1
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Demby A, Zaccolo M. Investigating G-protein coupled receptor signalling with light-emitting biosensors. Front Physiol 2024; 14:1310197. [PMID: 38260094 PMCID: PMC10801095 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1310197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the most frequent target of currently approved drugs and play a central role in both physiological and pathophysiological processes. Beyond the canonical understanding of GPCR signal transduction, the importance of receptor conformation, beta-arrestin (β-arr) biased signalling, and signalling from intracellular locations other than the plasma membrane is becoming more apparent, along with the tight spatiotemporal compartmentalisation of downstream signals. Fluorescent and bioluminescent biosensors have played a pivotal role in elucidating GPCR signalling events in live cells. To understand the mechanisms of action of the GPCR-targeted drugs currently available, and to develop new and better GPCR-targeted therapeutics, understanding these novel aspects of GPCR signalling is critical. In this review, we present some of the tools available to interrogate each of these features of GPCR signalling, we illustrate some of the key findings which have been made possible by these tools and we discuss their limitations and possible developments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manuela Zaccolo
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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2
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Zeghal M, Matte K, Venes A, Patel S, Laroche G, Sarvan S, Joshi M, Rain JC, Couture JF, Giguère PM. Development of a V5-tag-directed nanobody and its implementation as an intracellular biosensor of GPCR signaling. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105107. [PMID: 37517699 PMCID: PMC10470007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) form the foundation of any cell signaling network. Considering that PPIs are highly dynamic processes, cellular assays are often essential for their study because they closely mimic the biological complexities of cellular environments. However, incongruity may be observed across different PPI assays when investigating a protein partner of interest; these discrepancies can be partially attributed to the fusion of different large functional moieties, such as fluorescent proteins or enzymes, which can yield disparate perturbations to the protein's stability, subcellular localization, and interaction partners depending on the given cellular assay. Owing to their smaller size, epitope tags may exhibit a diminished susceptibility to instigate such perturbations. However, while they have been widely used for detecting or manipulating proteins in vitro, epitope tags lack the in vivo traceability and functionality needed for intracellular biosensors. Herein, we develop NbV5, an intracellular nanobody binding the V5-tag, which is suitable for use in cellular assays commonly used to study PPIs such as BRET, NanoBiT, and Tango. The NbV5:V5 tag system has been applied to interrogate G protein-coupled receptor signaling, specifically by replacing larger functional moieties attached to the protein interactors, such as fluorescent or luminescent proteins (∼30 kDa), by the significantly smaller V5-tag peptide (1.4 kDa), and for microscopy imaging which is successfully detected by NbV5-based biosensors. Therefore, the NbV5:V5 tag system presents itself as a versatile tool for live-cell imaging and a befitting adaptation to existing cellular assays dedicated to probing PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Zeghal
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kevin Matte
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angelica Venes
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shivani Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geneviève Laroche
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sabina Sarvan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monika Joshi
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Jean-François Couture
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick M Giguère
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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3
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Malcolm NJ, Palkovic B, Sprague DJ, Calkins MM, Lanham JK, Halberstadt AL, Stucke AG, McCorvy JD. Mu-opioid receptor selective superagonists produce prolonged respiratory depression. iScience 2023; 26:107121. [PMID: 37416459 PMCID: PMC10320493 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic opioids are increasingly challenging to combat the opioid epidemic and act primarily at opioid receptors, chiefly the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) μ-opioid receptor (MOR), which signals through G protein-dependent and β-arrestin pathways. Using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) system, we investigate GPCR-signaling profiles by synthetic nitazenes, which are known to cause overdose and death due to respiratory depression. We show that isotonitazene and its metabolite, N-desethyl isotonitazene, are very potent MOR-selective superagonists, surpassing both DAMGO G protein and β-arrestin recruitment activity, which are properties distinct from other conventional opioids. Both isotonitazene and N-desethyl isotonitazene show high potency in mouse analgesia tail-flick assays, but N-desethyl isotonitazene shows longer-lasting respiratory depression compared to fentanyl. Overall, our results suggest that potent MOR-selective superagonists may be a pharmacological property predictive of prolonged respiratory depression resulting in fatal consequences and should be examined for future opioid analgesics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Malcolm
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Barbara Palkovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Daniel J. Sprague
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Maggie M. Calkins
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Janelle K. Lanham
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Adam L. Halberstadt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92108, USA
| | - Astrid G. Stucke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John D. McCorvy
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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4
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Gaborit M, Massotte D. Therapeutic potential of opioid receptor heteromers in chronic pain and associated comorbidities. Br J Pharmacol 2023; 180:994-1013. [PMID: 34883528 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain affects 20% to 45% of the global population and is often associated with the development of anxio-depressive disorders. Treatment of this debilitating condition remains particularly challenging with opioids prescribed to alleviate moderate to severe pain. However, despite strong antinociceptive properties, numerous adverse effects limit opioid use in the clinic. Moreover, opioid misuse and abuse have become a major health concern worldwide. This prompted efforts to design original strategies that would efficiently and safely relieve pain. Targeting of opioid receptor heteromers is one of these. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the role of heteromers involving opioid receptors in the context of chronic pain and anxio-depressive comorbidities. It also examines how heteromerization in native tissue affects ligand binding, receptor signalling and trafficking properties. Finally, the therapeutic potential of ligands designed to specifically target opioid receptor heteromers is considered. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Opioid Pharmacology at the Time of the Opioid Epidemic. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.7/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Gaborit
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
| | - Dominique Massotte
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Strasbourg, France
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5
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Rodarte JV, Baehr C, Hicks D, Liban TL, Weidle C, Rupert PB, Jahan R, Wall A, McGuire AT, Strong RK, Runyon S, Pravetoni M, Pancera M. Structures of drug-specific monoclonal antibodies bound to opioids and nicotine reveal a common mode of binding. Structure 2023; 31:20-32.e5. [PMID: 36513069 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Opioid-related fatal overdoses have reached epidemic proportions. Because existing treatments for opioid use disorders offer limited long-term protection, accelerating the development of newer approaches is critical. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an emerging treatment strategy that targets and sequesters selected opioids in the bloodstream, reducing drug distribution across the blood-brain barrier, thus preventing or reversing opioid toxicity. We previously identified a series of murine mAbs with high affinity and selectivity for oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, and nicotine. To determine their binding mechanism, we used X-ray crystallography to solve the structures of mAbs bound to their respective targets, to 2.2 Å resolution or higher. Structural analysis showed a critical convergent hydrogen bonding mode that is dependent on a glutamic acid residue in the mAbs' heavy chain and a tertiary amine of the ligand. Characterizing drug-mAb complexes represents a significant step toward rational antibody engineering and future manufacturing activities to support clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justas V Rodarte
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Carly Baehr
