help button home button Endocrine Society Endocrinology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gershengorn, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Osman, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gershengorn, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Osman, R.
Endocrinology Vol. 142, No. 1 2-10
Copyright © 2001 by The Endocrine Society


ARTICLES

Minireview: Insights into G Protein-Coupled Receptor Function Using Molecular Models1

Marvin C. Gershengorn and Roman Osman

Division of Molecular Medicine (M.C.G.), Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021; and Department of Physiology and Biophysics (R.O.), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Marvin C. Gershengorn, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, Room A328, New York, New York 10021-4896. E-mail: mcgersh{at}med.cornell.edu


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of signal-transducing molecules known. They convey signals for light and many extracellular regulatory molecules. GPCRs have been found to be dysfunctional/dysregulated in a growing number of human diseases and have been estimated to be the targets of more than 30% of the drugs used in clinical medicine today. Thus, understanding how GPCRs function at the molecular level is an important goal of biological research. In order to understand function at this level, it is necessary to delineate the 3D structure of these receptors. Recently, the 3D structure of rhodopsin has been resolved, but in the absence of experimentally determined 3D structures of other GPCRs, a powerful approach is to construct a theoretical model for the receptor and refine it based on experimental results. Computer-generated models for many GPCRs have been constructed. In this article, we will review these studies. We will place the greatest emphasis on an iterative, bi-directional approach in which models are used to generate hypotheses that are tested by experimentation and the experimental findings are, in turn, used to refine the model. The success of this approach is due to the synergistic interaction between theory and experiment.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 
G PROTEIN-COUPLED receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of signal-transducing molecules known. For example, GPCRs comprise more than 4% of the genes in Caenorhabditis elegans. GPCRs convey signals for light and many extracellular regulatory molecules, such as, hormones, growth factors, and neurotransmitters, that regulate every cell in the body. Dysregulation of GPCRs has been found in a growing number of human diseases, and GPCRs have been estimated to be the targets of more than 30% of the drugs used in clinical medicine today. Thus, understanding how GPCRs function at the molecular level is an important goal of biological research.

GPCRs may be grouped into three subfamilies that exhibit little sequence homology but appear to share the same overall topology. In this review, we will focus on receptors in the largest subfamily, which comprises more than 90% of GPCRs, that includes rhodopsin (Rh) and receptors for small neurotransmitters, such as opioids and catecholamines, peptides such as bradykinin, GnRH, and TRH, and glycoprotein hormones. The two-dimensional topology of a typical member of this subfamily, a receptor for TRH, is illustrated in Fig. 1Go1. GPCRs contain an extracellular amino terminus, three extracellular loops (ECLs), seven transmembrane-spanning helices (TMHs), three intracellular loops (ICLs) and an intracellular carboxyl terminus. The specific domains within which different regulatory molecules bind to GPCRs, and the changes in a GPCR that constitute conversion of the receptor from an inactive to an active state are under intense investigation. In general, evidence has been presented that small ligands bind primarily in the core of the TMHs, intermediate size peptides to the ECLs and TMHs, and larger peptides and proteins to the amino terminus, ECLs and, most likely, the TMHs of their specific receptors. Upon binding an agonist, it is thought that changes are induced in the conformation of the receptor, in particular, changes involving the relative positions of the seven TMHs. The movements of the TMHs are thought to cause changes in the ICLs leading to increased coupling to a heterotrimeric G protein(s) and G protein activation. These hypotheses, however, have only begun to be tested by direct experimentation.



View larger version (81K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 1. A two-dimensional topology of the TRH receptor sequence. Two-dimensional topology of the TRH receptor with the extracellular space at the top and the intracellular space at the bottom. The residues highlighted in circles are sites of high conservation that were used to determine the helical boundaries and align the helices on the transmembrane template. The residues highlighted in squares constitute the transmembrane binding pocket and those highlighted in diamonds the residues that participate in anchoring TRH to the receptor surface and guiding it to the transmembrane pocket.

 
Recently (1), the three-dimensional (3D) structure of rhodopsin has been resolved. In the absence of experimentally determined 3D structures for other GPCRs, one approach is to construct a model for the GPCR and to refine the model based on experimental results. Computer-generated models for many GPCRs have been constructed. A number of these models are available at http://swift.embl-heidelberg.de/7tm/models/lin/index.html. The reliability of the predicted model is difficult to assess independently. However, its usefulness is in providing a molecular basis for specific structural hypotheses with concomitant functional correlates. Moreover, even when 3D structures are resolved experimentally, molecular models will be useful to generate hypotheses regarding the molecular details of GPCR function. Models of the TMH domains are constructed on the basis of a topological homology, expressed as a general backbone template (see below). However, the specific sequence of the receptor determines local structure and interactions between proximal residues. Therefore, the initial structure of a predicted model must be refined computationally by minimization of the initial structure to relieve the offending close contacts. Subsequently, dynamic simulations that efficiently sample configurational space are used to refine the structure. The construction of loops in receptors encounters the difficulty of no available templates. Here, a simulated annealing approach is necessary to ensure proper folding of the loops and constant temperature simulations can be used to refine the initial fold.

Some investigators used bacteriorhodopsin (Br), for which a crystal structure at 1.55 Å resolution is now available (2), as a template for constructing the TMHs of GPCRs (3). Br, however, is not a GPCR even though it is a seven transmembrane-spanning protein. Other investigators used a GPCR template constructed by Baldwin (4). This TMH template was based on a comprehensive analysis of hundreds of GPCR sequences and was shown to be consistent with many mutational analyses. This template agrees well with the recently reported crystal structure of Rh that was resolved to 2.8 Å (1). It is now clear that position and tilt of TMHs in Rh, and by inference in all GPCRs, are different from those in Br. Nevertheless, models based on both Rh and Br have proven useful in generating hypotheses that have been tested experimentally.

