Probing the Mechanism of Receptor Activity-Modifying Protein Modulation of GPCR Ligand Selectivity through Rational Design of Potent Adrenomedullin and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Antagonists

Characterization of the Two-Domain Peptide Binding Mechanism of the Human CGRP Receptor for CGRP and the Ultrahigh Affinity ssCGRP Variant

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37-amino acid neuropeptide that functions in pain signaling and neuroimmune communication. The CGRP receptor, CGRPR, is a class B GPCR that is a drug target for migraine headache and other disorders. Here, we used nanoBRET receptor binding and cAMP biosensor signaling assays and theoretical modeling to characterize the CGRPR "two-domain" peptide binding mechanism. Single-site extracellular domain (ECD)-binding and two-site ECD/transmembrane domain (TMD)-binding peptides were examined for CGRP and a high-affinity variant "ssCGRP" with modifications in the C-terminal region. Wildtype and ssCGRP(27-37) bound the ECD with affinities of 1 μM and 0.5 nM, and residence times of 5 s and 8 min, respectively. The (8-37) antagonist fragments had affinities of 100 nM for wildtype and 0.5 nM for ss and exhibited behavior consistent with two-site ECD/TMD binding. ssCGRP(8-37) had a residence time of 76 min. CGRP(1-37) agonist had 25-fold higher affinity for the G protein-coupled state of the CGRPR (Ki = 3 nM) than the uncoupled state (Ki = 74 nM), and elicited short-duration cAMP signaling. In contrast, ssCGRP(1-37) had similar strong affinities for both receptor states (Ki = 0.2 to 0.25 nM), and induced long-duration signaling. An equilibrium reaction network mathematical model of CGRPR activation that includes peptide and G protein binding was developed. This captured wildtype CGRP binding experiments well, but the ssCGRP binding properties were not fully reproduced, suggesting that it may exhibit a distinct binding mechanism. Together, these results advance our quantitative understanding of the CGRPR two-domain mechanism and support the ss variants as potential long-acting therapeutics.

Pipeline for development of acylated peptide based CGRP receptor antagonist with extended half-life for migraine treatment

Migraine is a debilitating headache disorder. The disease has neurovascular origin and migraine attacks can be elicited by vasodilative neuropeptides such as alpha calcitonin gene-related peptide (αCGRP). Antagonizing CGRP actions in migraine patients has proven clinically efficient. Here, we present a pipeline for development of a peptide-based hCGRP receptor antagonist with increased half-life capable of antagonising the vasodilatory effect of hαCGRP. A series of hαCGRP8-37 analogues carrying a C18-or C20-diacid lipidation was screened for their antagonism against the hCGRP receptor. hαCGRP8-37 analogues with a C20-diacid were 2-6 fold more potent than analogues conjugated with a C18-diacid. Half-life of hαCGRP8-37 analogues carrying a C20-diacid was estimated in mice in a pilot study (n = 1-2). Half-lives ranged from 7.3 to 13.7 h. An hαCGRP8-37 analogue conjugated with a C20 diacid at position 25 was subjected to an amino acid substitution scan to identify mutations that could further enhance hCGRP receptor antagonism. Substituting alanine with serine at position 36 resulted in a ~ 4 fold gain of potency. Vasodilative actions of hαCGRP were successfully antagonized by hαCGRP8-37 analogues carrying a C20 diacid at position 25. Our findings demonstrate that lipidation can improve hαCGRP8-37 pharmacokinetics while maintaining hαCGRP antagonism, thus demonstrating potential for a peptide-based migraine treatment strategy.

Development of the novel amylin and calcitonin receptor activators by peptide mutagenesis

The amylin peptide hormone receptor is the complex of the calcitonin peptide hormone receptor and an accessory protein. The calcitonin receptor activation controls calcium homeostasis, while it also functions as the main component of the amylin receptor. Amylin receptor activation in brains controls blood glucose and appetite. Currently, non-selective amylin and calcitonin receptor activators have been tested for body weight reduction to treat obesity. Here, multiple peptide activators for human amylin and calcitonin receptors were developed by introducing comprehensive mutagenesis to rat amylin peptide. The rat amylin peptide C-terminal fragment that interacts with amylin receptor extracellular domain was used to screen for affinity-enhancing mutations. Up to twelve mutational combinations were found to significantly increase peptide affinity both for amylin and calcitonin receptor extracellular domains by over 100-fold. Using these affinity-enhancing mutations, three representative rat amylin analogs with thirty-seven amino acids were made to test the potency increase for amylin and calcitonin receptor activation. All three mutated rat amylin analogs showed significant potency increases by 5- to 10-fold compared to endogenous rat amylin. These mutated peptide activators also showed higher potency for human amylin and calcitonin receptor activation than a clinically available amylin receptor activator pramlintide. These amylin and calcitonin receptor activators developed in this study may be useful as the valuable pharmacological tools that activate amylin receptors in cell-based systems.

Amylin receptor subunit interactions are modulated by agonists and determine signaling

Three amylin receptors (AMYRs) mediate the metabolic actions of the peptide hormone amylin and are drug targets for diabetes and obesity. AMY1R, AMY2R, and AMY3R are heterodimers consisting of the G protein-coupled calcitonin receptor (CTR) paired with a RAMP1, -2, or -3 accessory subunit, respectively, which increases amylin potency. Little is known about AMYR subunit interactions and their role in signaling. Here, we show that the AMYRs have distinct basal subunit equilibriums that are modulated by peptide agonists and determine the cAMP signaling phenotype. Using a novel biochemical assay that resolves the AMYR heterodimers and free subunits, we found that the AMY1/2R subunit equilibriums favored free CTR and RAMP1/2, and rat amylin and αCGRP agonists promoted subunit association. A stronger CTR-RAMP3 transmembrane domain interface yielded a more stable AMY3R, and human and salmon calcitonin agonists promoted AMY3R dissociation. Similar changes in subunit association-dissociation were observed in live cell membranes, and G protein coupling and cAMP signaling assays showed how these altered signaling. Our findings reveal regulation of heteromeric GPCR signaling through subunit interaction dynamics.

Spinal RAMP1-mediated neuropathic pain sensitisation in the aged mice through the modulation of CGRP-CRLR pain signalling

Pain sensitivity varies depending on both the state and age of an individual. For example, chronic pain is more common in older individuals, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study revealed that 18-month-old mice (aged) experienced more severe and long-lasting allodynia and hyperalgesia in the chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced pain state compared to 2-month-old mice. Interestingly, the aged mice had a higher baseline mechanical pain threshold than the adult mice. The expression of spinal receptor-active modification protein 1 (RAMP1), as a key component and regulator of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor for nociceptive transmission from the periphery to the spinal cord, was reduced in the physiological state but significantly increased after CCI in the aged mice compared to the adult mice. Moreover, when RAMP1 was knocked down using shRNA, the pain sensitivity of adult mice decreased significantly, and CCI-induced allodynia in aged mice was reduced. These findings suggest that spinal RAMP1 is involved in regulating pain sensitivity in a state- and age-dependent manner. Additionally, interfering with RAMP1 could be a promising strategy for alleviating chronic pain in older individuals.

