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Wu Y, Zeng L, Zhao S. Ligands of Adrenergic Receptors: A Structural Point of View. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11070936. [PMID: 34202543 PMCID: PMC8301793 DOI: 10.3390/biom11070936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenergic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors for epinephrine and norepinephrine. They are targets of many drugs for various conditions, including treatment of hypertension, hypotension, and asthma. Adrenergic receptors are intensively studied in structural biology, displayed for binding poses of different types of ligands. Here, we summarized molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition and receptor activation exhibited by structure. We also reviewed recent advances in structure-based ligand discovery against adrenergic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; (Y.W.); (L.Z.)
| | - Liting Zeng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; (Y.W.); (L.Z.)
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; (Y.W.); (L.Z.)
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- Correspondence:
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2
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Homogeneous time-resolved G protein-coupled receptor–ligand binding assay based on fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy. Anal Biochem 2016; 502:24-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2016.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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3
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Schütz M, Bouchet A, Chiavarino B, Crestoni ME, Fornarini S, Dopfer O. Effects of Aromatic Fluorine Substitution on Protonated Neurotransmitters: The Case of 2-Phenylethylamine. Chemistry 2016; 22:8124-36. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201600798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Schütz
- Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik; Technische Universität Berlin; Hardenbergstr. 36 10623 Berlin Germany
| | - Aude Bouchet
- Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik; Technische Universität Berlin; Hardenbergstr. 36 10623 Berlin Germany
| | - Barbara Chiavarino
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco; Sapienza Università di Roma “La Sapienza”; P. le A. Moro 5 00185 Roma Italy
| | - Maria Elisa Crestoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco; Sapienza Università di Roma “La Sapienza”; P. le A. Moro 5 00185 Roma Italy
| | - Simonetta Fornarini
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco; Sapienza Università di Roma “La Sapienza”; P. le A. Moro 5 00185 Roma Italy
| | - Otto Dopfer
- Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik; Technische Universität Berlin; Hardenbergstr. 36 10623 Berlin Germany
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Bogdan E, Compain G, Mtashobya L, Le Questel JY, Besseau F, Galland N, Linclau B, Graton J. Influence of Fluorination on the Conformational Properties and Hydrogen-Bond Acidity of Benzyl Alcohol Derivatives. Chemistry 2015; 21:11462-74. [PMID: 26130594 PMCID: PMC4531824 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201501171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The effect of fluorination on the conformational and hydrogen-bond (HB)-donating properties of a series of benzyl alcohols has been investigated experimentally by IR spectroscopy and theoretically with quantum chemical methods (ab initio (MP2) and DFT (MPWB1K)). It was found that o-fluorination generally resulted in an increase in the HB acidity of the hydroxyl group, whereas a decrease was observed upon o,o′-difluorination. Computational analysis showed that the conformational landscapes of the title compounds are strongly influenced by the presence of o-fluorine atoms. Intramolecular interaction descriptors based on AIM, NCI and NBO analyses reveal that, in addition to an intramolecular OH⋅⋅⋅F interaction, secondary CH⋅⋅⋅F and/or CH⋅⋅⋅O interactions also occur, contributing to the stabilisation of the various conformations, and influencing the overall HB properties of the alcohol group. The benzyl alcohol HB-donating capacity trends are properly described by an electrostatic potential based descriptor calculated at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, provided solvation effects are taken into account for these flexible HB donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Bogdan
- CEISAM UMR CNRS 6230, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes 2, rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3 (France), Fax: (+3) 2-51-12-54-02
| | - Guillaume Compain
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ (UK), Fax: (+44) 23-8059-6805
| | - Lewis Mtashobya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ (UK), Fax: (+44) 23-8059-6805
| | - Jean-Yves Le Questel
- CEISAM UMR CNRS 6230, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes 2, rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3 (France), Fax: (+3) 2-51-12-54-02
| | - François Besseau
- CEISAM UMR CNRS 6230, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes 2, rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3 (France), Fax: (+3) 2-51-12-54-02
| | - Nicolas Galland
- CEISAM UMR CNRS 6230, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes 2, rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3 (France), Fax: (+3) 2-51-12-54-02
| | - Bruno Linclau
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ (UK), Fax: (+44) 23-8059-6805.
| | - Jérôme Graton
- CEISAM UMR CNRS 6230, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Université de Nantes 2, rue de la Houssinière, BP 92208, 44322 NANTES Cedex 3 (France), Fax: (+3) 2-51-12-54-02.
