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Zha J, He J, Wu C, Zhang M, Liu X, Zhang J. Designing drugs and chemical probes with the dualsteric approach. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:8651-8677. [PMID: 37990599 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00650f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, drugs are monovalent, targeting only one site on the protein surface. This includes orthosteric and allosteric drugs, which bind the protein at orthosteric and allosteric sites, respectively. Orthosteric drugs are good in potency, whereas allosteric drugs have better selectivity and are solutions to classically undruggable targets. However, it would be difficult to simultaneously reach high potency and selectivity when targeting only one site. Also, both kinds of monovalent drugs suffer from mutation-caused drug resistance. To overcome these obstacles, dualsteric modulators have been proposed in the past twenty years. Compared to orthosteric or allosteric drugs, dualsteric modulators are bivalent (or bitopic) with two pharmacophores. Each of the two pharmacophores bind the protein at the orthosteric and an allosteric site, which could bring the modulator with special properties beyond monovalent drugs. In this study, we comprehensively review the current development of dualsteric modulators. Our main effort reason and illustrate the aims to apply the dualsteric approach, including a "double win" of potency and selectivity, overcoming mutation-caused drug resistance, developments of function-biased modulators, and design of partial agonists. Moreover, the strengths of the dualsteric technique also led to its application outside pharmacy, including the design of highly sensitive fluorescent tracers and usage as molecular rulers. Besides, we also introduced drug targets, designing strategies, and validation methods of dualsteric modulators. Finally, we detail the conclusions and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyin Zha
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixiao He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengwei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyi Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine at Shanghai, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Grätz L, Müller C, Pegoli A, Schindler L, Bernhardt G, Littmann T. Insertion of Nanoluc into the Extracellular Loops as a Complementary Method To Establish BRET-Based Binding Assays for GPCRs. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:1142-1155. [PMID: 36407949 PMCID: PMC9667534 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00162] [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: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Luminescence-based techniques play an increasingly important role in all areas of biochemical research, including investigations on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). One quite recent and popular addition has been made by introducing bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based binding assays for GPCRs, which are based on the fusion of nanoluciferase (Nluc) to the N-terminus of the receptor and the occurring energy transfer via BRET to a bound fluorescent ligand. However, being based on BRET, the technique is strongly dependent on the distance/orientation between the luciferase and the fluorescent ligand. Here we describe an alternative strategy to establish BRET-based binding assays for GPCRs, where the N-terminal fusion of Nluc did not result in functioning test systems with our fluorescent ligands (e.g., for the neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor (Y1R) and the neurotensin receptor type 1 (NTS1R)). Instead, we introduced Nluc into their second extracellular loop and we obtained binding data for the fluorescent ligands and reported standard ligands (in saturation and competition binding experiments, respectively) comparable to data from the literature. The strategy was transferred to the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) and the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M1R), which led to affinity estimates comparable to data from radioligand binding experiments. Additionally, an analysis of the binding kinetics of all fluorescent ligands at their respective target was performed using the newly described receptor/Nluc-constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christoph Müller
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Lisa Schindler
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Günther Bernhardt
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Mandal S, Pramanik A. Three-Component Synthesis of Pyrrolo/indolo[1,2-a]quinoxalines Substituted with o-Biphenylester/N-arylcarbamate/N-arylurea: A Domino Approach Involving Spirocyclic Ring Opening. J Org Chem 2021; 86:5047-5064. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Subhro Mandal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, India
| | - Animesh Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 92, A. P. C. Road, Kolkata 700009, India
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BRET- and fluorescence anisotropy-based assays for real-time monitoring of ligand binding to M 2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1868:118930. [PMID: 33347921 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BRET and fluorescence anisotropy (FA) are two fluorescence-based techniques used for the characterization of ligand binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and both allow monitoring of ligand binding in real time. In this study, we present the first direct comparison of BRET-based and FA-based binding assays using the human M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M2R) and two TAMRA (5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine)-labeled fluorescent ligands as a model system. The determined fluorescent ligand affinities from both assays were in good agreement with results obtained from radioligand competition binding experiments. The assays yielded real-time kinetic binding data revealing differences in the mechanism of binding for the investigated fluorescent probes. Furthermore, the investigation of various unlabeled M2R ligands yielded pharmacological profiles in accordance with earlier reported data. Taken together, this study showed that BRET- and FA-based binding assays represent valuable alternatives to radioactivity-based methods for screening purposes and for a precise characterization of binding kinetics supporting the exploration of binding mechanisms.
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Mazzolari A, Gervasoni S, Pedretti A, Fumagalli L, Matucci R, Vistoli G. Repositioning Dequalinium as Potent Muscarinic Allosteric Ligand by Combining Virtual Screening Campaigns and Experimental Binding Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21175961. [PMID: 32825082 PMCID: PMC7503225 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21175961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure-based virtual screening is a truly productive repurposing approach provided that reliable target structures are available. Recent progresses in the structural resolution of the G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) render these targets amenable for structure-based repurposing studies. Hence, the present study describes structure-based virtual screening campaigns with a view to repurposing known drugs as potential allosteric (and/or orthosteric) ligands for the hM2 muscarinic subtype which was indeed resolved in complex with an allosteric modulator thus allowing a precise identification of this binding cavity. First, a docking protocol was developed and optimized based on binding space concept and enrichment factor optimization algorithm (EFO) consensus approach by using a purposely collected database including known allosteric modulators. The so-developed consensus models were then utilized to virtually screen the DrugBank database. Based on the computational results, six promising molecules were selected and experimentally tested and four of them revealed interesting affinity data; in particular, dequalinium showed a very impressive allosteric modulation for hM2. Based on these results, a second campaign was focused on bis-cationic derivatives and allowed the identification of other two relevant hM2 ligands. Overall, the study enhances the understanding of the factors governing the hM2 allosteric modulation emphasizing the key role of ligand flexibility as well as of arrangement and delocalization of the positively charged moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Mazzolari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Silvia Gervasoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
| | - Rosanna Matucci
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Psicologia, Area del Farmaco e Salute del Bambino (NEUROFARBA), Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (A.M.); (S.G.); (A.P.); (L.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-5019349
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