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Dustin Hicks
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Tyler L Liban
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Connor Weidle
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Peter B Rupert
- Basic Science Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rajwana Jahan
- Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Abigail Wall
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew T McGuire
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Roland K Strong
- Basic Science Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Scott Runyon
- Research Triangle Institute International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Marco Pravetoni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Center for Medication Development for Substance Use Disorders and Overdose, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Marie Pancera
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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6
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Zhou G, Wan WW, Wang W. Modular Peroxidase-Based Reporters for Detecting Protease Activity and Protein Interactions with Temporal Gating. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22933-22940. [PMID: 36511757 PMCID: PMC10026560 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatic reporters have been widely applied to study various biological processes because they can amplify signal through enzymatic reactions and provide good sensitivity. However, there is still a need for modular motifs for designing a series of enzymatic reporters. Here, we report a modular peroxidase-based motif, named CLAPon, that features acid-base coil-caged enhanced ascorbate peroxidase (APEX). We demonstrate the modularity of CLAPon by designing a series of reporters for detecting protease activity and protein-protein interactions (PPIs). CLAPon for protease activity showed a 390-fold fluorescent signal increase upon tobacco etch virus protease cleavage. CLAPon for PPI detection (PPI-CLAPon) has two variants, PPI-CLAPon1.0 and 1.1. PPI-CLAPon1.0 showed a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of up to 107 for high-affinity PPI pairs and enabled imaging with sub-cellular spatial resolution. However, the more sensitive PPI-CLAPon1.1 is required for detecting low-affinity PPI pairs. PPI-CLAPon1.0 was further engineered to a reporter with light-dependent temporal gating, called LiPPI-CLAPon1.0, which can detect a 3-min calcium-dependent PPI with an SNR of 17. LiPPI-CLAPon enables PPI detection within a specific time window with rapid APEX activation and diverse readout. Lastly, PPI-CLAPon1.0 was designed to have chemical gating, providing more versatility to complement the LiPPI-CLAPon. These CLAPon-based reporter designs can be broadly applied to study various signaling processes that involve protease activity and PPIs and provide a versatile platform to design various genetically encoded reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanwei Zhou
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Wei Wei Wan
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Corresponding Author: Wenjing Wang,
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7
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Raynaud P, Gauthier C, Jugnarain V, Jean-Alphonse F, Reiter E, Bruneau G, Crépieux P. Intracellular VHHs to monitor and modulate GPCR signaling. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1048601. [PMID: 36465650 PMCID: PMC9708903 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1048601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-domain antibody fragments, also known as VHHs or nanobodies, have opened promising avenues in therapeutics and in exploration of intracellular processes. Because of their unique structural properties, they can reach cryptic regions in their cognate antigen. Intracellular VHHs/antibodies primarily directed against cytosolic proteins or transcription factors have been described. In contrast, few of them target membrane proteins and even less recognize G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are major therapeutic targets, which reflects their involvement in a plethora of physiological responses. Hence, they elicit a tremendous interest in the scientific community and in the industry. Comprehension of their pharmacology has been obscured by their conformational complexity, that has precluded deciphering their structural properties until the early 2010's. To that respect, intracellular VHHs have been instrumental in stabilizing G protein-coupled receptors in active conformations in order to solve their structure, possibly bound to their primary transducers, G proteins or β-arrestins. In contrast, the modulatory properties of VHHs recognizing the intracellular regions of G protein-coupled receptors on the induced signaling network have been poorly studied. In this review, we will present the advances that the intracellular VHHs have permitted in the field of GPCR signaling and trafficking. We will also discuss the methodological hurdles that linger the discovery of modulatory intracellular VHHs directed against GPCRs, as well as the opportunities they open in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Raynaud
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Camille Gauthier
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vinesh Jugnarain
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Frédéric Jean-Alphonse
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, Palaiseau, France
| | - Eric Reiter
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, Palaiseau, France
| | - Gilles Bruneau
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascale Crépieux
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation (IFCE), Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
- Inria, Inria Saclay-Ile-de-France, Palaiseau, France
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8
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Olson KM, Campbell A, Alt A, Traynor JR. Finding the Perfect Fit: Conformational Biosensors to Determine the Efficacy of GPCR Ligands. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:694-709. [PMID: 36110374 PMCID: PMC9469492 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00256] [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] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are highly druggable targets that adopt numerous conformations. A ligand's ability to stabilize specific conformation(s) of its cognate receptor determines its efficacy or ability to produce a biological response. Identifying ligands that produce different receptor conformations and potentially discrete pharmacological effects (e.g., biased agonists, partial agonists, antagonists, allosteric modulators) is a major goal in drug discovery and necessary to develop drugs with better effectiveness and fewer side effects. Fortunately, direct measurements of ligand efficacy, via receptor conformational changes are possible with the recent development of conformational biosensors. In this review, we discuss classical efficacy models, including the two-state model, the ternary-complex model, and multistate models. We describe how nanobody-, transducer-, and receptor-based conformational biosensors detect and/or stabilize specific GPCR conformations to identify ligands with different levels of efficacy. In particular, conformational biosensors provide the potential to identify and/or characterize therapeutically desirable but often difficult to measure conformations of receptors faster and better than current methods. For drug discovery/development, several recent proof-of-principle studies have optimized conformational biosensors for high-throughput screening (HTS) platforms. However, their widespread use is limited by the fact that few sensors are reliably capable of detecting low-frequency conformations and technically demanding assay conditions. Nonetheless, conformational biosensors do help identify desirable ligands such as allosteric modulators, biased ligands, or partial agonists in a single assay, representing a distinct advantage over classical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Olson
- Department
of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Andra Campbell
- Department
of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Andrew Alt
- Department
of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Life
Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - John R. Traynor
- Department
of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
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9
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Kroning KE, Li M, Shen J, Fiel H, Nassar M, Wang W. A Modular Fluorescent Sensor Motif Used to Detect Opioids, Protein-Protein Interactions, and Protease Activity. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:2212-2220. [PMID: 35925780 PMCID: PMC9918373 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Modular fluorescent sensor motifs are needed to design fluorescent sensors for detecting various cellular processes and functional molecules. Here, we took advantage of the versatility of a new sensor motif to design a series of sensors called SPOTon. SPOTon sensors integrate the signal from either opioids, protein-protein interactions, or protease activities to generate persistent green fluorescence. We demonstrate that SPOTon can be engineered with temporal gating to allow detection of these cellular events during a user-defined time window, providing temporal information about cellular processes and functional molecule release. These SPOTon sensors all show a high signal-to-noise ratio, up to 38 for chemical gated opioid detection, 147 for chemical gated protein-protein interaction detection, and 85 for protease activity detection.