Cryo-EM Structure of the Human Amylin 1 Receptor in Complex with CGRP and Gs Protein

Inhibition of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its cognate CGRP receptor (CGRPR) has arisen as a major breakthrough in the treatment of migraine. However, a second CGRP-responsive receptor exists, the amylin (Amy) 1 receptor (AMY1R), yet its involvement in the pathology of migraine is poorly understood. AMY1R and CGRPR are heterodimers consisting of receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) with the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), respectively. Here, we present the structure of AMY1R in complex with CGRP and Gs protein and compare it with the reported structures of the AMY1R complex with rat amylin (rAmy) and the CGRPR in complex with CGRP. Despite similar protein backbones observed within the receptors and the N- and C-termini of the two peptides bound to the AMY1R complexes, they have distinct organization in the peptide midregions (the bypass motif) that is correlated with differences in the dynamics of the respective receptor extracellular domains. Moreover, divergent conformations of extracellular loop (ECL) 3, intracellular loop (ICL) 2, and ICL3 within the CTR and CLR protomers are evident when comparing the CGRP bound to the CGRPR and AMY1R, which influences the binding mode of CGRP. However, the conserved interactions made by the C-terminus of CGRP to the CGRPR and AMY1R are likely to account for cross-reactivity of nonpeptide CGRPR antagonists observed at AMY1R, which also extends to other clinically used CGRPR blockers, including antibodies.

Multi-biological functions of intermedin in diseases

Intermedin (IMD) is a member of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)/calcitonin (CT) superfamily, and it is expressed extensively throughout the body. The typical receptors for IMD are complexes composed of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP), which leads to a biased activation towards Gαs. As a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker, IMD regulates the initiation and metastasis of multiple tumors. Additionally, IMD functions as a proangiogenic factor that can restrain excessive vascular budding and facilitate the expansion of blood vessel lumen, ultimately resulting in the fusion of blood vessels. IMD has protective roles in various diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion injury, metabolic disease, cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory diseases. This review systematically elucidates IMD's expression, structure, related receptors and signal pathway, as well as its comprehensive functions in the context of acute kidney injury, obesity, diabetes, heart failure and sepsis. However, the precise formation process of IMD short peptides in vivo and their downstream signaling pathway have not been fully elucidated yet. Further in-depth studies are need to translate IMD research into clinical applications.

Adrenomedullin 2/intermedin is a slow off-rate, long-acting endogenous agonist of the adrenomedullin2 G protein-coupled receptor

Adrenomedullin 2/intermedin (AM2/IMD), adrenomedullin (AM), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have signaling functions in the cardiovascular, lymphatic, and nervous systems by activating three heterodimeric receptors comprised of the class B GPCR CLR and a RAMP1, -2, or -3 modulatory subunit. CGRP and AM prefer the RAMP1 and RAMP2/3 complexes, respectively, whereas AM2/IMD is thought to be relatively non-selective. Accordingly, AM2/IMD exhibits overlapping actions with CGRP and AM, so the rationale for this third agonist for the CLR-RAMP complexes is unclear. Here, we report that AM2/IMD is kinetically selective for CLR-RAMP3, known as the AM₂R, and we define the structural basis for its distinct kinetics. In live cell biosensor assays, AM2/IMD-AM₂R elicited substantially longer duration cAMP signaling than the eight other peptide-receptor combinations. AM2/IMD and AM bound the AM₂R with similar equilibrium affinities, but AM2/IMD had a much slower off-rate and longer receptor residence time, thus explaining its prolonged signaling capacity. Peptide and receptor chimeras and mutagenesis were used to map the regions responsible for the distinct binding and signaling kinetics to the AM2/IMD mid-region and the RAMP3 extracellular domain (ECD). Molecular dynamics simulations revealed how the former forms stable interactions at the CLR ECD-transmembrane domain interface and how the latter augments the CLR ECD binding pocket to anchor the AM2/IMD C-terminus. These two strong binding components only combine in the AM₂R. Our findings uncover AM2/IMD-AM₂R as a cognate pair with unique temporal features, reveal how AM2/IMD and RAMP3 collaborate to shape CLR signaling, and have significant implications for AM2/IMD biology.

Adrenomedullin 2/intermedin is a slow off-rate, long-acting endogenous agonist of the adrenomedullin 2 G protein-coupled receptor

The signaling peptides adrenomedullin 2/intermedin (AM2/IMD), adrenomedullin (AM), and CGRP have overlapping and distinct functions in the cardiovascular, lymphatic, and nervous systems by activating three shared receptors comprised of the class B GPCR CLR in complex with a RAMP1, -2, or -3 modulatory subunit. Here, we report that AM2/IMD, which is thought to be a non-selective agonist, is kinetically selective for CLR-RAMP3, known as the AM 2 R. AM2/IMD-AM 2 R elicited substantially longer duration cAMP signaling than the eight other peptide-receptor combinations due to AM2/IMD slow off-rate binding kinetics. The regions responsible for the slow off-rate were mapped to the AM2/IMD mid-region and the RAMP3 extracellular domain. MD simulations revealed how these bestow enhanced stability to the complex. Our results uncover AM2/IMD-AM 2 R as a cognate pair with unique temporal features, define the mechanism of kinetic selectivity, and explain how AM2/IMD and RAMP3 collaborate to shape the signaling output of a clinically important GPCR.

Elucidating the Interactome of G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are known to interact with several other classes of integral membrane proteins that modulate their biology and pharmacology. However, the extent of these interactions and the mechanisms of their effects are not well understood. For example, one class of GPCR-interacting proteins, receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs), comprise three related and ubiquitously expressed single-transmembrane span proteins. The RAMP family was discovered more than two decades ago, and since then GPCR-RAMP interactions and their functional consequences on receptor trafficking and ligand selectivity have been documented for several secretin (class B) GPCRs, most notably the calcitonin receptor-like receptor. Recent bioinformatics and multiplexed experimental studies suggest that GPCR-RAMP interactions might be much more widespread than previously anticipated. Recently, cryo-electron microscopy has provided high-resolution structures of GPCR-RAMP-ligand complexes, and drugs have been developed that target GPCR-RAMP complexes. In this review, we provide a summary of recent advances in techniques that allow the discovery of GPCR-RAMP interactions and their functional consequences and highlight prospects for future advances. We also provide an up-to-date list of reported GPCR-RAMP interactions based on a review of the current literature. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) have emerged as modulators of many aspects of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)biology and pharmacology. The application of new methodologies to study membrane protein-protein interactions suggests that RAMPs interact with many more GPCRs than had been previously known. These findings, especially when combined with structural studies of membrane protein complexes, have significant implications for advancing GPCR-targeted drug discovery and the understanding of GPCR pharmacology, biology, and regulation.

