Jacek Mokrosinski

Identification of an Efficacy Switch Region in the Ghrelin Receptor Responsible for Interchange between Agonism and Inverse Agonism

The carboxyamidated wFwLL peptide was used as a core ligand to probe the structural basis for agonism versus inverse agonism in the constitutively active ghrelin receptor. In the ligand, an efficacy switch could be built at the N terminus, as exemplified by AwFwLL, which functioned as a high potency agonist, whereas KwFwLL was an equally high potency inverse agonist. The wFw-containing peptides, agonists as well as inverse agonists, were affected by receptor mutations covering the whole main ligand-binding pocket with key interaction sites being an aromatic cluster in transmembrane (TM)-VI and -VII and residues on the opposing face of TM-III. Gain-of-function in respect of either increased agonist or inverse agonist potency or swap between high potency versions of these properties was obtained by substitutions at a number of positions covering a broad area of the binding pocket on TM-III, -IV, and -V. However, in particular, space-generating substitutions at position III:04 shifted the efficacy of the ligands from inverse agonism toward agonism, whereas similar substitutions at position III: 08, one helical turn below, shifted the efficacy from agonism toward inverse agonism. It is suggested that the relative position of the ligand in the binding pocket between this “efficacy shift region” on TM-III and the opposing aromatic cluster on TM-VI and TM-VII leads either to agonism, i.e. in a superficial binding mode, or it leads to inverse agonism, i.e. in a more profound binding mode. This relationship between different binding modes and opposite efficacy is in accordance with the Global Toggle Switch model for 7TM receptor activation.

Conserved Water-mediated Hydrogen Bond Network between TM-I, -II, -VI, and -VII in 7TM Receptor Activation

Five highly conserved polar residues connected by a number of structural water molecules together with two rotamer micro-switches, TrpVI:13 and TyrVII:20, constitute an extended hydrogen bond network between the intracellular segments of TM-I, -II, -VI, and -VII of 7TM receptors. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that, although the fewer water molecules in rhodopsin were relatively movable, the hydrogen bond network of the β2-adrenergic receptor was fully loaded with water molecules that were surprisingly immobilized between the two rotamer switches, both apparently being in their closed conformation. Manipulations of the rotamer state of TyrVII:20 and TrpVI:13 demonstrated that these residues served as gates for the water molecules at the intracellular and extracellular ends of the hydrogen bond network, respectively. TrpVI:13 at the bottom of the main ligand-binding pocket was shown to apparently function as a catching trap for water molecules. Mutational analysis of the β2-adrenergic receptor demonstrated that the highly conserved polar residues of the hydrogen bond network were all important for receptor signaling but served different functions, some dampening constitutive activity (AsnI:18, AspII:10, and AsnVII:13), whereas others (AsnVII:12 and AsnVII:16) located one helical turn apart and sharing a water molecule were shown to be essential for agonist-induced signaling. It is concluded that the conserved water hydrogen bond network of 7TM receptors constitutes an extended allosteric interface between the transmembrane segments being of crucial importance for receptor signaling and that part of the function of the rotamer micro-switches, TyrVII:20 and TrpVI:13, is to gate or trap the water molecules.

Overlapping Binding Site for the Endogenous Agonist, Small-Molecule Agonists, and Ago-allosteric Modulators on the Ghrelin Receptor

A library of robust ghrelin receptor mutants with single substitutions at 22 positions in the main ligand-binding pocket was employed to map binding sites for six different agonists: two peptides (the 28-amino-acid octanoylated endogenous ligand ghrelin and the hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue GHRP-6) plus four nonpeptide agonists—the original benzolactam L-692,429 [3-amino-3-methyl-N-(2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-1-([2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) (1,1′-biphenyl)-4-yl]methyl)-1H-1-benzazepin-3(R)-yl)-butanamide], the spiroindoline sulfonamide MK-677 [N-[1(R)-1, 2-dihydro-1-ethanesulfonylspiro-3H-indole-3,4′-piperidin)-1′-yl]carbonyl-2-(phenylmethoxy)-ethyl-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide], and two novel oxindole derivatives, SM-130686 [(+)-6-carbamoyl-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-4-trifluoromethyloxindole] and SM-157740 [(±)-6-carbamoyl-3-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-4-trifluoromethyloxindole)]. The strongest mutational effect with respect to decrease in potency for stimulation of inositol phosphate turnover was for all six agonists the GluIII:09-to-Gln substitution in the extracellular segment of TM-III. Likewise, all six agonists were affected by substitutions of PheVI:16, ArgVI:20, and PheVI:23 on the opposing face of transmembrane domain (TM) VI. Each of the agonists was also affected selectively by specific mutations. The mutational map of the ability of L-692,429 and GHRP-6 to act as allosteric modulators by increasing ghrelins maximal efficacy overlapped with the common mutational map for agonism but it was not identical with the map for the agonist property of these small-molecule ligands. In molecular models, built over the inactive conformation of rhodopsin, low energy conformations of the nonpeptide agonists could be docked to satisfy many of their mutational hits. It is concluded that although each of the ligands in addition exploits other parts of the receptor, a large, common binding site for both small-molecule agonists—including ago-allosteric modulators—and the endogenous agonist is found on the opposing faces of TM-III and -VI of the ghrelin receptor.

