Succinate functions both as a classical TCA cycle metabolite and an extracellular metabolic stress signal sensed by the mainly Gi-coupled succinate receptor SUCNR1. In the present study, we ...characterize and compare effects and signaling pathways activated by succinate and both classes of non-metabolite SUCNR1 agonists. By use of specific receptor and pathway inhibitors, rescue in G-protein-depleted cells and monitoring of receptor G protein activation by BRET, we identify Gq rather than Gi signaling to be responsible for SUCNR1-mediated effects on basic transcriptional regulation. Importantly, in primary human M2 macrophages, in which SUCNR1 is highly expressed, we demonstrate that physiological concentrations of extracellular succinate act through SUCNR1-activated Gq signaling to efficiently regulate transcription of immune function genes in a manner that hyperpolarizes their M2 versus M1 phenotype. Thus, sensing of stress-induced extracellular succinate by SUCNR1 is an important transcriptional regulator in human M2 macrophages through Gq signaling.
The G-protein coupled receptor GPR39 is abundantly expressed in various tissues and can be activated by changes in extracellular Zn
in physiological concentrations. Previously, genetically modified ...rodent models have been able to shed some light on the physiological functions of GPR39, and more recently the utilization of novel synthetic agonists has led to the unraveling of several new functions in the variety of tissues GPR39 is expressed. Indeed, GPR39 seems to be involved in many important metabolic and endocrine functions, but also to play a part in inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, saliva secretion, bone formation, male fertility, addictive and depression disorders and cancer. These new discoveries offer opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic approaches against many diseases where efficient therapeutics are still lacking. This review focuses on Zn
as an endogenous ligand as well as on the novel synthetic agonists of GPR39, placing special emphasis on the recently discovered physiological functions and discusses their pharmacological potential.
The past couple of years have seen several novel X-ray structures of 7 transmembrane (7TM) receptors in complex with antagonists and even with a peptide fragment of a G protein. These structures ...demonstrate that the main ligand-binding pocket in 7TM receptors is like a funnel with a partial ‘lid’ in which extracellular loop 2b, in particular, functions as a gating element. Small-molecule antagonists and inverse agonists bind in very different modes: some very deeply and others more superficially, even reaching out above the transmembranes. Several highly conserved residues seem to function as micro-switches of which ArgIII:26 (Arg3.50) in its active conformation interacts directly with the G protein. These micro-switches together with a hydrogen-bond network between conserved polar residues and structural water molecules are proposed to constitute an extended allosteric interface between the domains (i.e. especially TM-VI), which performs the large, global toggle switch movements connecting ligand binding with intracellular signaling.
Abstract A surprisingly clear picture of the allosteric mechanism connecting G protein-coupled receptor agonists with G protein binding—and back – is revealed by a puzzle of thirty novel 3D ...structures of the hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCAR2) in complex with eight different orthosteric and a single allosteric agonist. HCAR2 is a sensor of β-hydroxybutyrate, niacin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs. Surprisingly, agonists with and without on-target side effects bound very similarly and in a completely occluded orthosteric binding site. Thus, despite the many structures we are still left with a pertinent need to understand the molecular dynamics of this and similar systems.
Neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) has key regulating functions in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and NK1R antagonists such as aprepitant have been approved for treating chemotherapy-induced ...nausea and vomiting. However, the lack of data on NK1R structure and biochemistry has limited further drug development targeting this receptor. Here, we combine NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography to provide dynamic and static characterisation of the binding mode of aprepitant in complexes with human NK1R variants.
F-NMR showed a slow off-rate in the binding site, where aprepitant occupies multiple substates that exchange with frequencies in the millisecond range. The environment of the bound ligand is affected by the amino acid in position 2.50, which plays a key role in ligand binding and receptor signaling in class A GPCRs. Crystal structures now reveal how receptor signaling relates to the conformation of the conserved NP
xxY motif in transmembrane helix VII.
The multitude of chemically highly different agonists for 7TM receptors apparently do not share a common binding mode or active site but nevertheless act through induction of a common molecular ...activation mechanism. A global toggle switch model is proposed for this activation mechanism to reconcile the accumulated biophysical data supporting an outward rigid-body movement of the intracellular segments, as well as the recent data derived from activating metal ion sites and tethered ligands, which suggests an opposite, inward movement of the extracellular segments of the transmembrane helices. According to this model, a vertical see-saw movement of TM-VI-and to some degree TM-VII-around a pivot corresponding to the highly conserved prolines will occur during receptor activation, which may involve the outer segment of TM-V in an as yet unclear fashion. Small-molecule agonists can stabilize such a proposed active conformation, where the extracellular segments of TM-VI and -VII are bent inward toward TM-III, by acting as molecular glue deep in the main ligand-binding pocket between the helices, whereas larger agonists, peptides, and proteins can stabilize a similar active conformation by acting as Velcro at the extracellular ends of the helices and the connecting loops.