New insights into the structure and function of class B1 GPCRs

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell surface receptors. Class B1 GPCRs constitute a subfamily of 15 receptors that characteristically contain large extracellular domains (ECDs) and respond to long polypeptide hormones. Class B1 GPCRs are critical regulators of homeostasis, and as such, many are important drug targets. While most transmembrane proteins, including GPCRs, are recalcitrant to crystallization, recent advances in electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) have facilitated a rapid expansion of the structural understanding of membrane proteins. As a testament to this success, structures for all the class B1 receptors bound to G proteins have been determined by cryo-EM in the past five years. Further advances in cryo-EM have uncovered dynamics of these receptors, ligands, and signalling partners. Here, we examine the recent structural underpinnings of the class B1 GPCRs with an emphasis on structure-function relationships.

Virtual drug repurposing study for the CGRPR identifies pentagastrin and leuprorelin as putative candidates

Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR) is a heterodimer consisting of CLR and RAMP1 proteins. Activation of the CGRPR with the endogenous peptide CGRP is known to play a crucial role in migraine pathophysiology. CGRP occupies two regions in the CGRPR upon binding, namely ectodomain and transmembrane sites (sites 1 and 2, respectively). The disruption of the CGRPR heterodimer interface is one of the main strategies to prevent CGRPR activation and its resulting effects. So far, FDA approved monoclonal antibodies and small molecule gepant inhibitors are considered for the treatment of acute or chronic migraine symptoms. However, most of these gepants have severe side effects. Thus, in this study, a virtual drug repurposing approach is applied to CGRPR to find alternative or better molecules that would have a potential to inhibit or block the CLR - RAMP1 interface compared to known gepant molecules. A small molecule library of FDA-approved molecules was screened in these two different binding sites, further simulations were performed and analyzed. The objectives of this study are (i) to repurpose an FDA-approved drug having more potent features for CGRPR inhibition compared to gepants, and (ii) to examine whether the transmembrane binding site (site 2) accepts small molecules or small peptide analogues for binding. As a result of this extensive in silico analysis, two molecules were identified, namely pentagastrin and leuprorelin. It is shown that FDA approved compound rimegepant and the identified pentagastrin molecules form and maintain the interactions through CLR W72 and RAMP1 W74, which are the residues revealed to have an important role in CGRPR antagonism at binding site 1. At binding site 2, the interactions needed to be formed for CGRP binding are not captured by rimegepant nor leuprorelin, yet leuprorelin forms more interactions throughout the simulations, meaning that small molecules are also capable of binding to site 2. Moreover, it is found that the crucial interactions for receptor signaling and heterodimerization occurred between CLR and RAMP1 interface are disrupted more with the ligands bound to ectodomain site, rather than the transmembrane domain. These findings of pentagastrin and leuprorelin molecules are recommended to be considered in further de novo drug development and/or experimental studies related to CGRPR signaling blockade and antagonism.

Peptide ligand interaction with maltose-binding protein tagged to the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor: The inhibitory role of receptor N-glycosylation

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and adrenomedullin (AM) are peptide hormones and their receptors play a critical role in migraine progression and blood pressure control, respectively. CGRP and AM receptors are structurally related since they are the complex of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) with the different types of receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP). Several crystal structures of the CGRP and AM receptor extracellular domain (ECD) used maltose-binding protein (MBP) as a tag protein to facilitate crystallization. Unexpectedly, the recent crystal structures of CGRP receptor ECD showed that the N-terminal tag MBP located in proximity of bound/mutated peptide ligands. This study provided evidence that MBP N-terminally tagged to the CGRP receptor ECD formed chemical interaction with the mutated peptide ligands. Interestingly, N-glycosylation of the CGRP receptor ECD was predicted to prevent MBP docking to the mutated peptide ligands. I found that the N-glycosylation of CLR ECD N123 was the most critical for inhibiting MBP interaction with the mutated peptide ligands. The MBP tag protein interaction was also dependent on the sequence of the peptide ligands. In contrast to the CGRP receptor, the MBP tag was not involved in peptide ligand binding at AM receptor ECD. Here, I provided evidence that N-glycosylation of the CGRP receptor ECD inhibited the tag protein interaction suggesting an additional function of N-glycosylation in the MBP-fused CGRP receptor ECD. This study reveals the importance of using tag protein-free versions of the CGRP receptor for the accurate assessment of peptide binding affinity.

Lipidated Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) Peptide Antagonists Retain CGRP Receptor Activity and Attenuate CGRP Action In Vivo

Signaling through calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors is associated with pain, migraine, and energy expenditure. Small molecule and monoclonal antibody CGRP receptor antagonists that block endogenous CGRP action are in clinical use as anti-migraine therapies. By comparison, the potential utility of peptide antagonists has received less attention due to suboptimal pharmacokinetic properties. Lipidation is an established strategy to increase peptide half-life in vivo. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of developing lipidated CGRP peptide antagonists that retain receptor antagonist activity in vitro and attenuate endogenous CGRP action in vivo. CGRP peptide analogues based on the archetypal CGRP receptor antagonist, CGRP_8-37, were palmitoylated at the N-terminus, position 24, and near the C-terminus at position 35. The antagonist activities of the lipidated peptide analogues were tested in vitro using transfected Cos-7 cells expressing either the human or mouse CGRP receptor, amylin subtype 1 (AMY₁) receptor, adrenomedullin (AM) receptors, or calcitonin receptor. Antagonist activities were also evaluated in SK-N-MC cells that endogenously express the human CGRP receptor. Lipidated peptides were then tested for their ability to antagonize endogenous CGRP action in vivo using a capsaicin-induced dermal vasodilation (CIDV) model in C57/BL6J mice. All lipidated peptides except for the C-terminally modified analogue retained potent antagonist activity compared to CGRP_8-37 towards the CGRP receptor. The lipidated peptides also retained, and sometimes gained, antagonist activities at AMY₁, AM₁ and AM₂ receptors. Several lipidated peptides produced robust inhibition of CIDV in mice. This study demonstrates that selected lipidated peptide antagonists based on αCGRP_8-37 retain potent antagonist activity at the CGRP receptor and are capable of inhibition of endogenous CGRP action in vivo. These findings suggest that lipidation can be applied to peptide antagonists, such as αCGRP_8-37 and are a potential strategy for antagonizing CGRP action.

Pharmacological characterisation of mouse calcitonin and calcitonin receptor-like receptors reveals differences compared with human receptors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The calcitonin (CT) receptor family is complex, comprising two receptors (the CT receptor [CTR] and the CTR-like receptor [CLR]), three accessory proteins (RAMPs) and multiple endogenous peptides. This family contains several important drug targets, including CGRP, which is targeted by migraine therapeutics. The pharmacology of this receptor family is poorly characterised in species other than rats and humans. To facilitate understanding of translational and preclinical data, we need to know the receptor pharmacology of this family in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Plasmids encoding mouse CLR/CTR and RAMPs were transiently transfected into Cos-7 cells. cAMP production was measured in response to agonists in the absence or presence of antagonists.