In the majority of reports that describe computer simulations of GPCRs, the purpose of model construction was to describe the binding pocket for the ligand within the receptor. Models of ligand-receptor complexes were constructed incorporating experimental evidence of the specific receptor amino acid residues with which the ligands were found to interact. These models are being used, for example, in efforts to discover GPCR agonist or antagonist drugs. Another important use of GPCR models is to generate hypotheses regarding the binding and signaling functions of these receptors for experimental testing. That is, to direct experimentation to define the structure-function relationships of GPCRs. We think the most effective use of models, however, is as part of an iterative, bidirectional approach in which models are used to generate hypotheses that are tested by experimentation and the experimental findings are, in turn, used to revise and refine the model. The success of this approach is due to the synergistic interaction between theory and experiment. We will emphasize this last approach in this review.


    Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR Complexes
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 
Small ligands
The prototypical complex for a small ligand and its receptor is the 11-cis-retinal/Rh complex. In contrast to all other ligand/receptor complexes to be described, 11-cis-retinal is covalently attached to Rh. The linkage is via a protonated Schiff base to a Lys in TMH7. As noted above, 11-cis-retinal/Rh is the only ligand/GPCR complex for which a structure has been resolved experimentally (1). The Lys in TMH7 that is attached to retinal lies deep within the bundle of TMHs and the entire ligand is within the TMH bundle with the six-membered ß-ionone ring closer to the extracellular aspect of Rh. The Schiff base is surrounded by residues from TMH1, 2, and 7 and the ß-ionone ring interacts with residues from TMH3 and 6. Models of ligand/receptor complexes for a number of small ligands and their cognate GPCRs have been constructed (Table 1Go). The TMH bundle of the receptor was based on either the Rh or Br template. In every case, the ligand was docked within the receptor based on experimental results that identified receptor amino acid residues which directly interact with the ligand. That is, in no case was a stable model of a ligand/receptor complex constructed using a computer simulation independent of experimental evidence delineating the binding pocket. (This is true for ligand/GPCR complexes of peptide and protein ligands also.) A typical model of a GPCR for a small ligand, TRH (pyroGlu-His-ProNH2), is illustrated in Fig. 2Go and a close-up of the TRH/receptor complex is shown in Fig. 3Go. The details of our construction have been described elsewhere (5). TRH is predicted to interact with residues in TMH3, 6 and 7 within the extracellular part of the TMH bundle (see below).


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Models of GPCRs and ligand/GPCR complexes1

 


View larger version (35K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 2. Model of TRH receptor. A side view of the three-dimensional model of the TRH receptor with the extracellular space at the top and the intracellular space at the bottom. The model includes the extracellular loops and the transmembrane helices. The residues shown are those involved in TRH binding.

 


View larger version (43K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 3. A close-up of the transmembrane binding pocket of the TRH receptor showing TRH (yellow) in its bound conformation. TRH interacts with Tyr-106 in TMH3, Tyr-282 and Trp-279 in TMH6 and Arg-306 in TMH7.

 
Peptide ligands
As noted above, peptide ligands bind to GPCRs by interacting with the extracellular domains and TMHs. It is noteworthy that a disulfide bond links ECL1 to ECL2 (see Fig. 1Go). A typical example of a model of a peptide ligand/receptor complex is that of cholecystokinin-8, an octapeptide that is the most biologically active form of this peptide, with its receptor (6, 7). The interactions of cholecystokinin-8 with its receptor are predicted to involve residues in the amino terminus, ECL2, ECL3, and the extracellular aspect of TMH6. The nonapeptide arginine-vasopressin is predicted to bind to its cognate receptor by interacting with residues in ECL1 and TMH2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 (8, 9) and the decapeptide GnRH is predicted to bind to residues in all TMHs and ECL2 and 3 in its cognate receptor (10, 11). A model for the binding of the nonapeptide bradykinin predicts that bradykinin binds to residues in TMH5, 6, and 7 near the TMH/ECL boundary, whereas a peptide antagonist binds to residues in TMH5, 6, and 7 that are deeper within the TMH bundle (12). Different sites for binding peptide agonists, peptide antagonists and nonpeptide antagonists have been reported in a number of GPCRs.

Large polypeptide/protein ligands
As noted above, larger peptides and proteins bind to the amino terminus, ECLs and, most likely, the TMHs of their specific receptors. Chemokines are 70 to 100 amino acid polypeptides that bind primarily to the amino termini and ECL1 and 2 of their cognate receptors (13, 14). Models of receptors for glycoprotein hormones do not include the amino termini (15, 16), but it has been predicted that these ligands bind primarily to the amino termini and ECLs of their receptors (17).


