptor. In addition, the inhibition of the binding by DTT implies that besides free sulfhydryl group(s), the integrity of a disulfide bridge is also important for [3H]CP-55,940 binding to the cannabinoid receptor.

The delta-opioid receptor: isolation of a cDNA by expression cloning and pharmacological characterization

A random primed expression cDNA library was constructed from the RNA of NG 108-15 cells. Pools of plasmid DNA were transfected into COS cells, which were screened for their ability to bind 3H-labeled Tyr-D-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr, a tritiated agonist for the delta-opioid receptor. A cDNA was isolated that encodes a 371-amino acid-residue protein presenting all the structural characteristics of receptors that interact with guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. Noticeable features are (i) the high hydrophobicity of the encoded protein, (ii) its low sequence similarity to both catecholamine receptors and peptide-binding receptors, although it presents the typical aspartate residue involved in catecholamine binding of the first group and the characteristic short third cytoplasmic loop of the second group. When expressed in COS cells, the receptor exhibits pharmacological properties similar to those of the native receptor: high-affinity binding sites for 3H-labeled Tyr-D-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr (Kd = 1.4 nM), stereospecific binding sites for the - enantiomers of levorphanol and naloxone, and the selectivity profile of a delta receptor, as determined by competition experiments with a set of mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid ligands.

Differential effects of cyanogen bromide on ligand binding by mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors

Guinea pig brain membranes treated with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) demonstrate a loss in the number of mu opioid receptors and a lower binding affinity of delta opioid receptors. These receptor changes are irreversible. Results from ligand protection experiments support the hypothesis that the location of the methionine groups, the sites at which CNBr cleaves peptides, differs between these two types of opioid receptors. Kappa receptors are significantly less sensitive to the action of CNBr than mu or delta receptors.