KEY RESULTS

We report the first synthesis and characterisation of mouse adrenomedullin, adrenomedullin 2 and βCGRP and of mouse CTR without or with mouse RAMPs. Receptors containing m-CTR had subtly different pharmacology than human receptors; they were promiscuous in their pharmacology, both with and without RAMPs. Several peptides, including mouse αCGRP and mouse adrenomedullin 2, were potent agonists of the m-CTR:m-RAMP3 complex. Pharmacological profiles of receptors comprising m-CLR:m-RAMPs were generally similar to those of their human counterparts, albeit with reduced specificity.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Mouse receptor pharmacology differed from that in humans, with mouse receptors displaying reduced discrimination between ligands. This creates challenges for interpreting which receptor may underlie an effect in preclinical models and thus translation of findings from mice to humans. It also highlights the need for new ligands to differentiate between these complexes.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Migraine and Headache Therapy (BJP 75th Anniversary).. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.3/issuetoc.

Modulating effects of RAMPs on signaling profiles of the glucagon receptor family

Receptor activity-modulating proteins (RAMPs) are accessory molecules that form complexes with specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and modulate their functions. It is established that RAMP interacts with the glucagon receptor family of GPCRs but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we used a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) approach to comprehensively investigate such interactions. In conjunction with cAMP accumulation, Gα_q activation and β-arrestin1/2 recruitment assays, we not only verified the GPCR–RAMP pairs previously reported, but also identified new patterns of GPCR–RAMP interaction. While RAMP1 was able to modify the three signaling events elicited by both glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R), and RAMP2 mainly affected β-arrestin1/2 recruitment by GCGR, GLP-1R and glucagon-like peptide-2 receptor, RAMP3 showed a widespread negative impact on all the family members except for growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor covering the three pathways. Our results suggest that RAMP modulates both G protein dependent and independent signal transduction among the glucagon receptor family members in a receptor-specific manner. Mapping such interactions provides new insights into the role of RAMP in ligand recognition and receptor activation.

Molecular simulations reveal the impact of RAMP1 on ligand binding and dynamics of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR) heterodimer

Calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR) is a heterodimer protein complex consisting of a class-B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) named calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and an accessory protein, receptor activity modifying protein type 1 (RAMP1). Here in this study, with several molecular modeling approaches and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the structural and dynamical effects of RAMP1 on the binding of small molecule CGRPR inhibitors (namely rimegepant and telcagepant) to the CGRPR extracellular ectodomain complex site (site 1) and transmembrane binding site (site 2) are investigated. Results showed that although these molecules stay stable at site 1, they can also bind to site 2, which may be interpreted as non-specificity of the ligands, however, most of these interactions at transmembrane binding site are not sustainable or are weak. Furthermore, to examine the site 2 for gepant binding, different in silico experiments (i.e., alanine scanning mutagenesis, SiteMap, ligand decomposition binding free energy analyses) are also conducted and the results confirmed the putative binding pocket (site 2) of the gepants at the CGRPRs.

Development of High Affinity Calcitonin Analog Fragments Targeting Extracellular Domains of Calcitonin Family Receptors

The calcitonin and amylin receptors (CTR and AMY receptors) are the drug targets for osteoporosis and diabetes treatment, respectively. Salmon calcitonin (sCT) and pramlintide were developed as peptide drugs that activate these receptors. However, next-generation drugs with improved receptor binding profiles are desirable for more effective pharmacotherapy. The extracellular domain (ECD) of CTR was reported as the critical binding site for the C-terminal half of sCT. For the screening of high-affinity sCT analog fragments, purified CTR ECD was used for fluorescence polarization/anisotropy peptide binding assay. When three mutations (N26D, S29P, and P32HYP) were introduced to the sCT(22–32) fragment, sCT(22–32) affinity for the CTR ECD was increased by 21-fold. CTR was reported to form a complex with receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP), and the CTR:RAMP complexes function as amylin receptors with increased binding for the peptide hormone amylin. All three types of functional AMY receptor ECDs were prepared and tested for the binding of the mutated sCT(22–32). Interestingly, the mutated sCT(22–32) also retained its high affinity for all three types of the AMY receptor ECDs. In summary, the mutated sCT(22–32) showing high affinity for CTR and AMY receptor ECDs could be considered for developing the next-generation peptide agonists.

To Probe the Binding Interactions between Two FDA Approved Migraine Drugs (Ubrogepant and Rimegepant) and Calcitonin-Gene Related Peptide Receptor (CGRPR) Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Recently, the FDA approved ubrogepant and rimegepant as oral drugs to treat migraines by targeting the calcitonin-gene related peptide receptor (CGRPR). Unfortunately, there is no high-resolution complex structure with these two drugs; thus the detailed interaction between drugs and the receptor remains elusive. This study uses molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to model the drug-receptor complex and analyze their binding interactions at a molecular level. The complex crystal structure (3N7R) of the gepant drugs' predecessor, olcegepant, was used for our molecular docking of the two drugs and served as a control system. The three systems, with ubrogepant, rimegepant, and crystal olcegepant, were subject to 3 × 1000 ns molecular dynamics simulations and followed by the simulation interaction diagram (SID), structural clustering, and MM-GBSA binding energy analyses. Our MD data revealed that olcegepant binds most strongly to the CGRPR, followed by ubrogepant and then rimegepant, largely due to changes in hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The order of our MM-GBSA binding energies of these three compounds is consistent with their experimental IC₅₀ values. SID analysis revealed the pharmacophore of the gepant class to be the dihydroquinazolinone group derivative. Subtle differences in interaction profile have been noted, including interactions with the W74 and W72 residues. The ubrogepant and rimegepant both contact A70 and M42 of the receptor, while olcegepant does not. The results of this study elucidate the interactions in the binding pocket of CGRP receptor and can assist in further development for orally available antagonists of the CGRP receptor.