    Use of Models to Generate Hypotheses of GPCR Structure and Function
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 
Small ligand binding pockets
We have constructed a model of the TRH receptor on a generic template for GPCRs (5). The generic template was developed based on an analysis of GPCR sequences and the constructed model was optimized using energy minimization and molecular dynamic simulations. We tested the modeling approach by constructing a model of Rh that we showed agreed well with a density projection map of the protein and with structural inferences derived from biochemical and mutational experiments. Highly conserved residues in all helices (Asn-43 in TM-1, Asp-71 in TM-2, Ser-112 in TM-3, Trp-150 in TM-4, Pro-203 in TM-5, Trp-279 in TM-6 and Asn-316 in TM-7) (Fig. 1Go) were used to guide the initial construction. In our initial model of the TRH/TRH receptor complex, we docked TRH into the TMH bundle of TRH receptor and, using a novel simulation approach, optimized the complex by extensive sampling of the configurational and conformational degrees of freedom (18). This model predicted that, in addition to the experimentally determined interaction of pyroGlu with Tyr-106 and Asn-110 in TMH3, Tyr-282 in TMH6, and Arg-306 in TMH7 could interact with the His and ProNH2 of TRH, respectively. These predictions were tested using synthetic analogs of TRH and mutational analysis of TRH receptor, and the experimental observations were shown to be consistent with the predictions (19, 20, 21). The final model shows that the pyroGlu moiety of TRH forms H-bonds with Tyr-106 and Asn-110 in TMH3, His interacts hydrophobically with Tyr-282 in TMH6, and the ProNH2 forms H-bonds with Arg-306 in TMH7. Thus, these studies allowed us to describe the molecular interactions of TRH with the binding pocket within the TMH bundle of TRH receptor.

Ter Laak, Timmerman, Leurs, and colleagues (22, 23) constructed a model of an agonist/histamine H1 receptor complex based on a Br TMH template using experimental evidence for the interactions between histamine agonists and specific receptor residues. The model predicted an Asp in TMH3, a Trp in TMH4, a Lys in TMH5 and two Phe residues in TMH6 with which ligands would interact. Experiments involving functional studies with mutated receptors and different antagonists provided evidence that the predictions were correct. These studies allowed delineation of agonist and antagonist binding pockets in histamine H1 receptor.

Befort and colleagues (24) constructed a model of the TMH bundle of the {delta}-opioid receptor based on a Br template and sequence alignment with other GPCRs. The model predicted that a series of aromatic residues in TMHs project into the bundle. These residues were mutated and binding of opioid analogs was measured. Evidence was obtained that a Tyr in TMH3, a Trp in TMH4, a Phe in TMH5, a Trp in TMH6, and a Tyr in TMH7 provide interactions with the ligands. These findings further demonstrated the importance of aromatic residues in binding small ligands.

Almaula and co-workers (25) constructed a model of the serotonin type 2A receptor that predicted that the ligand would interact with a Ser one helical turn below the Asp in TMH3 that binds the cationic primary amino group of serotonin. This prediction was shown to be consistent with data from experiments using Ser to Ala and to Cys mutations and serotonin analogs.

Sequential binding of small ligands to GPCRs
Based on our model of the unoccupied TRH receptor (26, 27) (Fig. 4Go), we proposed that TRH binds to TRH receptor in at least three discrete steps. TRH interacts with: 1) Tyr-181 on the surface of the ECLs; 2) with Asn-289 and Ser-290 at the ECL/TMH boundary; and 3) with TMH residues (see above). Specifically, it was predicted that the pyroGlu of TRH interacts with Tyr-181 then with Asn-289/Ser-290 and then with Tyr-106/Asn-110. These predictions were tested experimentally. Using a mutation of Tyr-181 to Phe, we showed that TRH interacted with Tyr-181 via the pyroGlu moiety because a mutant receptor in which Phe was substituted for Tyr-181 (Y181F) was not able to discriminate between TRH analogs changed in the pyroGlu position but was able to distinguish between TRH and analogs substituted in the His or ProNH2 positions. Similar findings were obtained with Y106F and N110A mutant TRH receptors, and with N289A and S290A mutant receptors. Most importantly, N289A exhibited a decreased binding affinity for TRH that was accounted for by a decreased rate of association rather than N110A that exhibited a similar decrease in affinity but in which the decreased affinity was caused by an increased rate of dissociation (27). Thus, we concluded that TRH is attracted to TRH receptor via interactions with Tyr-181, is conducted down a funnel formed by the ECLs through which it enters the TMH binding pocket in which it exerts its effect to change the conformation of TRH receptor that comprises the conversion of the receptor from an inactive to active state (see below).



View larger version (66K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Figure 4. A depiction of the funnel formed by the extracellular loops that guides TRH into the transmembrane binding pocket. The surface has been partially removed to show the funnel, with Tyr-181 at its entrance, as well as the transmembrane (TM) binding pocket. This figure is based on recent simulation conducted by Dr. Rosenhouse-Dantsker.

 
Using molecular modeling and experiments with mutant receptors and purinergic analogs, Moro and colleagues (28) drew similar conclusions regarding sequential binding of purinergic ligands to the P2Y1 receptor.

Thus, it appears that small ligands enter their binding pockets within the TMH bundle after attraction and sequential interactions with ECL residues.