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10
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Li Q, Yin G, Wang J, Li L, Liang Q, Zhao X, Chen Y, Zheng X, Zhao X. An emerging paradigm to develop analytical methods based on immobilized transmembrane proteins and its applications in drug discovery. Trends Analyt Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2022.116728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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11
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Laeremans T, Sands ZA, Claes P, De Blieck A, De Cesco S, Triest S, Busch A, Felix D, Kumar A, Jaakola VP, Menet C. Accelerating GPCR Drug Discovery With Conformation-Stabilizing VHHs. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:863099. [PMID: 35677880 PMCID: PMC9170359 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.863099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The human genome encodes 850 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), half of which are considered potential drug targets. GPCRs transduce extracellular stimuli into a plethora of vital physiological processes. Consequently, GPCRs are an attractive drug target class. This is underlined by the fact that approximately 40% of marketed drugs modulate GPCRs. Intriguingly 60% of non-olfactory GPCRs have no drugs or candidates in clinical development, highlighting the continued potential of GPCRs as drug targets. The discovery of small molecules targeting these GPCRs by conventional high throughput screening (HTS) campaigns is challenging. Although the definition of success varies per company, the success rate of HTS for GPCRs is low compared to other target families (Fujioka and Omori, 2012; Dragovich et al., 2022). Beyond this, GPCR structure determination can be difficult, which often precludes the application of structure-based drug design approaches to arising HTS hits. GPCR structural studies entail the resource-demanding purification of native receptors, which can be challenging as they are inherently unstable when extracted from the lipid matrix. Moreover, GPCRs are flexible molecules that adopt distinct conformations, some of which need to be stabilized if they are to be structurally resolved. The complexity of targeting distinct therapeutically relevant GPCR conformations during the early discovery stages contributes to the high attrition rates for GPCR drug discovery programs. Multiple strategies have been explored in an attempt to stabilize GPCRs in distinct conformations to better understand their pharmacology. This review will focus on the use of camelid-derived immunoglobulin single variable domains (VHHs) that stabilize disease-relevant pharmacological states (termed ConfoBodies by the authors) of GPCRs, as well as GPCR:signal transducer complexes, to accelerate drug discovery. These VHHs are powerful tools for supporting in vitro screening, deconvolution of complex GPCR pharmacology, and structural biology purposes. In order to demonstrate the potential impact of ConfoBodies on translational research, examples are presented of their role in active state screening campaigns and structure-informed rational design to identify de novo chemical space and, subsequently, how such matter can be elaborated into more potent and selective drug candidates with intended pharmacology.
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12
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Mösslein N, Pohle LMG, Fuss A, Bünemann M, Krasel C. Residency time of agonists does not affect the stability of GPCR-arrestin complexes. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:4107-4116. [PMID: 35352338 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The interaction of arrestins with G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) desensitizes agonist-dependent receptor responses and often leads to receptor internalization. GPCRs that internalize without arrestin have been classified as "class A" GPCRs whereas "class B" GPCRs co-internalize with arrestin into endosomes. The interaction of arrestins with GPCRs requires both agonist activation and receptor phosphorylation. Here we ask the question whether agonists with very slow off-rate can cause the formation of particularly stable receptor-arrestin complexes. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The stability of GPCR-arrestin-3 complexes at two class A GPCRs, the β2 -adrenergic receptor and the μ-opioid receptor, was assessed using two different techniques, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) employing several ligands with very different off-rates. Arrestin trafficking was determined by confocal microscopy. KEY RESULTS Upon agonist washout, GPCR-arrestin-3 complexes showed markedly different dissociation rates in single-cell FRET experiments. In FRAP experiments, however, all full agonists led to the formation of receptor-arrestin complexes of identical stability whereas the complex between the μ-opioid receptor and arrestin-3 induced by the partial agonist morphine was less stable. Agonists with very slow off-rates could not mediate the co-internalization of arrestin-3 with class A GPCRs into endosomes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Agonist off-rates do not affect the stability of GPCR-arrestin complexes but phosphorylation patterns do. Our results imply that orthosteric agonists will not be able to pharmacologically convert class A into class B GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Mösslein
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Geertje Pohle
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,current address: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anneke Fuss
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Bünemann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Krasel
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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13
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Zhang F, Yuan Y, Chen Y, Chen J, Guo Y, Pu X. Molecular insights into the allosteric coupling mechanism between an agonist and two different transducers for μ-opioid receptors. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:5282-5293. [PMID: 35170592 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05736g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as the most important class of pharmacological targets regulate G-protein and β-arrestin-mediated signaling through allosteric interplay, which are responsible for different biochemical and physiological actions like therapeutic efficacy and side effects. However, the allosteric mechanism underlying preferentially recruiting one transducer versus the other has been poorly understood, limiting drug design. Motivated by this issue, we utilize accelerated molecular dynamics simulation coupled with potential of mean force (PMF), molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) and protein structure network (PSN) to study two ternary complex systems of a representative class A GPCR (μ-opioid receptor (μOR)) bound by an agonist and one specific transducer (G-protein and β-arrestin). The results show that no significant difference exists in the whole structure of μOR between two transducer couplings, but displays transducer-dependent changes in the intracellular binding region of μOR, where the β-arrestin coupling results in a narrower crevice with TM7 inward movement compared with the G-protein. In addition, both the G-protein and β-arrestin coupling can increase the binding affinity of the agonist to the receptor. However, the interactions between the agonist and μOR also exhibit transducer-specific changes, in particular for the interaction with ECL2 that plays an important role in recruiting β-arrestin. The allosteric network analysis further indicates that Y1483.33, F1523.37, F1563.41, N1914.49, T1603.45, Y1062.42, W2936.48, F2896.44, I2485.54 and Y2525.58 play important roles in equally activating G-protein and β-arrestin. In contrast, M1613.46 and R1653.50 devote important contributions to preferentially recruit G-protein while D1643.49 and R179ICL2 are revealed to be important for selectively activating β-arrestin. The observations provide useful information for understanding the biased activation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhui Zhang
- Faculty of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuan Yuan
- College of Management, Southwest University for Nationalities, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Yichi Chen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianfang Chen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanzhi Guo
- Faculty of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuemei Pu