Targeting Adrenomedullin in Oncology: A Feasible Strategy With Potential as Much More Than an Alternative Anti-Angiogenic Therapy

The development, maintenance and metastasis of solid tumors are highly dependent on the formation of blood and lymphatic vessels from pre-existing ones through a series of processes that are respectively known as angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Both are mediated by specific growth-stimulating molecules, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and adrenomedullin (AM), secreted by diverse cell types which involve not only the cancerogenic ones, but also those constituting the tumor stroma (i.e., macrophages, pericytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells). In this sense, anti-angiogenic therapy represents a clinically-validated strategy in oncology. Current therapeutic approaches are mainly based on VEGF-targeting agents, which, unfortunately, are usually limited by toxicity and/or tumor-acquired resistance. AM is a ubiquitous peptide hormone mainly secreted in the endothelium with an important involvement in blood vessel development and cardiovascular homeostasis. In this review, we will introduce the state-of-the-art in terms of AM physiology, while putting a special focus on its pro-tumorigenic role, and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target in oncology. A large amount of research has evidenced AM overexpression in a vast majority of solid tumors and a correlation between AM levels and disease stage, progression and/or vascular density has been observed. The analysis presented here indicates that the involvement of AM in the pathogenesis of cancer arises from: 1) direct promotion of cell proliferation and survival; 2) increased vascularization and the subsequent supply of nutrients and oxygen to the tumor; 3) and/or alteration of the cell phenotype into a more aggressive one. Furthermore, we have performed a deep scrutiny of the pathophysiological prominence of each of the AM receptors (AM₁ and AM₂) in different cancers, highlighting their differential locations and functions, as well as regulatory mechanisms. From the therapeutic point of view, we summarize here an exhaustive series of preclinical studies showing a reduction of tumor angiogenesis, metastasis and growth following treatment with AM-neutralizing antibodies, AM receptor antagonists, or AM receptor interference. Anti-AM therapy is a promising strategy to be explored in oncology, not only as an anti-angiogenic alternative in the context of acquired resistance to VEGF treatment, but also as a potential anti-metastatic approach.

Asn-linked N-acetylglucosamine of the amylin receptor 2 extracellular domain enhances peptide ligand affinity

The calcitonin receptor (CTR) has a large extracellular domain (ECD) with multiple N‐glycosylation sites. An asparagine (Asn)‐linked N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) of CTR ECD N130 was previously reported to enhance peptide hormone binding affinity for CTR ECD. CTR forms a complex with an accessory protein RAMP, and the RAMP:CTR complex gains affinity for peptide hormone amylin as the amylin receptor (AMY). Although N‐glycosylation of AMY ECD was reported to enhance peptide hormone affinity, it remains underexplored which N‐glycosites of AMY ECD are responsible for peptide affinity enhancement and it is unclear whether an Asn‐linked GlcNAc of the N‐glycosites plays a critical role. Here, I investigated the role of the Asn‐linked GlcNAc of CTR N130 in the affinity of an antagonistic amylin analog (AC413) for AMY₂ ECD (the RAMP2 ECD:CTR ECD complex). I used Endo H‐treated CTR ECD in which N‐glycans were trimmed to an Asn‐linked GlcNAc on each of the N‐glycosites. I incubated Endo H‐treated CTR ECD with excess of glycan‐free RAMP2 ECD to produce the RAMP2 ECD:CTR ECD complex. Using this coincubation system, I found that the RAMP2 ECD complex with Endo H‐treated CTR ECD with N130D mutation showed a fourfold decrease in AC413 affinity compared with the RAMP2 ECD complex with Endo H‐treated CTR ECD WT. In contrast, RAMP2 ECD N‐glycosylation did not affect peptide binding affinity. These results indicate that the Asn‐linked GlcNAc of CTR N130 is an important peptide affinity enhancer for AMY₂ ECD and reveals a significant role of the Asn‐linked GlcNAc in AMY₂ function.

Molecular interaction of an antagonistic amylin analog with the extracellular domain of receptor activity-modifying protein 2 assessed by fluorescence polarization

The peptide hormone amylin receptor is a complex of the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and an accessory protein called receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). The soluble extracellular domain (ECD) of CTR is an important binding site of peptide hormone calcitonin. RAMPs also have an ECD and the association of CTR ECD with RAMP ECD enhances the affinity of peptide hormone amylin. However, the mechanism of how RAMP ECD association enhances amylin affinity remains elusive. Here, we report evidence supporting direct molecular interaction between an antagonistic amylin analog AC413 and RAMP2 ECD. We measured FITC-labeled peptide affinity for purified receptor ECD using fluorescence polarization (FP). We first found that RAMP2 ECD addition to maltose-binding protein (MBP)-tagged CTR ECD and an engineered MBP-tagged RAMP2 ECD-CTR ECD fusion protein (MBP-RAMP2-CTR ECD fusion) enhanced AC413 affinity. This suggests that these recombinant ECD systems represent functional amylin receptors. Interestingly, AC413 C-terminal residue Tyr25 (Y25) to Pro mutation eliminated its selective affinity for the MBP-RAMP2-CTR ECD fusion suggesting the critical role of the AC413 C-terminal residue in amylin receptor selectivity. Our structural model of the RAMP2 ECD:CTR ECD complex predicted molecular interaction of AC413 C-terminal residue Y25 with RAMP2 Glu101 (E101). Our FP peptide-binding assay showed that the RAMP2 E101A mutation of MBP-RAMP2-CTR ECD fusion decreased AC413 affinity by 7-fold, while the affinity of AC413 with the Y25P mutation was minimally changed. Consistently, AC413 binding affinity for the MBP-free RAMP2-CTR ECD fusion protein was also markedly decreased by the RAMP2 E101A mutation, while the affinity of AC413 with the Y25P mutation was moderately decreased. Together, our results support the molecular interaction between the AC413 C-terminal residue Y25 and RAMP2 E101 expanding our understanding of how the accessory protein RAMP2 enhances affinity of peptide hormone amylin for its receptor.

Adrenomedullin - Current perspective on a peptide hormone with significant therapeutic potential

The peptide hormone adrenomedullin (ADM) consists of 52 amino acids and plays a pivotal role in the regulation of many physiological processes, particularly those of the cardiovascular and lymphatic system. Like calcitonin (CT), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), intermedin (IMD) and amylin (AMY), it belongs to the CT/CGRP family of peptide hormones, which despite their low little sequence identity share certain characteristic structural features as well as a complex multicomponent receptor system. ADM, IMD and CGRP exert their biological effects by activation of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) as a complex with one of three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP), which alter the ligand affinity. Selectivity within the receptor system is largely mediated by the amidated C-terminus of the peptide hormones, which bind to the extracellular domains of the receptors. This enables their N-terminus consisting of a disulfide-bonded ring structure and a helical segment to bind within the transmembrane region and to induce an active receptor confirmation. ADM is expressed in a variety of tissues in the human body and is fundamentally involved in multitude biological processes. Thus, it is of interest as a diagnostic marker and a promising candidate for therapeutic interventions. In order to fully exploit the potential of ADM, it is necessary to improve its pharmacological profile by increasing the metabolic stability and, ideally, creating receptor subtype-selective analogs. While several successful attempts to prolong the half-life of ADM were recently reported, improving or even retaining receptor selectivity remains challenging.