Peptide ligand binding pockets
Several groups of investigators have used initial models of ligand/GPCR complexes to make predictions regarding other interactions between receptor residues and ligands to define the binding pockets of receptors for peptides more completely. The binding pockets for nonpeptide ligands in these same receptors were analyzed also. In a series of reports (6, 7, 29), Fourmy and colleagues described experiments in which they used a series of cholecystokinin (CCK) analogs and cholecystokinin-A receptor (CCK-AR) mutants coupled with computer simulations to develop a model of CCK binding and CCK-AR activation. An initial model of CCK-AR was constructed based on the TMH template of Br, and Rh and ß2-adrenergic receptor for sequence alignment. Based on experimental findings that two residues in the amino terminus of CCK-AR bind the amino terminus of CCK-9 and docking the remainder of the CCK-9 peptide into the TMH bundle of CCK-AR, a model of the CCK/CCK-AR complex was constructed. (The 3D structure of CCK-9 was based on biophysical measurements.) The model was optimized by energy minimization and molecular dynamics simulation protocols. This model predicted that a Met residue in ECL2 of CCK-AR interacted with the sulfated Tyr in position-3 of CCK-9. Using site-specific mutagenesis of this Met and CCK-9 analogs, these authors tested this hypothesis and presented evidence that supported an interaction between this Met and Tyr(SO3H)-3 as being important for ligand binding and receptor activation. In a subsequent study, predictions of the model that the carboxylate of Asp-8 and the carboxyl terminal amide of CCK-9 interacted with Asn and Arg residues at the boundary of TMH6 and ECL3 were tested, and data supporting these interactions were obtained. From these findings, the authors were able to identify a hydrophilic group of receptor residues that interact with CCK-9 and hypothesized that electrostatic interactions were important in converting CCK-AR from an inactive to an active state. Gouldson and co-workers (30) constructed a model of CCK-AR and presented evidence based on mutational analyses that a nonpeptide agonist and antagonist bind via interactions with different residues within the TMH bundle. The antagonist was predicted to bind near the extracellular surface of the TMH bundle via a limited number of contacts whereas the nonpeptide agonist, like CCK-8, bound deeper within the bundle and made many more contacts with receptor residues.

Jarnagin and colleagues (12) constructed a model of the TMH bundle of the B2 bradykinin (BK) receptor based on Br and mutagenesis experiments of several GPCRs. The conformation of BK in solution resolved by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was docked into the receptor model. Based on predictions of the model, a number of residues in the TMH5, 6, and 7 were mutated and data consistent with interactions between these residues and BK were provided.

Feighner and colleagues (31) constructed an energy-minimized model for the hexapeptide GH-releasing peptide (GHRP-6) receptor. The model predicted interactions of the ligand with residues in TMH2, 3, 5, and 6 and in ECL1 that were tested by site-specific mutations. The data obtained were consistent with the predictions.

Macdonald and colleagues (32) constructed a melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH)/MCH receptor complex by docking MCH in a conformation obtained by molecular dynamics simulation into a receptor model based on a Br template. The model predicted an interaction between an Asp in TMH3 and Arg-11 in the 19-amino acid, cyclic peptide. The prediction was tested experimentally by mutation of the receptor and synthesis of position-11 MCH analogs. The findings were consistent with a role for the Asp in TMH3 in binding MCH and in receptor activation.

Mouillac, Barberis, Hibert, and co-workers (8, 9, 33, 34) have used models of the vasopressin V1a receptor to study binding of agonists and antagonists. Their model predicted that a primary binding pocket for the cyclic, nonapeptide vasopressin was within the TMH bundle (see above), and this was confirmed by mutational analysis of the receptor. They next studied the binding of linear peptide and nonpeptide antagonists. They found that aromatic residues in TMH6 of the receptor were needed for binding antagonists even though they are not involved in binding agonists. These findings provide new insights that could be used in rational design of antagonists vs. agonists.

Role of highly conserved Asn in TMH1, Asp in TMH2 and Asn in TMH7 in GPCR structure
Sealfon, Weinstein, and colleagues (35, 36) used models of the GnRH receptor to predict structural features that were important for receptor function. They noticed that the highly conserved pattern of Asn in TMH1, Asp in TMH2 and Asn in TMH7 was changed in GnRH receptor to Asn in TMH1, Asn in TMH2 and Asp in TMH7. A model of the TMH bundle of GnRH receptor was constructed and energy minimized. The model predicted that these three residues interact to stabilize the helical bundle. The findings from experiments using site-specific mutations of these residues and functional analyses of the mutant receptors were consistent with this prediction.

Our model of the unoccupied TRH receptor (see above) predicted that Asn-43, Asp-71and Asn-316 interacted via H-bonds to hold TMH1, 2 and 7 together (37). This prediction was tested by site-specific mutagenesis, and the data obtained were consistent with this hypothesis.

In the 3D crystal structure of Rh (1), the conserved Asn in TMH1 and the Asp in TMH2 interact with the peptide backbone carbonyl one helical turn above the conserved Asn in TMH7, and Asp in TMH2 and Asn in TMH7 interact via a water molecule also. Thus, models provided the first insights into how residues in TMH1, 2, and 7 through intramolecular interactions constrained the conformation of TMH bundle of GPCRs.

Role of highly conserved Asn-Pro/Asp-Pro motif in the structure of TMH7
Weinstein and colleagues (38) used results from analysis of a structure database search and dynamic simulations to construct a model of TMH7 of a GPCR. Their model predicted that TMH7 is not an ideal {alpha}-helix but contains a kink caused by the Asn-Pro/Asp-Pro motif. Using the serotonin receptor type 2a as a prototype, they suggested that a model incorporating this kinked helix explained previously generated experimental data. However, the Rh structure shows that the Asn-Pro-Xaa-Xaa-Tyr sequence has a regular helical structure, and a kink occurs at a point further along the helix. Other parts of TMH7, in particular the area around the Lys that covalently attaches to retinal and the sequence near the Ala residue whose carbonyl interacts with Asn in TMH1, are distorted.