- Faculty of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Mahinthichaichan P, Vo QN, Ellis CR, Shen J. Kinetics and Mechanism of Fentanyl Dissociation from the μ-Opioid Receptor. JACS AU 2021; 1:2208-2215. [PMID: 34977892 PMCID: PMC8715493 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.1c00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Driven by illicit fentanyl, opioid related deaths have reached the highest level in 2020. Currently, an opioid overdose is resuscitated by the use of naloxone, which competitively binds and antagonizes the μ-opioid receptor (mOR). Thus, knowledge of the residence times of opioids at mOR and the unbinding mechanisms is valuable for assessing the effectiveness of naloxone. In the present study, we calculate the fentanyl-mOR dissociation time and elucidate the mechanism by applying an enhanced sampling molecular dynamics (MD) technique. Two sets of metadynamics simulations with different initial structures were performed while accounting for the protonation state of the conserved H2976.52, which has been suggested to modulate the ligand-mOR affinity and binding mode. Surprisingly, with the Nδ-protonated H2976.52, fentanyl can descend as much as 10 Å below the level of the conserved D1473.32 before escaping the receptor and has a calculated residence time τ of 38 s. In contrast, with the Nϵ- and doubly protonated H2976.52, the calculated τ are 2.6 and 0.9 s, respectively. Analysis suggests that formation of the piperidine-Hid297 hydrogen bond strengthens the hydrophobic contacts with the transmembrane helix (TM) 6, allowing fentanyl to explore a deep pocket. Considering the experimental τ of ∼4 min for fentanyl and the role of TM6 in mOR activation, the deep insertion mechanism may be biologically relevant. The work paves the way for large-scale computational predictions of opioid dissociation rates to inform evaluation of strategies for opioid overdose reversal. The profound role of the histidine protonation state found here may shift the paradigm in computational studies of ligand-receptor kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paween Mahinthichaichan
- Division
of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office
of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Quynh N. Vo
- Division
of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office
of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Christopher R. Ellis
- Division
of Applied Regulatory Science, Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office
of Translational Sciences, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993, United States
| | - Jana Shen
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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15
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Banks ML. Environmental influence on the preclinical evaluation of substance use disorder therapeutics. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 93:219-242. [PMID: 35341567 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUD) develop as a result of complex interactions between the environment, the subject, and the drug of abuse. Preclinical basic research investigating each of these tripartite components of SUD individually has resulted in advancements in our fundamental knowledge regarding the progression from drug abuse to SUD and severe drug addiction and the underlying behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms. How these complex interactions between the environment, the subject, and the drug of abuse impact the effectiveness of candidate or clinically used medications for SUD has not been as extensively investigated. The focus of this chapter will address the current state of our knowledge how these environmental, subject, and pharmacological variables have been shown to impact candidate or clinical SUD medication evaluation in preclinical research using drug self-administration procedures as the primary dependent measure. The results discussed in this chapter highlight the importance of considering environmental variables such as the schedule of reinforcement, concurrent availability of alternative nondrug reinforcers, and experimental housing conditions in the context of SUD therapeutic evaluation. The thesis of this chapter is that improved understanding of environmental variables in the context of SUD research will facilitate the utility of preclinical drug self-administration studies in the evaluation and development of candidate SUD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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16
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Olson KM, Traynor JR, Alt A. Allosteric Modulator Leads Hiding in Plain Site: Developing Peptide and Peptidomimetics as GPCR Allosteric Modulators. Front Chem 2021; 9:671483. [PMID: 34692635 PMCID: PMC8529114 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.671483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Allosteric modulators (AMs) of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are desirable drug targets because they can produce fewer on-target side effects, improved selectivity, and better biological specificity (e.g., biased signaling or probe dependence) than orthosteric drugs. An underappreciated source for identifying AM leads are peptides and proteins-many of which were evolutionarily selected as AMs-derived from endogenous protein-protein interactions (e.g., transducer/accessory proteins), intramolecular receptor contacts (e.g., pepducins or extracellular domains), endogenous peptides, and exogenous libraries (e.g., nanobodies or conotoxins). Peptides offer distinct advantages over small molecules, including high affinity, good tolerability, and good bioactivity, and specific disadvantages, including relatively poor metabolic stability and bioavailability. Peptidomimetics are molecules that combine the advantages of both peptides and small molecules by mimicking the peptide's chemical features responsible for bioactivity while improving its druggability. This review 1) discusses sources and strategies to identify peptide/peptidomimetic AMs, 2) overviews strategies to convert a peptide lead into more drug-like "peptidomimetic," and 3) critically analyzes the advantages, disadvantages, and future directions of peptidomimetic AMs. While small molecules will and should play a vital role in AM drug discovery, peptidomimetics can complement and even exceed the advantages of small molecules, depending on the target, site, lead, and associated factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Olson
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John R. Traynor
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Alt
- Department of Pharmacology and Edward F Domino Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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17
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Cornelissen JC, Blough BE, Bohn LM, Negus SS, Banks ML. Some effects of putative G-protein biased mu-opioid receptor agonists in male rhesus monkeys. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 32:453-458. [PMID: 33883450 PMCID: PMC8266741 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
G-protein-biased mu-opioid receptor (GPB-MOR) agonists are an emerging class of compounds being evaluated as candidate analgesics and agonist medications for opioid use disorder. Most of the basic pharmacology of GPB-MOR agonists has been conducted in rodents and much less is known how the basic behavioral pharmacology of these compounds translates to nonhuman primates. The present study determined the antinociceptive potency and time course of three putative GPB-MOR agonists: (+)-oliceridine (i.e. TRV130), SR14968, and SR17018 in male rhesus monkeys (n = 3). In addition, the respiratory effects of these compounds were also indirectly determined using a pulse oximeter to measure percent peripheral oxygen saturation (%SpO2). The largest intramuscular oliceridine dose (3.2 mg/kg) produced significant antinociception at 50°C, but not 54°C, and peak effects were between 10 and 30 min. Oliceridine also decreased SpO2 below the 90% threshold that would be clinically categorized as hypoxia in two out of three monkeys. The largest intramuscular SR14968 dose (0.32 mg/kg) produced 100% MPE at 50°C, but not 54°C, in two out of three monkeys, and peak effects were between 30 and 100 min. The largest intravenous SR17018 dose (1 mg/kg) produced 100% MPE at 50°C, but not 54°C, in the same two out of three monkeys, and peak effects were between 30 and 100 min. Solubility limitations for both SR14968 and SR17018 impaired our ability to determine in-vivo potency and effectiveness on antinociceptive and %SpO2 measures for these two compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy C. Cornelissen