Picomolar Affinity Antagonist and Sustained Signaling Agonist Peptide Ligands for the Adrenomedullin and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Receptors

The calcitonin receptor-like class B G protein-coupled receptor (CLR) mediates adrenomedullin (AM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) functions including vasodilation, cardioprotection, and nociception. Receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP1-3) form heterodimers with CLR and determine its peptide ligand selectivity through an unresolved mechanism. The CGRP (RAMP1:CLR) and AM (RAMP2/3:CLR) receptors are proven or promising drug targets, but short AM and CGRP plasma half-lives limit their therapeutic utility. Here, we used synthetic peptide combinatorial library and rational design approaches to probe the ligand selectivity determinants and develop truncated AM and CGRP antagonist variants with receptor extracellular domain binding affinities that were enhanced ∼1000-fold into the low nanomolar range. Receptor binding studies and a high-resolution crystal structure of a novel library-identified AM variant bound to the RAMP2-CLR extracellular domain complex explained the increased affinities and defined roles for AM Lys46 and RAMP modulation of CLR conformation in the ligand selectivity mechanism. In longer AM and CGRP scaffolds that also bind the CLR transmembrane domain, the variants generated picomolar affinity antagonists, one with an estimated 12.5 h CGRP receptor residence time, and sustained signaling agonists "ss-AM" and "ss-CGRP" that exhibited persistent cAMP signaling after ligand washout. Sustained signaling was demonstrated in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the SK-N-MC cell line, which endogenously express AM and CGRP receptors, respectively. This work clarifies the RAMP-modulated CLR ligand selectivity mechanism and provides AM and CGRP variants that are valuable pharmacological tools and may have potential as long-acting therapeutics.

Biochemical characterization of G protein coupling to calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin receptors using a native PAGE assay

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), adrenomedullin (AM), and adrenomedullin 2/intermedin (AM2/IMD) have overlapping and unique functions in the nervous and circulatory systems including vasodilation, cardioprotection, and pain transmission. Their actions are mediated by the class B calcitonin-like G protein-coupled receptor (CLR), which heterodimerizes with three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMP1-3) that determine its peptide ligand selectivity. How the three agonists and RAMPs modulate CLR binding to transducer proteins remains poorly understood. Here, we biochemically characterized agonist-promoted G protein coupling to each CLR·RAMP complex. We adapted a native PAGE method to assess the formation and thermostabilities of detergent-solubilized fluorescent protein-tagged CLR·RAMP complexes expressed in mammalian cells. Addition of agonist and the purified Gs protein surrogate mini-Gs (mGs) yielded a mobility-shifted agonist·CLR·RAMP·mGs quaternary complex gel band that was sensitive to antagonists. Measuring the apparent affinities of the agonists for the mGs-coupled receptors and of mGs for the agonist-occupied receptors revealed that both ligand and RAMP control mGs coupling and defined how agonist engagement of the CLR extracellular and transmembrane domains affects transducer recruitment. Using mini-Gsq and -Gsi chimeras, we observed a coupling rank order of mGs > mGsq > mGsi for each receptor. Last, we demonstrated the physiological relevance of the native gel assays by showing that they can predict the cAMP-signaling potencies of AM and AM2/IMD chimeras. These results highlight the power of the native PAGE assay for membrane protein biochemistry and provide a biochemical foundation for understanding the molecular basis of shared and distinct signaling properties of CGRP, AM, and AM2/IMD.

Advances in Understanding the Initial Steps of Pruritoceptive Itch: How the Itch Hits the Switch

Pruritoceptive (dermal) itch was long considered an accompanying symptom of diseases, a side effect of drug applications, or a temporary sensation induced by invading pruritogens, as produced by the stinging nettle. Due to extensive research in recent years, it was possible to provide detailed insights into the mechanism of itch mediation and modulation. Hence, it became apparent that pruritus is a complex symptom or disease in itself, which requires particular attention to improve patients’ health. Here, we summarize recent findings in pruritoceptive itch, including how this sensation is triggered and modulated by diverse endogenous and exogenous pruritogens and their receptors. A differentiation between mediating pruritogen and modulating pruritogen seems to be of great advantage to understand and decipher the molecular mechanism of itch perception. Only a comprehensive view on itch sensation will provide a solid basis for targeting this long-neglected adverse sensation accompanying numerous diseases and many drug side effects. Finally, we identify critical aspects of itch perception that require future investigation.

Structure and Dynamics of Adrenomedullin Receptors AM1 and AM2 Reveal Key Mechanisms in the Control of Receptor Phenotype by Receptor Activity-Modifying Proteins

Adrenomedullin (AM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptors are critically important for metabolism, vascular tone, and inflammatory response. AM receptors are also required for normal lymphatic and blood vascular development and angiogenesis. They play a pivotal role in embryo implantation and fertility and can provide protection against hypoxic and oxidative stress. CGRP and AM receptors are heterodimers of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1) (CGRPR), as well as RAMP2 or RAMP3 (AM1R and AM2R, respectively). However, the mechanistic basis for RAMP modulation of CLR phenotype is unclear. In this study, we report the cryo-EM structure of the AM1R in complex with AM and Gs at a global resolution of 3.0 Å, and structures of the AM2R in complex with either AM or intermedin/adrenomedullin 2 (AM2) and Gs at 2.4 and 2.3 Å, respectively. The structures reveal distinctions in the primary orientation of the extracellular domains (ECDs) relative to the receptor core and distinct positioning of extracellular loop 3 (ECL3) that are receptor-dependent. Analysis of dynamic data present in the cryo-EM micrographs revealed additional distinctions in the extent of mobility of the ECDs. Chimeric exchange of the linker region of the RAMPs connecting the TM helix and the ECD supports a role for this segment in controlling receptor phenotype. Moreover, a subset of the motions of the ECD appeared coordinated with motions of the G protein relative to the receptor core, suggesting that receptor ECD dynamics could influence G protein interactions. This work provides fundamental advances in our understanding of GPCR function and how this can be allosterically modulated by accessory proteins.

Molecular Mechanisms of Class B GPCR Activation: Insights from Adrenomedullin Receptors

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a 52 amino acid peptide that plays a regulatory role in the vasculature. Receptors for AM comprise the class B G protein-coupled receptor, the calcitonin-like receptor (CLR), in complex with one of three receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs). The C-terminus of AM is involved in binding to the extracellular domain of the receptor, while the N-terminus is proposed to interact with the juxtamembranous portion of the receptor to activate signaling. There is currently limited information on the molecular determinants involved in AM signaling, thus we set out to define the importance of the AM N-terminus through five signaling pathways (cAMP production, ERK phosphorylation, CREB phosphorylation, Akt phosphorylation, and IP1 production). We characterized the three CLR:RAMP complexes through the five pathways, finding that each had a distinct repertoire of intracellular signaling pathways that it is able to regulate. We then performed an alanine scan of AM from residues 15-31 and found that most residues could be substituted with only small effects on signaling, and that most substitutions affected signaling through all receptors and pathways in a similar manner. We identify F18, T20, L26, and I30 as being critical for AM function, while also identifying an analogue (AM15-52 G19A) which has unique signaling properties relative to the unmodified AM. We interpret our findings in the context of new structural information, highlighting the complementary nature of structural biology and functional assays.