Role of highly conserved Asp/Glu-Arg-Tyr sequence in GPCR activation
The amino acid sequence Asp/Glu-Arg-Tyr (D/E-R-Y) at the intracellular end of TMH3 has been shown to be important in receptor activation in several GPCRs. It was initially shown that the charged pair of Glu-Arg was needed for rhodopsin activation because double mutants of these residues failed to activate transducin (39). Scheer, Fanelli, and colleagues (40, 41) constructed models of native {alpha}1B-adrenergic receptors and of receptors with mutations of the Asp and Arg residues of the D-R-Y sequence that exhibited constitutive signaling activities. Functional experiments with these receptors showed that mutation of Arg to several other amino acids caused inhibition of stimulated signaling and to Lys increased basal signaling, whereas mutation of Asp to Ala caused a marked increase in basal activity. Their models predicted that the Arg residue was located in a hydrophilic pocket formed by the highly conserved Asn in TMH1, Asp in TMH2 and Asn and Tyr in TMH7 (see above) in the receptors that were not basally active and that this Arg was not in this pocket in basally active {alpha}1B-adrenergic receptor mutants. Based on their experimental observations and model predictions, and the finding that activation of Rh is associated with proton uptake (42), these investigators proposed the following hypothesis for activation of the {alpha}1B-adrenergic receptor. The inactive receptor is restrained by interactions between Arg of D-R-Y and the hydrophilic residues of the pocket formed between TMH1, 2 and 7. Activation is secondary to protonation of the Asp in D-R-Y that causes the Arg of the D-R-Y sequence to move out of the TMH bundle and changes the orientation of residues in ICL2 and 3 that allow for increased affinity of coupling to G protein-coupled.

Fanelli and colleagues (43) analyzed the Asp-Arg-Cys, rather than Asp-Arg-Tyr in most GPCRs, sequence at the end of TMH3 in the oxytocin receptor by mutation and modeling. Mutation of the Arg to Ala caused this receptor to become constitutively active. Nevertheless, they predicted that the same movement of Arg from a hydrophilic pocket formed by TMH1, 2, and 7 in the oxytocin receptor creates a crevice formed by ICL2 and 3 and the intracellular extension of TMH5 to which a G protein may couple. This hypothesis is similar to the one they proposed for the {alpha}1B-adrenergic receptor (see above).

A different hypothesis regarding a protonation-dependent mechanism of activation involving Arg at the intracellular aspect of TMH3 has been proposed for the GnRH receptor. From their models, Ballesteros and colleagues (36) predicted that the Arg of the Asp-Arg-Ser sequence at the end of TMH3 interacts with the adjacent Asp in the inactive state of the GnRH receptor. Activation involves release of the Arg from interacting with Asp by Asp protonation and promotes movement of the Arg into a hydrophilic pocket in the TMH bundle. An Ile one helical turn above the Arg in TMH3 sterically directs the Arg into the TMH hydrophilic pocket. They provided experimental support for this hypothesis by finding that mutation of Arg markedly decreased agonist-stimulated activation whereas receptors with mutations of Asp to Asn or Ile to Ala were less well stimulated than GnRH receptor.

Thus, these models predict that movement of the sidechain of the Arg of the highly conserved E/D-R-Y sequence is involved in receptor activation. In particular, they support a role for the Arg as a switch to convert a GPCR from an inactive to an active state in response to agonist-stimulated receptor protonation. A recent report, however, has provided evidence that the conserved Asp in the D-R-Y sequence is not necessary for protonation-dependent activation of the ß2-adrenergic receptor even though protonation may be involved (44).

Role of transmembrane helix movement in GPCR activation
Experiments with mutant rhodopsins in which double site-specific substitutions by Cys labeled for electron spin resonance spectroscopy demonstrated that movement of TMHs relative to one another were involved in receptor activation (45). In the case of Rh, TMH3 and 6 were shown to exhibit relative motion upon light activation. Movement of TMHs of Rh upon conversion of 11-cis-retinal to all trans-retinal is predicted from the crystal structure also (1). Gether and co-workers (46) performed experiments using a conformationally sensitive Cys-reactive reagent and found that positions in TMH3 and 6 changed their environments upon binding ß2-adrenergic agonists. Based on their model of the ß2-adrenergic receptor, they concluded that these movements were similar to those proposed in Rh.

Based on our analyses of unoccupied and TRH-occupied TRH receptor models, we (47) predicted relative movement of TMH5 and 6 upon activation of TRH receptor. To provide evidence in support of this hypothesis, we mutated residues in TMH5 and 6 that our model predicted were involved in interhelical aromatic interactions that constrain the receptor in the inactive conformation. Mutation of these residues to amino acids that could not form aromatic interactions should allow these helices to move apart and thereby activate TRH receptor. As predicted, mutation of Phe-199 in TMH5 and of Trp-279 in TMH6 to Ala produced receptors that were constitutively active.

Lin and colleagues (15) constructed a model of the LH/CG receptor and used it along with an analysis of naturally occurring constitutively activating mutations to predict TMH movements that constitute LH/CG receptor activation. They concluded that hydrophobic interactions among residues in the intracellular halves of TMH5 and 6, and polar interactions between residues in TMH6 and 7 constrain LH/CG receptor in an inactive conformation. They suggested that activation involves agonist-induced disruption of these interactions that allows TMH6 movement. Findings inconsistent with some of these predictions, however, have been reported (16). An analysis of a number of constitutively active LH/CG receptor mutants supports the idea that activation is caused by release of intrahelical interactions (48).

Fanelli and colleagues (43) predicted movements of TMH3, 4, 5, and 6 as components of activation of the oxytocin receptor secondary to movement of the Arg sidechain of the E/D-R-Y sequence (see above). Zhang and Weinstein (49) predicted that TMH5 and 6 underwent the greatest motion when agonists bound to serotonin type 2 receptors.