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA 23298
| | - Bruce E. Blough
- Center for Drug Discovery, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 27709
| | - Laura M Bohn
- Departments of Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA 23298
| | - Matthew L. Banks
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA 23298
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18
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Geng L, Kroning KE, Wang W. SPARK: A Transcriptional Assay for Recording Protein-Protein Interactions in a Defined Time Window. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e190. [PMID: 34260831 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are ubiquitously involved in cellular processes such as gene expression, enzymatic catalysis, and signal transduction. To study dynamic PPIs, real-time methods such as Förster resonance energy transfer and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer can provide high temporal resolution, but they only allow PPI detection in a limited area at a time and do not permit post-PPI analysis or manipulation of the cells. Integration methods such as the yeast two-hybrid system and split protein systems integrate PPI signals over time and allow subsequent analysis, but they lose information on dynamics. To address some of these limitations, an assay named SPARK (Specific Protein Association tool giving transcriptional Readout with rapid Kinetics) has recently been published. Similar to many existing integrators, SPARK converts PPIs into a transcriptional signal. SPARK, however, also adds blue light as a co-stimulus to achieve temporal gating; SPARK only records PPIs during light stimulation. Here, we describe the procedures for using SPARK assays to study a dynamic PPI of interest, including designing DNA constructs and optimization in HEK293T/17 cell cultures. These protocols are generally applicable to various PPI partners and can be used in different biological contexts. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Designing DNA constructs for SPARK Basic Protocol 2: Performing the SPARK assay in HEK293T/17 cell cultures Support Protocol 1: Lentivirus preparation Support Protocol 2: Immunostaining of SPARK components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lequn Geng
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kayla E Kroning
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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19
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Reply to Zhuang et al.: Potential side effects of positive allosteric modulators of the mu-opioid receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2108493118. [PMID: 34260391 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108493118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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20
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Elgeti M, Hubbell WL. DEER Analysis of GPCR Conformational Heterogeneity. Biomolecules 2021; 11:778. [PMID: 34067265 PMCID: PMC8224605 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a large class of transmembrane helical proteins which are involved in numerous physiological signaling pathways and therefore represent crucial pharmacological targets. GPCR function and the action of therapeutic molecules are defined by only a few parameters, including receptor basal activity, ligand affinity, intrinsic efficacy and signal bias. These parameters are encoded in characteristic receptor conformations existing in equilibrium and their populations, which are thus of paramount interest for the understanding of receptor (mal-)functions and rational design of improved therapeutics. To this end, the combination of site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy, in particular double electron-electron resonance (DEER), is exceedingly valuable as it has access to sub-Angstrom spatial resolution and provides a detailed picture of the number and populations of conformations in equilibrium. This review gives an overview of existing DEER studies on GPCRs with a focus on the delineation of structure/function frameworks, highlighting recent developments in data analysis and visualization. We introduce "conformational efficacy" as a parameter to describe ligand-specific shifts in the conformational equilibrium, taking into account the loose coupling between receptor segments observed for different GPCRs using DEER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Elgeti
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Wayne L. Hubbell
- Jules Stein Eye Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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21
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Crilly SE, Ko W, Weinberg ZY, Puthenveedu MA. Conformational specificity of opioid receptors is determined by subcellular location irrespective of agonist. eLife 2021; 10:67478. [PMID: 34013886 PMCID: PMC8208814 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevailing model for the variety in drug responses is that different drugs stabilize distinct active states of their G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets, allowing coupling to different effectors. However, whether the same ligand generates different GPCR active states based on the immediate environment of receptors is not known. Here we address this question using spatially resolved imaging of conformational biosensors that read out distinct active conformations of the δ-opioid receptor (DOR), a physiologically relevant GPCR localized to Golgi and the surface in neuronal cells. We have shown that Golgi and surface pools of DOR both inhibit cAMP, but engage distinct conformational biosensors in response to the same ligand in rat neuroendocrine cells. Further, DOR recruits arrestins on the surface but not on the Golgi. Our results suggest that the local environment determines the active states of receptors for any given drug, allowing GPCRs to couple to different effectors at different subcellular locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E Crilly
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Department of Pharmacology University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Wooree Ko
- Department of Pharmacology University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Zara Y Weinberg
- Department of Pharmacology University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
| | - Manojkumar A Puthenveedu
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States.,Department of Pharmacology University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, United States
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22
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Positive allosteric modulation of the mu-opioid receptor produces analgesia with reduced side effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2000017118. [PMID: 33846240 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000017118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the mu-opioid receptor (MOR) have been hypothesized as potentially safer analgesics than traditional opioid drugs. This is based on the idea that PAMs will promote the action of endogenous opioid peptides while preserving their temporal and spatial release patterns and so have an improved therapeutic index. However, this hypothesis has never been tested. Here, we show that a mu-PAM, BMS-986122, enhances the ability of the endogenous opioid Methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) to stimulate G protein activity in mouse brain homogenates without activity on its own and to enhance G protein activation to a greater extent than β-arrestin recruitment in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human mu-opioid receptors. Moreover, BMS-986122 increases the potency of Met-Enk to inhibit GABA release in the periaqueductal gray, an important site for antinociception. We describe in vivo experiments demonstrating that the mu-PAM produces antinociception in mouse models of acute noxious heat pain as well as inflammatory pain. These effects are blocked by MOR antagonists and are consistent with the hypothesis that in vivo mu-PAMs enhance the activity of endogenous opioid peptides. Because BMS-986122 does not bind to the orthosteric site and has no inherent agonist action at endogenously expressed levels of MOR, it produces a reduced level of morphine-like side effects of constipation, reward as measured by conditioned place preference, and respiratory depression. These data provide a rationale for the further exploration of the action and safety of mu-PAMs as an innovative approach to pain management.