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Soriano-Ursúa MA, Arias-Montaño JA, Correa-Basurto J, Hernández-Martínez CF, López-Cabrera Y, Castillo-Hernández MC, Padilla-Martínez II, Trujillo-Ferrara JG. Insights on the role of boron containing moieties in the design of new potent and efficient agonists targeting the β2 adrenoceptor. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:820-5. [PMID: 25592716 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.12.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Revised: 12/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of β2 adrenoceptor (β2AR) agonists is of increasing interest because of their wide-ranging applications in medicine, particularly for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. Regarding the relaxation of smooth muscle that lines airways of mammals, some boron-containing adducts have demonstrated greater potency and efficacy compared to well-known boron-free compounds. We herein report the design and synthesis as well as the chemical and pharmacological characterization of a new boron-containing compound: ((R)-6-((S)-2-(tert-butylammonio)-1-hydroxyethyl)-2-hydroxy-2-isobutyl-4H-benzo[d][1,3,2] dioxaborinin-2-uide). Compared to its precursor (salbutamol), this compound induced relaxation of smooth muscle in guinea pig tracheal rings with greater potency and efficacy (EC50⩽28.02nM). Theoretical studies suggest the potential selectivity of this boron containing compound on the orthosteric site of beta adrenoceptors and/or signaling pathways, as well as the importance of the tetracoordinated boron atom in its structure for binding recognition properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin A Soriano-Ursúa
- Departamentos de Fisiología y Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, México, D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico; Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, 11340, Mexico.
| | - José A Arias-Montaño
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I.P.N., Av. IPN 2508, 07360 Mexico, D.F., Mexico
| | - José Correa-Basurto
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, 11340, Mexico
| | - Christian F Hernández-Martínez
- Departamentos de Fisiología y Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, México, D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico
| | - Yessica López-Cabrera
- Departamentos de Fisiología y Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, México, D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico
| | - Maria C Castillo-Hernández
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, 11340, Mexico
| | - Itzia I Padilla-Martínez
- Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Biotecnología, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Avenida Acueducto s/n, Barrio La Laguna Ticomán, 07340, Mexico
| | - José G Trujillo-Ferrara
- Departamentos de Fisiología y Bioquímica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, México, D.F. C.P. 11340, Mexico
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6
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Sheftel S, Muratore KE, Black M, Costanzi S. Graph analysis of β2 adrenergic receptor structures: a "social network" of GPCR residues. In Silico Pharmacol 2013; 1:16. [PMID: 25505660 PMCID: PMC4230308 DOI: 10.1186/2193-9616-1-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a superfamily of membrane proteins of vast pharmaceutical interest. Here, we describe a graph theory-based analysis of the structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2 AR), a prototypical GPCR. In particular, we illustrate the network of direct and indirect interactions that link each amino acid residue to any other residue of the receptor. Methods Networks of interconnected amino acid residues in proteins are analogous to social networks of interconnected people. Hence, they can be studied through the same analysis tools typically employed to analyze social networks – or networks in general – to reveal patterns of connectivity, influential members, and dynamicity. We focused on the analysis of closeness-centrality, which is a measure of the overall connectivity distance of the member of a network to all other members. Results The residues endowed with the highest closeness-centrality are located in the middle of the seven transmembrane domains (TMs). In particular, they are mostly located in the middle of TM2, TM3, TM6 or TM7, while fewer of them are located in the middle of TM1, TM4 or TM5. At the cytosolic end of TM6, the centrality detected for the active structure is markedly lower than that detected for the corresponding residues in the inactive structures. Moreover, several residues acquire centrality when the structures are analyzed in the presence of ligands. Strikingly, there is little overlap between the residues that acquire centrality in the presence of the ligand in the blocker-bound structures and the agonist-bound structures. Conclusions Our results reflect the fact that the receptor resembles a bow tie, with a rather tight knot of closely interconnected residues and two ends that fan out in two opposite directions: one toward the extracellular space, which hosts the ligand binding cavity, and one toward the cytosol, which hosts the G protein binding cavity. Moreover, they underscore how interaction network is by the conformational rearrangements concomitant with the activation of the receptor and by the presence of agonists or blockers. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-9616-1-16) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Sheftel
- Department of Chemistry, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, Northwest, Washington, DC 20016 USA