SUCNR1 is an auto- and paracrine sensor of the metabolic stress signal succinate. Using unsupervised molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (170.400 ns) and mutagenesis across human, mouse, and rat ...SUCNR1, we characterize how a five-arginine motif around the extracellular pole of TM-VI determines the initial capture of succinate in the extracellular vestibule (ECV) to either stay or move down to the orthosteric site. Metadynamics demonstrate low-energy succinate binding in both sites, with an energy barrier corresponding to an intermediate stage during which succinate, with an associated water cluster, unlocks the hydrogen-bond-stabilized conformationally constrained extracellular loop (ECL)-2b. Importantly, simultaneous binding of two succinate molecules through either a “sequential” or “bypassing” mode is a frequent endpoint. The mono-carboxylate NF-56-EJ40 antagonist enters SUCNR1 between TM-I and -II and does not unlock ECL-2b. It is proposed that occupancy of both high-affinity sites is required for selective activation of SUCNR1 by high local succinate concentrations.
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•SUCNR1 attracts and binds succinate through a cluster of arginines around TM-VI•The arginines constitute two low-energy succinate binding sites•SUCNR1 is activated by simultaneous binding of two succinates at high concentrations•Binding of succinate, but not antagonist, unlocks constrained ECL-2 via water cluster
Extracellular succinate is an auto- and paracrine metabolic stress signal sensed by SUCNR1. Using MD simulations, Shenol et al. found that SUCNR1 has two low-energy binding sites, and its selective activation by high, local concentrations of succinate requires simultaneous occupancy of both high-affinity sites.
Key metabolites act through specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as extracellular signals of fuel availability and metabolic stress. Here, we focus on the succinate receptor SUCNR1/GPR91 and ...the long chain fatty acid receptor FFAR1/GPR40, for which 3D structural information is available. Like other small polar acidic metabolites, succinate is excreted from the cell by transporter proteins to bind to an extracellular, solvent-exposed pocket in SUCNR1. Non-metabolite pharmacological tool compounds are currently being designed based on the structure of the SUCNR1 binding pocket. In FFAR1, differently signaling lipid mimetics bind in two distinct membrane-exposed sites corresponding to each of the lipid bilayer leaflets. Conceivably endogenous lipid ligands gain access to these sites by way of the membrane and probably occupy both sites under physiological circumstances. Design of polar agonists for a dynamic, solvent-exposed pocket in FFAR1 underlines the possibility of structure-based approaches for development of novel tool compounds even in lipid sensing metabolite GPCRs.
G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets characterized by a canonical seven transmembrane (TM) helix architecture. Recent advances in X‐ray crystallography and cryo‐EM have ...resulted in a wealth of GPCR structures that have been used in drug design and formed the basis for mechanistic activation hypotheses. Here, ensemble refinement (ER) of crystallographic structures is applied to explore the impact of binding of agonists and antagonist/inverse agonists to selected structures of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R), β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR), and A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR). To assess the conformational flexibility and its role in GPCR activation, hydrogen bond (H‐bond) networks are analyzed by calculating and comparing H‐bond propensities. Mapping pairwise propensity differences between agonist‐ and inverse agonist/antagonist‐bound structures for CB1R and β2AR shows that agonist binding destabilizes H‐bonds in the intracellular parts of TM 5–7, forming the G protein binding cavity, while H‐bonds of the extracellular segment of TMs surrounding the orthosteric site are conversely stabilized. Certain class A GPCRs, for example, A2AAR, bind an allosteric sodium ion that negatively modulates agonist binding. The impact of sodium‐excluding mutants (D522.50N, S913.39A) of A2AAR on agonist binding is examined by applying ER analysis to structures of wildtype and the two mutants in complex with a full agonist. While S913.39A exhibits normal activity, D522.50N quenches the downstream signaling. The mainchain H‐bond pattern of the latter is stabilized in the intracellular part of TM 7 containing the NPxxY motif, indicating that an induced rigidity of the mutation prevents conformational selection of G proteins resulting in receptor inactivation.
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