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23
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Ma N, Nivedha AK, Vaidehi N. Allosteric communication regulates ligand-specific GPCR activity. FEBS J 2021; 288:2502-2512. [PMID: 33738925 PMCID: PMC9805801 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound proteins that are ubiquitously expressed in many cell types and take part in mediating multiple signaling pathways. GPCRs are dynamic proteins and exist in an equilibrium between an ensemble of conformational states such as inactive and fully active states. This dynamic nature of GPCRs is one of the factors that confers their basal activity even in the absence of any ligand-mediated activation. Ligands selectively bind and stabilize a subset of the conformations from the ensemble leading to a shift in the equilibrium toward the inactive or the active state depending on the nature of the ligand. This ligand-selective effect is achieved through allosteric communication between the ligand binding site and G protein or β-arrestin coupling site. Similarly, the G protein coupling to the receptor exerts the allosteric effect on the ligand binding region leading to increased binding affinity for agonists and decreased affinity for antagonists or inverse agonists. In this review, we enumerate the current state of our understanding of the mechanism of allosteric communication in GPCRs with a specific focus on the critical role of computational methods in delineating the residues involved in allosteric communication. Analyzing allosteric communication mechanism using molecular dynamics simulations has revealed (a) a structurally conserved mechanism of allosteric communication that regulates the G protein coupling, (b) a rational structure-based approach to designing selective ligands, and (c) an approach to designing allosteric GPCR mutants that are either ligand and G protein or β-arrestin selective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Anita K. Nivedha
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010,to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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24
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Oberhauser L, Stoeber M. Biosensors Monitor Ligand-Selective Effects at Kappa Opioid Receptors. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 271:65-82. [PMID: 33387066 DOI: 10.1007/164_2020_427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for pain and itch treatment. There is growing interest in biased agonists that preferentially activate select signaling pathways downstream of KOR activation on the cellular level due to their therapeutic promise in retaining the analgesic and antipruritic effects and eliminating the sedative and dysphoric effects of KOR signaling on the physiological level. The concept of ligand-selective signaling includes that biased ligands promote KOR to selectively recruit one transducer or regulator protein over another, introducing bias into the signaling cascade at the very receptor-proximal level. Measuring agonist effects directly at the receptor has remained challenging and previous studies have focused on inferring agonist-selective KOR engagement with G protein relative to β-arrestin based on downstream signaling readouts. Here we discuss novel strategies to directly assess ligand-selective effects on receptor activation using KOR-interacting biosensors. The conformation-specific cytoplasmic biosensors are disconnected from the endogenous signaling machinery and provide a direct receptor-proxy readout of ligand effects in living cells. Receptor-biosensor interaction is ligand concentration dependent and can be used to determine relative ligand potency and efficacy. In addition, the biosensors reveal the existence of two dimensions of agonist bias in the cellular context: Firstly, agonists can selectively produce discrete protein-engaged KOR states and secondly, agonists can differ in the precise subcellular location at which they activate KOR. We discuss the value and the limitations of using orthogonal receptor-interacting biosensors in the quest to understand functional selectivity amongst KOR agonists in the cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Oberhauser
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Stoeber
- Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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25
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Ray S, Sunkara V, Schütte C, Weber M. How to calculate pH-dependent binding rates for receptor–ligand systems based on thermodynamic simulations with different binding motifs. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2020.1839660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Ray
- Computational Drug Design, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vikram Sunkara
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Computational Physiology and Anatomy, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christof Schütte
- Computational Drug Design, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Computational Physiology and Anatomy, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Weber
- Computational Drug Design, Zuse Institute Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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26
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Cheloha RW, Harmand TJ, Wijne C, Schwartz TU, Ploegh HL. Exploring cellular biochemistry with nanobodies. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15307-15327. [PMID: 32868455 PMCID: PMC7650250 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.012960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reagents that bind tightly and specifically to biomolecules of interest remain essential in the exploration of biology and in their ultimate application to medicine. Besides ligands for receptors of known specificity, agents commonly used for this purpose are monoclonal antibodies derived from mice, rabbits, and other animals. However, such antibodies can be expensive to produce, challenging to engineer, and are not necessarily stable in the context of the cellular cytoplasm, a reducing environment. Heavy chain-only antibodies, discovered in camelids, have been truncated to yield single-domain antibody fragments (VHHs or nanobodies) that overcome many of these shortcomings. Whereas they are known as crystallization chaperones for membrane proteins or as simple alternatives to conventional antibodies, nanobodies have been applied in settings where the use of standard antibodies or their derivatives would be impractical or impossible. We review recent examples in which the unique properties of nanobodies have been combined with complementary methods, such as chemical functionalization, to provide tools with unique and useful properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross W Cheloha
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thibault J Harmand
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Wijne
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Thomas U Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hidde L Ploegh