| | - Kathryn E Muratore
- Department of Chemistry, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, Northwest, Washington, DC 20016 USA
| | - Michael Black
- Department of Computer Science, American University, Northwest, Washington, DC 20016 USA
| | - Stefano Costanzi
- Department of Chemistry, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, Northwest, Washington, DC 20016 USA ; Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Northwest, Washington, DC 20016 USA
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7
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Soriano-Ursúa MA, Trujillo-Ferrara JG, Correa-Basurto J, Vilar S. Recent structural advances of β1 and β2 adrenoceptors yield keys for ligand recognition and drug design. J Med Chem 2013; 56:8207-23. [PMID: 23862978 DOI: 10.1021/jm400471z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Because they represent attractive drug targets, adrenoceptors have been widely studied. Recent progress in structural data of β-adrenoceptors allows us to understand and predict key interactions in ligand recognition and receptor activation. Nevertheless, an important aspect of this process has only begun to be explored: the stabilization of a conformational state of these receptors upon contact with a ligand and the capacity of a ligand to influence receptor conformation through allosteric modulation, biased signaling, and selectivity. The aim of the present Perspective is to identify the well-defined orthosteric binding site and possible allosteric sites and to analyze the importance of the ligand-receptor interaction in the stabilization of certain receptor conformations. For this purpose, we have reviewed recent advances made through the use of X-ray data from ligand-β-adrenoceptor (including ADRB1 and ADRB2) crystal structures. Most importantly, implications in the medicinal chemistry field are explored in relation to drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin A Soriano-Ursúa
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology, Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Bioinformatics, Postgraduate Research Section, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional , Plan de San Luis y Dı́az Mirón s/n, Mexico City, 11340, Mexico
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8
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Vilar S, Costanzi S. Application of Monte Carlo-based receptor ensemble docking to virtual screening for GPCR ligands. Methods Enzymol 2013; 522:263-78. [PMID: 23374190 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407865-9.00014-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Receptor ensemble docking (RED) is an effective strategy to account for receptor flexibility in the course of a docking-based virtual screening campaign. Such an approach can be applied when multiple crystal structures of a receptor have been solved, but it can also be applied when only a single crystal structure is available. In this case, alternative structures can be generated from the latter by computational means and subsequently applied to RED. Here, we illustrate how such conformers can be generated by subjecting a crystal structure to Monte Carlo conformational searches. Through a controlled virtual screening experiment, we then show the applicability of such a strategy to the identification of ligands of the β(2) adrenergic receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor activated by epinephrine. Requiring the availability of one crystal structure only, this strategy is applicable to all systems for which multiple experimentally elucidated structures are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Vilar
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago the Compostela, Spain
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9
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Melandri S, Merloni A, Maris A. Effects of Fluorine Substitution on the Shape of Neurotransmitters: the Rotational Spectrum of 2-(2-Fluorophenyl)Ethanamine. Chemphyschem 2012; 13:3504-9. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201200528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Selvam B, Wereszczynski J, Tikhonova IG. Comparison of dynamics of extracellular accesses to the β(1) and β(2) adrenoceptors binding sites uncovers the potential of kinetic basis of antagonist selectivity. Chem Biol Drug Des 2012; 80:215-26. [PMID: 22530954 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2012.01390.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
From the molecular mechanism of antagonist unbinding in the β(1) and β(2) adrenoceptors investigated by steered molecular dynamics, we attempt to provide further possibilities of ligand subtype and subspecies selectivity. We have simulated unbinding of β(1)-selective Esmolol and β(2)-selective ICI-118551 from both receptors to the extracellular environment and found distinct molecular features of unbinding. By calculating work profiles, we show different preference in antagonist unbinding pathways between the receptors, in particular, perpendicular to the membrane pathway is favourable in the β(1) adrenoceptor, whereas the lateral pathway involving helices 5, 6 and 7 is preferable in the β(2) adrenoceptor. The estimated free energy change of unbinding based on the preferable pathway correlates with the experimental ligand selectivity. We then show that the non-conserved K347 (6.58) appears to facilitate in guiding Esmolol to the extracellular surface via hydrogen bonds in the β(1) adrenoceptor. In contrast, hydrophobic and aromatic interactions dominate in driving ICI-118551 through the easiest pathway in the β(2) adrenoceptor. We show how our study can stimulate design of selective antagonists and discuss other possible molecular reasons of ligand selectivity, involving sequential binding of agonists and glycosylation of the receptor extracellular surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Selvam