Allosteric and Orthosteric Sites in CC Chemokine Receptor (CCR5), a Chimeric Receptor Approach

Background: Characterization of 7TM biology and chemistry is needed generally and within chemokine receptors. Results: A CCR5-CCR2 receptor chimera was constructed by transferring all extracellular regions of CCR2 to CCR5. CCR2 chemokine binding was maintained and so was small molecule CCR5 agonists and antagonists. Conclusion: Orthosteric and allosteric sites could be structurally separated and still act together. Significance: New basic knowledge to be used in drug development. Chemokine receptors play a major role in immune system regulation and have consequently been targets for drug development leading to the discovery of several small molecule antagonists. Given the large size and predominantly extracellular receptor interaction of endogenous chemokines, small molecules often act more deeply in an allosteric mode. However, opposed to the well described molecular interaction of allosteric modulators in class C 7-transmembrane helix (7TM) receptors, the interaction in class A, to which the chemokine receptors belong, is more sparsely described. Using the CCR5 chemokine receptor as a model system, we studied the molecular interaction and conformational interchange required for proper action of various orthosteric chemokines and allosteric small molecules, including the well known CCR5 antagonists TAK-779, SCH-C, and aplaviroc, and four novel CCR5 ago-allosteric molecules. A chimera was successfully constructed between CCR5 and the closely related CCR2 by transferring all extracellular regions of CCR2 to CCR5, i.e. a Trojan horse that resembles CCR2 extracellularly but signals through a CCR5 transmembrane unit. The chimera bound CCR2 (CCL2 and CCL7), but not CCR5 chemokines (CCL3 and CCL5), with CCR2-like high affinities and potencies throughout the CCR5 signaling unit. Concomitantly, high affinity binding of small molecule CCR5 agonists and antagonists was retained in the transmembrane region. Importantly, whereas the agonistic and antagonistic properties were preserved, the allosteric enhancement of chemokine binding was disrupted. In summary, the Trojan horse chimera revealed that orthosteric and allosteric sites could be structurally separated and still act together with transmission of agonism and antagonism across the different receptor units.

An aromatic region to induce a switch between agonism and inverse agonism at the ghrelin receptor.

The ghrelin receptor displays a high constitutive activity suggested to be involved in the regulation of appetite and food intake. Here, we have created peptides with small changes in the core binding motif -wFw- of the hexapeptide KwFwLL-NH(2) that can swap the peptide behavior from inverse agonism to agonism, indicating the importance of this sequence. Introduction of β-(3-benzothienyl)-d-alanine (d-Bth), 3,3-diphenyl-d-alanine (d-Dip) and 1-naphthyl-d-alanine (d-1-Nal) at position 2 resulted in highly potent and efficient inverse agonists, whereas the substitution of d-tryptophane at position 4 with 1-naphthyl-d-alanine (d-1-Nal) and 2-naphthyl-d-alanine (d-2-Nal) induces agonism in functional assays. Competitive binding studies showed a high affinity of the inverse agonist K-(d-1-Nal)-FwLL-NH(2) at the ghrelin receptor. Moreover, mutagenesis studies of the receptor revealed key positions for the switch between inverse agonist and agonist response. Hence, only minor changes in the peptide sequence can decide between agonism and inverse agonism and have a major impact on the biological activity.