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Kapoor A, Provasi D, Filizola M. Atomic-Level Characterization of the Methadone-Stabilized Active Conformation of µ-Opioid Receptor. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:475-486. [PMID: 32680919 PMCID: PMC7562981 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.119339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist with notoriously unique properties, such as lower abuse liability and induced relief of withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, despite acting on the same opioid receptors triggered by classic opioids-in particular the µ-opioid receptor (MOR). Its distinct pharmacologic properties, which have recently been attributed to the preferential activation of β-arrestin over G proteins, make methadone a standard-of-care maintenance medication for opioid addiction. Although a recent biophysical study suggests that methadone stabilizes different MOR active conformations from those stabilized by classic opioid drugs or G protein-biased agonists, how this drug modulates the conformational equilibrium of MOR and what specific active conformation of the receptor it stabilizes are unknown. Here, we report the results of submillisecond adaptive sampling molecular dynamics simulations of a predicted methadone-bound MOR complex and compare them with analogous data obtained for the classic opioid morphine and the G protein-biased ligand TRV130. The model, which is supported by existing experimental data, is analyzed using Markov state models and transfer entropy analysis to provide testable hypotheses of methadone-specific conformational dynamics and activation kinetics of MOR. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Opioid addiction has reached epidemic proportions in both industrialized and developing countries. Although methadone maintenance treatment represents an effective therapeutic approach for opioid addiction, it is not as widely used as needed. In this study, we contribute an atomic-level understanding of how methadone exerts its unique function in pursuit of more accessible treatments for opioid addiction. In particular, we present details of a methadone-specific active conformation of the µ-opioid receptor that has thus far eluded experimental structural characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijeet Kapoor
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Davide Provasi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Marta Filizola
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Che T, English J, Krumm BE, Kim K, Pardon E, Olsen RHJ, Wang S, Zhang S, Diberto JF, Sciaky N, Carroll FI, Steyaert J, Wacker D, Roth BL. Nanobody-enabled monitoring of kappa opioid receptor states. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1145. [PMID: 32123179 PMCID: PMC7052193 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14889-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies show that GPCRs rapidly interconvert between multiple states although our ability to interrogate, monitor and visualize them is limited by a relative lack of suitable tools. We previously reported two nanobodies (Nb39 and Nb6) that stabilize distinct ligand- and efficacy-delimited conformations of the kappa opioid receptor. Here, we demonstrate via X-ray crystallography a nanobody-targeted allosteric binding site by which Nb6 stabilizes a ligand-dependent inactive state. As Nb39 stabilizes an active-like state, we show how these two state-dependent nanobodies can provide real-time reporting of ligand stabilized states in cells in situ. Significantly, we demonstrate that chimeric GPCRs can be created with engineered nanobody binding sites to report ligand-stabilized states. Our results provide both insights regarding potential mechanisms for allosterically modulating KOR with nanobodies and a tool for reporting the real-time, in situ dynamic range of GPCR activity.
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MESH Headings
- Allosteric Site
- Binding Sites
- Biosensing Techniques
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Cyclic AMP/metabolism
- Dynorphins/chemistry
- Dynorphins/pharmacology
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Luminescent Measurements/methods
- Piperazines/chemistry
- Piperazines/pharmacology
- Piperidines/chemistry
- Piperidines/pharmacology
- Protein Conformation
- Pyrrolidines/chemistry
- Pyrrolidines/pharmacology
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/chemistry
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/agonists
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/chemistry
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/genetics
- Receptors, Opioid, kappa/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Single-Domain Antibodies/chemistry
- Single-Domain Antibodies/metabolism
- Tetrahydroisoquinolines/chemistry
- Tetrahydroisoquinolines/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Che
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Justin English
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brian E Krumm
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kuglae Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Reid H J Olsen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shicheng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey F Diberto
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Noah Sciaky
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - F Ivy Carroll
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, 1050, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, 1050, Belgium
| | - Daniel Wacker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (NIMH PDSP), School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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29
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Zhou Q, Yang D, Wu M, Guo Y, Guo W, Zhong L, Cai X, Dai A, Jang W, Shakhnovich EI, Liu ZJ, Stevens RC, Lambert NA, Babu MM, Wang MW, Zhao S. Common activation mechanism of class A GPCRs. eLife 2019; 8:e50279. [PMID: 31855179 PMCID: PMC6954041 DOI: 10.7554/elife.50279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) influence virtually every aspect of human physiology. Understanding receptor activation mechanism is critical for discovering novel therapeutics since about one-third of all marketed drugs target members of this family. GPCR activation is an allosteric process that couples agonist binding to G-protein recruitment, with the hallmark outward movement of transmembrane helix 6 (TM6). However, what leads to TM6 movement and the key residue level changes of this movement remain less well understood. Here, we report a framework to quantify conformational changes. By analyzing the conformational changes in 234 structures from 45 class A GPCRs, we discovered a common GPCR activation pathway comprising of 34 residue pairs and 35 residues. The pathway unifies previous findings into a common activation mechanism and strings together the scattered key motifs such as CWxP, DRY, Na+ pocket, NPxxY and PIF, thereby directly linking the bottom of ligand-binding pocket with G-protein coupling region. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments support this proposition and reveal that rational mutations of residues in this pathway can be used to obtain receptors that are constitutively active or inactive. The common activation pathway provides the mechanistic interpretation of constitutively activating, inactivating and disease mutations. As a module responsible for activation, the common pathway allows for decoupling of the evolution of the ligand binding site and G-protein-binding region. Such an architecture might have facilitated GPCRs to emerge as a highly successful family of proteins for signal transduction in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingtong Zhou
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Dehua Yang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Meng Wu
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yu Guo
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Wanjing Guo
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Li Zhong
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoqing Cai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Antao Dai
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Wonjo Jang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - Eugene I Shakhnovich
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeUnited States
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Raymond C Stevens
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Nevin A Lambert
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugustaUnited States
| | - M Madan Babu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Ming-Wei Wang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor ResearchShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- The National Center for Drug ScreeningShanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of PharmacyFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman InstituteShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghaiChina
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30