- Molecular Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
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11
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Katritch V, Abagyan R. GPCR agonist binding revealed by modeling and crystallography. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2011; 32:637-43. [PMID: 21903279 PMCID: PMC3200445 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent progress in structural coverage of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family, high plasticity of these membrane proteins poses additional challenges for crystallographic studies of their complexes with different classes of ligands, especially agonists. The ability to predict computationally the binding of natural and clinically relevant agonists and corresponding changes in the receptor pocket, starting from inactive GPCR structures, is therefore of great interest for understanding GPCR biology and drug action. Comparison of computational models published in 2009 and 2010 with recently determined agonist-bound structures of β-adrenergic and adenosine A(2A) receptors reveals high accuracy of the predicted agonist binding poses (0.8 Å and 1.7 Å respectively) and receptor interactions. In the case of the β(2)AR, energy-based models with limited backbone flexibility have also allowed characterization of side-chain rotations and a finite backbone shift in the pocket region as determinants of full, partial or inverse agonism. Development of accurate models of agonist binding for other GPCRs will be instrumental for functional and pharmacological studies, complementing biochemical and crystallographic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vsevolod Katritch
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Schneider M, Wolf S, Schlitter J, Gerwert K. The structure of active opsin as a basis for identification of GPCR agonists by dynamic homology modelling and virtual screening assays. FEBS Lett 2011; 585:3587-92. [PMID: 22027616 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2011] [Revised: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Most of the currently available G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) crystal structures represent an inactive receptor state, which has been considered to be suitable only for the discovery of antagonists and inverse agonists in structure-based computational ligand screening. Using the β(2)-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) as a model system, we show that a dynamic homology model based on an "active" opsin structure without further incorporation of experimental data performs better than the crystal structure of the inactive B2AR in finding agonists over antagonists/inverse agonists. Such "active-like state" dynamic homology models can therefore be used to selectively identify GPCR agonists in in silico ligand libraries.
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Congreve M, Langmead CJ, Mason JS, Marshall FH. Progress in structure based drug design for G protein-coupled receptors. J Med Chem 2011; 54:4283-311. [PMID: 21615150 PMCID: PMC3308205 DOI: 10.1021/jm200371q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miles Congreve
- Heptares Therapeutics Limited, BioPark, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK.
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14
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Melandri S. “Union is strength”: how weak hydrogen bonds become stronger. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2011; 13:13901-11. [DOI: 10.1039/c1cp20824a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Hubbard RE. Structure-based drug discovery and protein targets in the CNS. Neuropharmacology 2010; 60:7-23. [PMID: 20673774 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Structure-based methods are having an increasing role and impact in drug discovery. The crystal structures of an increasing number of therapeutic targets are becoming available. These structures can transform our understanding of how these proteins perform their biological function and often provide insights into the molecular basis of disease. In addition, the structures can help the discovery process. Methods such as virtual screening and experimental fragment screening can provide starting hit compounds for a discovery project. Crystal structures of compounds bound to the protein can direct or guide the medicinal chemistry optimisation to improve drug-like properties - not only providing ideas on how to improve binding affinity or selectivity, but also showing where the compound can be modified in attempting to modulate physico-chemical properties and biological efficacy. The majority of drug discovery projects against globular protein targets now use these methods at some stage. This review provides a summary of the range of structure-based drug discovery methods that are in use and surveys the suitability of the methods for targets currently identified for CNS drugs. Until recently, structure-based discovery was difficult or unknown for these targets. The recent determination of the structures of a number of GPCR proteins, together with the steady increase in structures for other membrane proteins, is opening up the possibility for these structure-based methods to find increased use in drug discovery for CNS diseases and conditions.
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