Calcitonin Receptor N-Glycosylation Enhances Peptide Hormone Affinity by Controlling Receptor Dynamics

The class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) calcitonin receptor (CTR) is a drug target for osteoporosis and diabetes. N-glycosylation of asparagine 130 in its extracellular domain (ECD) enhances calcitonin hormone affinity with the proximal GlcNAc residue mediating this effect through an unknown mechanism. Here, we present two crystal structures of salmon calcitonin-bound, GlcNAc-bearing CTR ECD at 1.78 and 2.85 Å resolutions and analyze the mechanism of the glycan effect. The N130 GlcNAc does not contact the hormone. Surprisingly, the structures are nearly identical to a structure of hormone-bound, N-glycan-free ECD, which suggested that the GlcNAc might affect CTR dynamics not observed in the static crystallographic snapshots. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that glycosylation stabilized a β-sheet adjacent to the N130 GlcNAc and the N-terminal α-helix near the peptide-binding site while increasing flexibility of the peptide-binding site turret loop. These changes due to N-glycosylation increased the ligand on-rate and decreased its off-rate. The glycan effect extended to RAMP-CTR amylin receptor complexes and was also conserved in the related CGRP receptor. These results reveal that N-glycosylation can modulate GPCR function by altering receptor dynamics.

RAMPs as allosteric modulators of the calcitonin and calcitonin-like class B G protein-coupled receptors

Receptor activity-modifying proteins (RAMPs) are a family of three single span transmembrane proteins in humans that interact with many GPCRs and can modulate their function. RAMPs were discovered as key components of the calcitonin gene-related peptide and adrenomedullin receptors. They are required for transport of this class B GPCR, calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), to the cell surface and determine its peptide ligand binding preferences. Soon thereafter RAMPs were shown to modulate the binding of calcitonin and amylin peptides to the related calcitonin receptor (CTR) and in the years since an ever-growing number of RAMP-interacting receptors have been identified including most if not all of the 15 class B GPCRs and several GPCRs from other families. Studies of CLR, CTR, and a handful of other GPCRs revealed that RAMPs are able to modulate various aspects of receptor function including trafficking, ligand binding, and signaling. Here, we review RAMP interactions and functions with an emphasis on class B receptors for which our understanding is most advanced. A key focus is to discuss recent evidence that RAMPs serve as endogenous allosteric modulators of CLR and CTR. We discuss structural studies of RAMP-CLR complexes and CTR and biochemical and pharmacological studies that collectively have significantly expanded our understanding of the mechanistic basis for RAMP modulation of these class B GPCRs. Last, we consider the implications of these findings for drug development targeting RAMP-CLR/CTR complexes.

Pharmacological Characterization and Investigation of N-Terminal Loop Amino Acids of Adrenomedullin 2 That Are Important for Receptor Activation

Adrenomedullin 2 (AM2) is a peptide hormone with potent effects in the cardiovascular system. The N-terminal disulfide loop of AM2 is thought to be important for interacting with its receptors to initiate a signaling response. However, the relative contribution of each amino acid within this region is currently unknown. Thus, the region was investigated using an alanine scanning approach. Two AM2 peptides (AM2-47 and AM2-40) were directly compared at the CGRP, AM₁, and AM₂ receptors in transfected Cos7 cells and found to have equivalent activity. Analogues of AM2-40 were then synthesized, substituting each individual amino acid within the disulfide loop with alanine. The ability of these analogues to stimulate a cAMP response was evaluated at the CGRP, AM₁, and AM₂ receptors. AM2-40 L12A and T14A were less able to elicit cAMP responses through all tested receptors. In contrast, AM2-40 G13A was slightly more potent than the unmodified peptide at all tested receptors. Thus, it appears that residues within the disulfide loop region play differential roles in the ability of AM2 to stimulate cAMP production. The data provide the first structure-function investigation of AM2 agonism.

Deconvoluting the Molecular Control of Binding and Signaling at the Amylin 3 Receptor: RAMP3 Alters Signal Propagation through Extracellular Loops of the Calcitonin Receptor

Amylin is coexpressed with insulin in pancreatic islet β-cells and has potent effects on gastric emptying and food intake. The effect of amylin on satiation has been postulated to involve AMY3 receptors (AMY3R) that are heteromers of the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and receptor activity-modifying protein 3 (RAMP3). Understanding the molecular control of signaling through the AMY3R is thus important for peptide drug targeting of this receptor. We have previously used alanine scanning mutagenesis to study the contribution of the extracellular surface of the CTR to binding and signaling initiated by calcitonin (CT) and related peptides (Dal Maso, E., et al. (2019) The molecular control of calcitonin receptor signaling. ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 2, 31-51). That work revealed ligand- and pathway-specific effects of mutation, with extracellular loops (ECLs) 2 and 3 particularly important in the distinct propagation of signaling mediated by individual peptides. In the current study, we have used equivalent alanine scanning of ECL2 and ECL3 of the CTR in the context of coexpression with RAMP3 to form AMY3Rs, to examine functional affinity and efficacy of peptides in cAMP accumulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation (pERK). The effect of mutation was determined on representatives of the three major distinct classes of CT peptide, salmon CT (sCT), human CT (hCT), and porcine CT (pCT), as well as rat amylin (rAmy) or human α-CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide, hCGRP) whose potency is enhanced by RAMP interaction. We demonstrate that the dynamic nature of CTR ECL2 and ECL3 in propagation of signaling is fundamentally altered when complexed with RAMP3 to form the AMY3R, despite only having predicted direct interactions with ECL2. Moreover, the work shows that the role of these loops in receptor signaling is highly peptide dependent, illustrating that even subtle changes to peptide sequence may change signaling output downstream of the receptor.

The Structure of the CGRP and Related Receptors

The canonical CGRP receptor is a complex between calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR), a family B G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1). A third protein, receptor component protein (RCP) is needed for coupling to Gs. CGRP can interact with other RAMP-receptor complexes, particularly the AMY1 receptor formed between the calcitonin receptor (CTR) and RAMP1. Crystal structures are available for the binding of CGRP_27-37 [D³¹,P³⁴,F³⁵] to the extracellular domain (ECD) of CLR and RAMP1; these show that extreme C-terminal amide of CGRP interacts with W84 of RAMP1 but the rest of the analogue interacts with CLR. Comparison with the crystal structure of a fragment of the allied peptide adrenomedullin bound to the ECD of CLR/RAMP2 confirms the importance of the interaction of the ligand C-terminus and the RAMP in determining pharmacology specificity, although the RAMPs probably also have allosteric actions. A cryo-electron microscope structure of calcitonin bound to the full-length CTR associated with Gs gives important clues as to the structure of the complete receptor and suggests that the N-terminus of CGRP makes contact with His^5.40b, high on TM5 of CLR. However, it is currently not known how the RAMPs interact with the TM bundle of any GPCR. Major challenges remain in understanding how the ECD and TM domains work together to determine ligand specificity, and how G-proteins influence this and the role of RCP. It seems likely that allosteric mechanisms are particularly important as are the dynamics of the receptors.