The E92K Melanocortin 1 Receptor Mutant Induces cAMP Production and Arrestin Recruitment but Not ERK Activity Indicating Biased Constitutive Signaling

Background The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) constitutes a key regulator of melanism. Consequently, many naturally-occurring MC1R mutations are associated with a change in color. An example is the Glu-to-Lys substitution found at position II:20/2.60 in the top of transmembrane helix II which has been identified in melanic mice and several other species. This mutation induces a pronounced increase in MC1R constitutive activity suggesting a link between constitutive activity and melanism which is corroborated by the attenuation of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (αMSH) induced activation. However, the mechanism by which the mutation induces constitutive activity is currently not known. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we characterize the constitutive activity, cell surface expression and internalization of the mouse mutant, Mc1r E92K. As previously reported, only positively charged residues at position II:20/2.60 induced an increase in constitutive activity as measured by cAMP accumulation and CREB activation. Furthermore, the mutation induced a constitutive recruitment of β-arrestin. This phenomenon is only observed in MC1R, however, as the equivalent mutations in MC2-5R had no effect on receptor signaling. Interestingly, the mutation did not induce constitutive ERK1/2 phosphorylation or increase the internalization rate indicating the constitutive activity to be biased. Finally, to identify regions of importance for the increased constitutive activity of Mc1r E92K, we employed a chimeric approach and identified G102 and L110 in the extracellular loop 1 to be selectively important for the constitutive activity as this, but not αMSH-mediated activation, was abolished upon Ala substitution. Conclusions/Significance It is concluded that the E92K mutation induces an active conformation distinct from that induced by αMSH and that the extracellular loop 1 is involved in maintaining this conformational state. In turn, the results suggest that in MC1R, which lacks an extracellular loop 2, the first extracellular loop may play a more prominent role during receptor activation than in general.

Modulation of the constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor by use of pharmacological tools and mutagenesis.

Ghrelin and its receptor are important regulators of metabolic functions, including appetite, energy expenditure, fat accumulation, and growth hormone (GH) secretion. The ghrelin receptor is characterized by an ability to signal even without any ligand present with approximately 50% of the maximally ghrelin-induced efficacy-a feature that may have important physiological implications. The high basal signaling can be modulated either by administration of specific ligands or by engineering of mutations in the receptor structure. [D-Arg(1), D-Phe(5), D-Trp(7,9), Leu(11)]-substance P was the first inverse agonist to be identified for the ghrelin receptor, and this peptide has been used as a starting point for identification of the structural requirements for inverse agonist properties in the ligand. The receptor binding core motif was identified as D-Trp-Phe-D-Trp-Leu-Leu, and elongation of this peptide in the amino-terminal end determined the efficacy. Attachment of a positively charged amino acid was responsible for full inverse agonism, whereas an alanin converted the peptide into a partial agonist. Importantly, by use of mutational mapping of the residues critical for the modified D-Trp-Phe-D-Trp-Leu-Leu peptides, it was found that space-generating mutations in the deeper part of the receptor improved inverse agonism, whereas similar mutations located in the more extracellular part improved agonism. Modulation of the basal signaling by mutations in the receptor structure is primarily obtained by substitutions in an aromatic cluster that keep TMs VI and VII in close proximity to TM III and thus stabilize the active conformation. Also, substitution of a Phe in TM V is crucial for the high basal activity of the receptor as this residue serves as a partner for Trp VI:13 in the active conformation. It is suggested that inverse agonist and antagonist against the ghrelin receptor provide an interesting possibility in the development of drugs for treatment of obesity and diabetes and that improved structural understanding of the receptor function facilitates the drug development.

Modulation of constitutive activity and signaling bias of the ghrelin receptor by conformational constraint in the second extracellular loop