Biologically active conformation of an agonist
Prevailing theory of GPCR activation holds that the receptor can assume many conformations within a spectrum from inactive to fully active and that different agonists will lead to different subsets of receptor conformations. In general, especially for small ligands, conformational changes of the agonist are not considered. However, to understand receptor activation, the conformation of the active pharmacophore is critical. We (50) found that the conformation of TRH in our model of the TRH/TRH receptor complex was different from the predominant conformations of TRH in solution. To gain insight into the biologically active TRH conformation, Dr. Kevin Moeller (Washington University, St. Louis, MO) synthesized conformationally restricted analogs of TRH. We characterized two diastereomers of an analog restricted by addition of a methylene bridge between the second and third positions of a TRH analog, pyroGlu-cyclohexylAla-ProNH2. We found that one diastereomer bound with higher affinity and exhibited higher intrinsic activity than pyroGlu-cyclohexylAla-ProNH2, whereas the other diastereomer bound with lower affinity and was less active than pyroGlu-cyclohexylAla-ProNH2. Computer simulations of these analogs predicted that the higher affinity, more active diastereomer assumed a conformation that was similar to TRH in our model of the TRH/TRH receptor complex whereas the lower affinity, less active diastereomer was similar in structure to TRH in solution. Thus, our model of the TRH/TRH receptor complex predicted a biologically active conformation of TRH. These types of predictions may allow for the design of better agonists of GPCRs.


    Conclusions
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 
The emergence of the relationship between structure and function in GPCRs has been made possible by the combination of computational modeling and molecular pharmacological experiments. We are only at the beginning of this process, but we have already made progress in understanding the basis for receptor selectivity, i.e. how ligands bind to receptors. We are beginning to delineate the molecular details of the consequences of agonist interaction with receptors, i.e. the molecular basis for receptor activation. We are also gaining increasing understanding of how mutated receptors become constitutively active and lead to human disease. One of the most exciting recent developments is the determination of the structure of rhodopsin. Hopefully, structures of other GPCRs will follow. However, while the structure of rhodopsin may provide a guideline to the structures of related receptors, it does not delineate the details of the structures of other receptors and, more importantly, it does not elucidate the structural changes that lead to receptor activation. Thus, a combination of theory and experiment will remain the approach of choice not only to discover the basis for receptor function but also to successfully design therapeutic agents to treat human disease.


    Acknowledgments
 
We thank the members of our research groups for their contributions to the work on the TRH receptor. In particular, we acknowledge the contributions of A.-O. Colson, A. Jinsi-Parimoo, L. Laakkonen, J. H. Perlman, A. Rosenhouse-Dantsker, and W. Wang. We also thank K.D. Moeller (Department of Chemistry, WA University, St. Louis, MO) for synthesis of many of the TRH analogs we used.

We apologize to those investigators whose relevant contributions we failed to include in this review.


    Footnotes
 
1 The work from our laboratories was supported by USPHS Grant DK-43036. Back

Received August 28, 2000.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Initial Models of Ligand-GPCR...
 Use of Models to...
 Conclusions
 References
 