Natural and synthetic peptides in the cardiovascular diseases: An update on diagnostic and therapeutic potentials

Several peptides play an important role in physiological and pathological conditions into the cardiovascular system. In addition to well-known vasoactive agents such as angiotensin II, endothelin, serotonin or natriuretic peptides, the vasoconstrictor Urotensin-II (Uro-II) and the vasodilators Urocortins (UCNs) and Adrenomedullin (AM) have been implicated in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure as well as in cardiovascular disease states including congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and pulmonary and systemic hypertension. Therefore these peptides, together with their receptors, become important therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Circulating levels of these agents in the blood are markedly modified in patients with specific CVDs compared with those in healthy patients, becoming also potential biomarkers for these pathologies. This review will provide an overview of current knowledge about the physiological roles of Uro-II, UCN and AM in the cardiovascular system and their implications in cardiovascular diseases. It will further focus on the structural modifications carried out on original peptide sequences in the search of analogues with improved physiochemical properties as well as in the delivery methods. Finally, we have overviewed the possible application of these peptides and/or their precursors as biomarkers of CVDs.

The Role of Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) in Neurogenic Vasodilation and Its Cardioprotective Effects

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a highly potent vasoactive peptide released from sensory nerves, which is now proposed to have protective effects in several cardiovascular diseases. The major α-form is produced from alternate splicing and processing of the calcitonin gene. The CGRP receptor is a complex composed of calcitonin like receptor (CLR) and a single transmembrane protein, RAMP1. CGRP is a potent vasodilator and proposed to have protective effects in several cardiovascular diseases. CGRP has a proven role in migraine and selective antagonists and antibodies are now reaching the clinic for treatment of migraine. These clinical trials with antagonists and antibodies indicate that CGRP does not play an obvious role in the physiological control of human blood pressure. This review discusses the vasodilator and hypotensive effects of CGRP and the role of CGRP in mediating cardioprotective effects in various cardiovascular models and disorders. In models of hypertension, CGRP protects against the onset and progression of hypertensive states by potentially counteracting against the pro-hypertensive systems such as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic system. With regards to its cardioprotective effects in conditions such as heart failure and ischaemia, CGRP-containing nerves innervate throughout cardiac tissue and the vasculature, where evidence shows this peptide alleviates various aspects of their pathophysiology, including cardiac hypertrophy, reperfusion injury, cardiac inflammation, and apoptosis. Hence, CGRP has been suggested as a cardioprotective, endogenous mediator released under stress to help preserve cardiovascular function. With the recent developments of various CGRP-targeted pharmacotherapies, in the form of CGRP antibodies/antagonists as well as a CGRP analog, this review provides a summary and a discussion of the most recent basic science and clinical findings, initiating a discussion on the future of CGRP as a novel target in various cardiovascular diseases.

Cryo-EM structure of the active, Gs-protein complexed, human CGRP receptor

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a widely expressed neuropeptide that has a major role in sensory neurotransmission. The CGRP receptor is a heterodimer of the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) class B G-protein-coupled receptor and a type 1 transmembrane domain protein, receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1). Here we report the structure of the human CGRP receptor in complex with CGRP and the Gs-protein heterotrimer at 3.3 Å global resolution, determined by Volta phase-plate cryo-electron microscopy. The receptor activity-modifying protein transmembrane domain sits at the interface between transmembrane domains 3, 4 and 5 of CLR, and stabilizes CLR extracellular loop 2. RAMP1 makes only limited direct contact with CGRP, consistent with its function in allosteric modulation of CLR. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that RAMP1 provides stability to the receptor complex, particularly in the positioning of the extracellular domain of CLR. This work provides insights into the control of G-protein-coupled receptor function.

Structure-function analyses reveal a triple β-turn receptor-bound conformation of adrenomedullin 2/intermedin and enable peptide antagonist design

The cardioprotective vasodilator peptide adrenomedullin 2/intermedin (AM2/IMD) and the related adrenomedullin (AM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signal through three heterodimeric receptors comprising the calcitonin receptor-like class B G protein-coupled receptor (CLR) and a variable receptor activity-modifying protein (RAMP1, -2, or -3) that determines ligand selectivity. The CGRP receptor (RAMP1:CLR) favors CGRP binding, whereas the AM₁ (RAMP2:CLR) and AM₂ (RAMP3:CLR) receptors favor AM binding. How AM2/IMD binds the receptors and how RAMPs modulate its binding is unknown. Here, we show that AM2/IMD binds the three purified RAMP-CLR extracellular domain (ECD) complexes with a selectivity profile that is distinct from those of CGRP and AM. AM2/IMD bound all three ECD complexes but preferred the CGRP and AM₂ receptor complexes. A 2.05 Å resolution crystal structure of an AM2/IMD antagonist fragment-bound RAMP1-CLR ECD complex revealed that AM2/IMD binds the complex through a unique triple β-turn conformation that was confirmed by peptide and receptor mutagenesis. Comparisons of the receptor-bound conformations of AM2/IMD, AM, and a high-affinity CGRP analog revealed differences that may have implications for biased signaling. Guided by the structure, enhanced-affinity AM2/IMD antagonist variants were developed, including one that discriminates the AM₁ and AM₂ receptors with ∼40-fold difference in affinities and one stabilized by an intramolecular disulfide bond. These results reveal differences in how the three peptides engage the receptors, inform development of AM2/IMD-based pharmacological tools and therapeutics, and provide insights into RAMP modulation of receptor pharmacology.

In Silico Studies Targeting G-protein Coupled Receptors for Drug Research Against Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a long-term neurodegenerative brain disorder that mainly affects the motor system. The causes are still unknown, and even though currently there is no cure, several therapeutic options are available to manage its symptoms. The development of novel antiparkinsonian agents and an understanding of their proper and optimal use are, indeed, highly demanding. For the last decades, L-3,4-DihydrOxyPhenylAlanine or levodopa (L-DOPA) has been the gold-standard therapy for the symptomatic treatment of motor dysfunctions associated to PD. However, the development of dyskinesias and motor fluctuations (wearing-off and on-off phenomena) associated with long-term L-DOPA replacement therapy have limited its antiparkinsonian efficacy. The investigation for non-dopaminergic therapies has been largely explored as an attempt to counteract the motor side effects associated with dopamine replacement therapy. Being one of the largest cell membrane protein families, G-Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) have become a relevant target for drug discovery focused on a wide range of therapeutic areas, including Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. The modulation of specific GPCRs potentially implicated in PD, excluding dopamine receptors, may provide promising non-dopaminergic therapeutic alternatives for symptomatic treatment of PD. In this review, we focused on the impact of specific GPCR subclasses, including dopamine receptors, adenosine receptors, muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, metabotropic glutamate receptors, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, on the pathophysiology of PD and the importance of structure- and ligand-based in silico approaches for the development of small molecules to target these receptors.