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Smith SJ, Sümbül U, Graybuck LT, Collman F, Seshamani S, Gala R, Gliko O, Elabbady L, Miller JA, Bakken TE, Rossier J, Yao Z, Lein E, Zeng H, Tasic B, Hawrylycz M. Single-cell transcriptomic evidence for dense intracortical neuropeptide networks. eLife 2019; 8:47889. [PMID: 31710287 PMCID: PMC6881117 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Seeking new insights into the homeostasis, modulation and plasticity of cortical synaptic networks, we have analyzed results from a single-cell RNA-seq study of 22,439 mouse neocortical neurons. Our analysis exposes transcriptomic evidence for dozens of molecularly distinct neuropeptidergic modulatory networks that directly interconnect all cortical neurons. This evidence begins with a discovery that transcripts of one or more neuropeptide precursor (NPP) and one or more neuropeptide-selective G-protein-coupled receptor (NP-GPCR) genes are highly abundant in all, or very nearly all, cortical neurons. Individual neurons express diverse subsets of NP signaling genes from palettes encoding 18 NPPs and 29 NP-GPCRs. These 47 genes comprise 37 cognate NPP/NP-GPCR pairs, implying the likelihood of local neuropeptide signaling. Here, we use neuron-type-specific patterns of NP gene expression to offer specific, testable predictions regarding 37 peptidergic neuromodulatory networks that may play prominent roles in cortical homeostasis and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Uygar Sümbül
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | | | | | | | - Rohan Gala
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Olga Gliko
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Leila Elabbady
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | | | | | - Jean Rossier
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Zizhen Yao
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Ed Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Hongkui Zeng
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
| | - Bosiljka Tasic
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, United States
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31
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Yudin Y, Rohacs T. The G-protein-biased agents PZM21 and TRV130 are partial agonists of μ-opioid receptor-mediated signalling to ion channels. Br J Pharmacol 2019; 176:3110-3125. [PMID: 31074038 DOI: 10.1111/bph.14702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Opioids remain the most efficient medications against severe pain; they act on receptors that couple to heterotrimeric G-proteins in the Gαi/o family. Opioids exert many of their acute effects through modulating ion channels via Gβγ subunits. Many of their side effects are attributed to β-arrestin recruitment. Several biased agonists that do not recruit β-arrestins, but activate G-protein-dependent pathways, have recently been developed. While these compounds have been proposed to be full agonists of G-protein signalling in several high throughput pharmacological assays, their effects were not studied on ion channel targets. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Here, we used patch-clamp electrophysiology and Ca2+ imaging to test the effects of TRV130, PZM21, and herkinorin, three G-protein-biased agonists of μ-opioid receptors, on ion channel targets of Gαi/o /Gβγ signalling. We also studied G-protein dissociation using a FRET-based assay. KEY RESULTS All three biased agonists induced smaller activation of G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying K+ channels (Kir 3.2) and smaller inhibition of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM3) channels than the full μ receptor agonist DAMGO. Co-application of TRV130 or PZM21, but not herkinorin, alleviated the effects of DAMGO on both channels. PZM21 and TRV130 also decreased the effect of morphine on Kir 3.2 channels. The CaV 2.2 channel was also inhibited less by PZM21 and TRV130 than by DAMGO. We also found that TRV130, PZM21, and herkinorin were less effective than DAMGO at inducing dissociation of the Gαi /Gβγ complex. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS TRV130, PZM21, and potentially herkinorin are partial agonists of μ receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yevgen Yudin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Tibor Rohacs
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
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32
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Heukers R, De Groof TW, Smit MJ. Nanobodies detecting and modulating GPCRs outside in and inside out. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2019; 57:115-122. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Ehrlich AT, Kieffer BL, Darcq E. Current strategies toward safer mu opioid receptor drugs for pain management. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:315-326. [PMID: 30802415 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1586882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pain relief remains a major public health challenge. The most efficient available painkillers are opioids targeting the mu opioid receptor (MOR). MORs are expressed in the areas of the brain [including pain and respiratory centers] that are important for processing reward and aversion. Thus, MOR activation efficiently alleviates severe pain, but the concomitant reward and respiratory depressant effects pose a threat; patients taking opioids potentially develop opioid addiction and high risk for overdose. Areas covered: Ongoing efforts to generate safer opioid analgesics are reviewed here. The design of biased compounds that trigger MOR induced G protein over β-arrestin signaling, peripheral opioids, drugs targeting MORs in heteromers and drugs enhancing endogenous opioid activity are discussed. Expert opinion: There is evidence that throttling MOR signaling may lead to an era of opioids that are truly efficient painkillers with lower side effects and risk of overdose. However, few of the drugs derived from the advanced approaches outlined here, are getting approval by regulatory committees for use in clinical settings. Thus, there is an urgent need to (i) better clarify mechanisms underlying the hazardous physiological effects of MOR activation, and (ii) fully validate the safety of these new MOR-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliza T Ehrlich
- a Department of Psychiatry , McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center , Montréal , QC , Canada
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- a Department of Psychiatry , McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center , Montréal , QC , Canada
| | - Emmanuel Darcq
- a Department of Psychiatry , McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Center , Montréal , QC , Canada
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Haider RS, Godbole A, Hoffmann C. To sense or not to sense-new insights from GPCR-based and arrestin-based biosensors. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2018; 57:16-24. [PMID: 30408632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Advances in resolving crystal structures of GPCRs and their binding partners as well as improvements in live-cell microscopy and the fluorescent proteins pallet has greatly driven new ideas for designing optical sensors for the same. Sensors have been developed to monitor ligand binding as well as the ensuing ligand-induced conformational changes in GPCRs, G-proteins and arrestins. In this review we will highlight the functionality of such sensor designs starting from monitoring ligand binding to receptor activation and interaction with arrestins. Furthermore, we will highlight the importance of sensor designs to monitor receptor-dependent arrestin conformations and give an idea about the various detected arrestin conformations and their possible implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Silvanus Haider
- Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB-Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Hans-Knöll Straße 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Amod Godbole
- Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB-Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Hans-Knöll Straße 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hoffmann
- Institut für Molekulare Zellbiologie, CMB-Center for Molecular Biomedicine, Universitätsklinikum Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Hans-Knöll Straße 2, D-07745 Jena, Germany.
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