  1. Palczewski K, Kumasaka T, Hori T, Behnke CA, Motoshima H, Fox BA, Le Trong I, Teller DC, Okada T, Stenkamp RE, Yamamoto M, Miyano M 2000 Crystal structure of rhodopsin: a G protein-coupled receptor. Science 289:739–745[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Luecke H, Schobert B, Richter HT, Cartailler JP, Lanyi JK 1999 Structure of bacteriorhodopsin at 1.55 Å resolution. J Mol Biol 291:899–911[CrossRef][Medline]
  3. Röper D, Jacoby E, Krüger P, Engels M, Grötzinger J, Wollmer A, Strassburger W 1994 Modeling of G-protein coupled receptors with bacteriorhodopsin as a template. A novel approach based on interaction energy differences. J Recept Res 14:167–186[Medline]
  4. Baldwin JM 1993 The probable arrangement of the helices in G protein-coupled receptors. EMBO J 12:1693–1703[Medline]
  5. Osman R, Colson A-O, Perlman JH, Laakkonen LJ, Gershengorn MC 1999 Mapping binding sites for peptide G protein-coupled receptors: The receptor for thyrotropin-releasing hormone. In: Wess J (ed) Structure/Function of G-Protein Coupled Receptors. John Wiley & Sons, New York
  6. Gigoux V, Escrieut C, Silvente-Poirot S, Maigret B, Gouilleux L, Fehrentz JA, Gully D, Moroder L, Vaysse N, Fourmy D 1998 Met-195 of the cholecystokinin-A receptor interacts with the sulfated tyrosine of cholecystokinin and is crucial for receptor transition to high affinity state. J Biol Chem 273:14380–14386[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Gigoux V, Escrieut C, Fehrentz JA, Poirot S, Maigret B, Moroder L, Gully D, Martinez J, Vaysse N, Fourmy D 1999 Arginine 336 and asparagine 333 of the human cholecystokinin-A receptor binding site interact with the penultimate aspartic acid and the C-terminal amide of cholecystokinin. J Biol Chem 274:20457–20464[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  8. Phalipou S, Seyer R, Cotte N, Breton C, Barberis C, Hibert M, Mouillac B 1999 Docking of linear peptide antagonists into the human V1a vasopressin receptor - identification of binding domains by photoaffinity labeling. J Biol Chem 274:23316–23327[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Cotte N, Balestre MN, Aumelas A, Mahé E, Phalipou S, Morin D, Hibert M, Manning M, Durroux T, Barberis C, Mouillac B 2000 Conserved aromatic residues in the transmembrane region VI of the V1a vasopressin receptor differentiate agonist vs. antagonist ligand binding. Eur J Biochem 267:4253–4263[Medline]
  10. Cui JS, Smith RG, Mount GR, Lo JL, Yu JH, Walsh TF, Singh SB, DeVita RJ, Goulet MT, Schaeffer JM, Cheng K 2000 Identification of Phe313 of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor as a site critical for the binding of nonpeptide GnRH antagonists. Mol Endocrinol 14:671–681[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  11. Hoffmann SH, Ter Laak T, Kühne R, Reiländer H, Beckers T 2000 Residues within transmembrane helices 2 and 5 of the human gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor contribute to agonist and antagonist binding. Mol Endocrinol 14:1099–1115[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Jarnagin K, Bhakta S, Zuppan P, Yee C, Ho T, Phan T, Tahilramani R, Pease JHB, Miller A, Freedman R 1996 Mutations in the B2 bradykinin receptor reveal a different pattern of contacts for peptidic agonists and peptidic antagonists. J Biol Chem 271:28277–28286[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  13. Lee B, Sharron M, Blanpain C, Doranz BJ, Vakili J, Setoh P, Berg E, Liu G, Guy HR, Durell SR, Parmentier M, Chang CN, Price K, Tsang M, Doms RW 1999 Epitope mapping of CCR5 reveals multiple conformational states and distinct but overlapping structures involved in chemokine and coreceptor function. J Biol Chem 274:9617–9626[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  14. Zhou NM, Luo ZW, Hall JW, Luo JS, Han XB, Huang ZW 2000 Molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis of CCR5 reveal residues critical for chemokine binding and signal transduction. Eur J Immunol 30:164–173[CrossRef][Medline]
  15. Lin ZL, Shenker A, Pearlstein R 1997 A model of the lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor: insights into the structural and functional effects of constitutively activating mutations. Protein Eng 10:501–510[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  16. Angelova K, Narayan P, Simon JP, Puett D 2000 Functional role of transmembrane helix 7 in the activation of the heptahelical lutropin receptor. Mol Endocrinol 14:459–471[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  17. Moyle WR, Campbell RK, Rao SNV, Ayad NG, Bernard MP, Han Y, Wang YH 1995 Model of human chorionic gonadotropin and lutropin receptor interaction that explains signal transduction of the glycoprotein hormones. J Biol Chem 270:20020–20031[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  18. Perlman JH, Laakkonen L, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1994 A model of the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) receptor binding pocket. Evidence for a second direct interaction between transmembrane helix 3 and TRH. J Biol Chem 269:23383–23386[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  19. Perlman JH, Laakkonen L, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1995 Distinct roles for arginines in transmembrane helices 6 and 7 of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor. Mol Pharmacol 47:480–484[Abstract]
  20. Perlman JH, Laakkonen LJ, Guarnieri F, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1996 A refined model of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptor binding pocket. Experimental analysis and energy minimization of the complex between TRH and TRH receptor. Biochemistry 35:7643–7650[CrossRef][Medline]
  21. Laakkonen L, Guarnieri F, Perlman JH, Gershengorn MC, Osman R 1996 A refined model of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) binding pocket. Novel mixed mode MonteCarlo/stochastic dynamics simulations of the complex between TRH and TRH receptor. Biochemistry 35:7651–7663[CrossRef][Medline]
  22. Ter Laak AM, Timmerman H, Leurs R, Nederkoorn PH, Smit MJ, Donne-Op den Kelder GM 1995 Modelling and mutation studies on the histamine H1-receptor agonist binding site reveal different binding modes for H1-agonists: Asp116 (TM3) has a constitutive role in receptor stimulation. J Comput Aided Mol Des 9:319–330[CrossRef][Medline]