Background: A natural Glu for Ala variant in the ghrelin receptor extracellular loop 2 selectively eliminates constitutive signaling. Results: Computational chemistry and mutational analysis show that charged residues and metal ion sites that induce α-helix formation in ECL2 prevent constitutive signaling. Conclusion: Flexibility of ECL2 connecting TM-III and TM-V is essential for spontaneous receptor signaling. Significance: Clarification of ECL2 structural constraint is important for receptor signaling. Based on a rare, natural Glu for Ala-204(C+6) variant located six residues after the conserved Cys residue in extracellular loop 2b (ECL2b) associated with selective elimination of the high constitutive signaling of the ghrelin receptor, this loop was subjected to a detailed structure functional analysis. Introduction of Glu in different positions demonstrated that although the constitutive signaling was partly reduced when introduced in position 205(C+7) it was only totally eliminated in position 204(C+6). No charge-charge interaction partner could be identified for the Glu(C+6) variant despite mutational analysis of a number of potential partners in the extracellular loops and outer parts of the transmembrane segments. Systematic probing of position 204(C+6) with amino acid residues of different physicochemical properties indicated that a positively charged Lys surprisingly provided phenotypes similar to those of the negatively charged Glu residue. Computational chemistry analysis indicated that the propensity for the C-terminal segment of extracellular loop 2b to form an extended α-helix was increased from 15% in the wild type to 89 and 82% by introduction in position 204(C+6) of a Glu or a Lys residue, respectively. Moreover, the constitutive activity of the receptor was inhibited by Zn2+ binding in an engineered metal ion site, stabilizing an α-helical conformation of this loop segment. It is concluded that the high constitutive activity of the ghrelin receptor is dependent upon flexibility in the C-terminal segment of extracellular loop 2 and that mutations or ligand binding that constrains this segment and thereby conceivably the movements of transmembrane domain V relative to transmembrane domain III inhibits the high constitutive signaling.

Biased Gs versus Gq proteins and β-arrestin signaling in the NK1 receptor determined by interactions in the water hydrogen bond network.

Background: A unique Glu(2.50) in the NK1 receptor interacts directly with Ser(3.39) and Asn(7.49). Results: Mutational changes in this interface create receptors that selectively signal through Gq or β-arrestin versus Gs. Conclusion: A focal point in differentiation between Gs, Gq, and β-arrestin signaling was identified. Significance: This network constitutes an allosteric interface essential for 7TM receptor fine-tuning toward different signaling pathways. X-ray structures, molecular dynamics simulations, and mutational analysis have previously indicated that an extended water hydrogen bond network between trans-membranes I–III, VI, and VII constitutes an allosteric interface essential for stabilizing different active and inactive helical constellations during the seven-trans-membrane receptor activation. The neurokinin-1 receptor signals efficiently through Gq, Gs, and β-arrestin when stimulated by substance P, but it lacks any sign of constitutive activity. In the water hydrogen bond network the neurokinin-1 has a unique Glu residue instead of the highly conserved AspII:10 (2.50). Here, we find that this GluII:10 occupies the space of a putative allosteric modulating Na+ ion and makes direct inter-helical interactions in particular with SerIII:15 (3.39) and AsnVII:16 (7.49) of the NPXXY motif. Mutational changes in the interface between GluII:10 and AsnVII:16 created receptors that selectively signaled through the following: 1) Gq only; 2) β-arrestin only; and 3) Gq and β-arrestin but not through Gs. Interestingly, increased constitutive Gs but not Gq signaling was observed by Ala substitution of four out of the six core polar residues of the network, in particular SerIII:15. Three residues were essential for all three signaling pathways, i.e. the water-gating micro-switch residues TrpVI:13 (6.48) of the CWXP motif and TyrVII:20 (7.53) of the NPXXY motif plus the totally conserved AsnI:18 (1.50) stabilizing the kink in trans-membrane VII. It is concluded that the interface between position II:10 (2.50), III:15 (3.39), and VII:16 (7.49) in the center of the water hydrogen bond network constitutes a focal point for fine-tuning seven trans-membrane receptor conformations activating different signal transduction pathways.

Constitutive Activity of the Ghrelin Receptor

Cloning and characterization of the ghrelin receptor as a 7-transmembrane (7TM), G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) was first reported by Howard and his co-workers (1996). The ghrelin receptor was initially described as a growth hormone secretagogue receptor since (GHSR) this was the most well-established physiological function at that time. The natural endogenous agonist remained unknown until Kojima and his co-workers discovered (1999) the peptide hormone ghrelin. Afterward, the activity of ghrelin receptors was linked primarily with the regulation of appetite, adiposity, and energy expenditure as well as inducing of growth hormone secretion (Davenport et al. 2005; Kojima et al. 2001). Another important milestone in the pharmacological characterization of the ghrelin receptor was the discovery of its constitutive activity (Holst et al. 2003, 2004). This chapter will focus on the molecular basis of this phenomenon and its relevance in health and disease.