  23. Wieland K, Ter Laak AM, Smit MJ, Kühne R, Timmerman H, Leurs R 1999 Mutational analysis of the antagonist-binding site of the histamine H1 receptor. J Biol Chem 274:29994–30000[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  24. Befort K, Tabbara L, Kling D, Maigret B, Kieffer BL 1996 Role of aromatic transmembrane residues of the {delta}-opioid receptor in ligand recognition. J Biol Chem 271:10161–10168[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  25. Almaula N, Ebersole BJ, Zhang D, Weinstein H, Sealfon SC 1996 Mapping the binding site pocket of the serotonin 5-Hydroxytryptamine2A receptor. Ser3.36(159) provides a second interaction site for the protonated amine of serotonin but not of lysergic acid diethylamide or bufotenin. J Biol Chem 271:14672–14675[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  26. Colson AO, Perlman JH, Smolyar A, Gershengorn MC, Osman R 1998 Static and dynamic roles of extracellular loops in G-protein-coupled receptors: a mechanism for sequential binding of thyrotropin-releasing hormone to its receptor. Biophys J 74:1087–1100[Medline]
  27. Perlman JH, Colson A-O, Jain R, Czyzewski B, Cohen LA, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1997 Role of the extracellular loops of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor: evidence for an initial interaction with thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Biochemistry 36:15670–15676[CrossRef][Medline]
  28. Moro S, Hoffmann C, Jacobson KA 1999 Role of the extracellular loops of G protein-coupled receptors in ligand recognition: a molecular modeling study of the human P2Y1 receptor. Biochemistry 38:3498–3507[CrossRef][Medline]
  29. Kennedy K, Gigoux V, Escrieut C, Maigret B, Martinez J, Moroder L, Fréhel D, Gully D, Vaysse N, Fourmy D 1997 Identification of two amine acids of the human cholecystokinin-A receptor that interact with the N-terminal moiety of cholecystokinin. J Biol Chem 272:2920–2926[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  30. Gouldson P, Legoux P, Carillon C, Delpech B, Le Fur G, Ferrara P, Shire D 2000 The agonist SR 146131 and the antagonist SR 27897 occupy different sites on the human CCK1 receptor. Eur J Pharmacol 400:185–194[CrossRef][Medline]
  31. Feighner SD, Howard AD, Prendergast K, Palyha OC, Hreniuk DL, Nargund R, Underwood D, Tata JR, Dean DC, Tan CP, McKee KK, Woods JW, Patchett AA, Smith RG, Van der Ploeg LH 1998 Structural requirements for the activation of the human growth hormone secretagogue receptor by peptide and nonpeptide secretagogues. Mol Endocrinol 12:137–145[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  32. Macdonald D, Murgolo N, Zhang RM, Durkin JP, Yao XR, Strader CD, Graziano MP 2000 Molecular characterization of the melanin-concentrating hormone/receptor complex: identification of critical residues involved in binding and activation. Mol Pharmacol 58:217–225[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  33. Chini B, Mouillac B, Ala Y, Balestre MN, Trumpp-Kallmeyer S, Hoflack J, Elands J, Hibert M, Manning M, Jard S, Barberis C 1995 Tyr115 is the key residue for determining agonist selectivity in the V1a vasopressin receptor. EMBO J 14:2176–2182[Medline]
  34. Mouillac B, Chini B, Balestre M-N, Elands J, Trumpp-Kallmeyer S, Hoflack J, Hibert M, Jard S, Barberis C 1995 The binding site of neuropeptide vasopressin V1a receptor. Evidence for a major localization within transmembrane regions. J Biol Chem 270:25771–25777[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  35. Zhou W, Flanagan C, Ballesteros JA, Konvicka K, Davidson JS, Weinstein H, Millar RP, Sealfon SC 1994 A reciprocal mutation supports helix 2 and helix 7 proximity in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor. Mol Pharmacol 45:165–170[Abstract]
  36. Ballesteros J, Kitanovic S, Guarnieri F, Davies P, Fromme BJ, Konvicka K, Chi L, Millar RP, Davidson JS, Weinstein H, Sealfon SC 1998 Functional microdomains in g-protein-coupled receptors - the conserved arginine-cage motif in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor. J Biol Chem 273:10445–10453[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  37. Perlman JH, Colson A-O, Wang W, Bence K, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1997 Interactions between conserved residues in transmembrane helices 1, 2 and 7 of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor. J Biol Chem 272:11937–11942[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  38. Konvicka K, Guarnieri F, Ballesteros JA, Weinstein H 1998 A proposed structure for transmembrane segment 7 of G protein-coupled receptors incorporating an Asn-Pro/Asp-Pro motif. Biophys J 75:601–611[Medline]
  39. Franke RR, Sakmar TP, Graham RM, Khorana HG 1992 Structure and function in rhodopsin. Studies of the interaction between the rhodopsin cytoplasmic domain and transducin. J Biol Chem 267:14767–14774[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  40. Scheer A, Fanelli F, Costa T, De Benedetti PG, Cotecchia S 1996 Constitutively active mutants of the {alpha}1B-adrenergic receptor: role of highly conserved polar amino acids in receptor activation. EMBO J 15:3566–3578[Medline]
  41. Scheer A, Costa T, Fanelli F, De Benedetti PG, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Abuin L, Nenniger-Tosato M, Cotecchia S 2000 Mutational analysis of the highly conserved arginine within the Glu/Asp-Arg-Tyr motif of the {alpha}1b-adrenergic receptor: effects on receptor isomerization and activation. Mol Pharmacol 57:219–231[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  42. Arnis S, Fahmy K, Hofmann KP, Sakmar TP 1994 A conserved carboxylic acid group mediates light-dependent proton uptake and signaling by rhodopsin. J Biol Chem 269:23879–23881[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  43. Fanelli F, Barbier P, Zanchetta D, De Benedetti PG, Chini B 1999 Activation mechanism of human oxytocin receptor: a combined study of experimental and computer-simulated mutagenesis. Mol Pharmacol 56:214–225[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  44. Ghanouni P, Schambye H, Seifert R, Lee TW, Rasmussen SGF, Gether U, Kobilka BK 2000 The effect of pH on ß2 adrenoceptor function - evidence for protonation-dependent activation. J Biol Chem 275:3121–3127[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  45. Farrens DL, Altenbach C, Yang K, Hubbell WL, Khorana HG 1996 Requirement of rigid body motion of transmembrane helices for light activation of rhodopsin. Science 274:768–770[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  46. Gether U, Lin S, Ghanouni P, Ballesteros JA, Weinstein H, Kobilka BK 1997 Agonists induce conformational changes in transmembrane domains III and VI of the ß2 adrenoceptor. EMBO J 16:6737–6747[CrossRef][Medline]
  47. Colson A-O, Perlman JH, Jinsi-Parimoo A, Nussenzveig DR, Osman R, Gershengorn MC 1998 A hydrophobic cluster between transmembrane helices 5 and 6 constrains the thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptor in an inactive conformation. Mol Pharmacol 54:968–978[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  48. Fanelli F 2000 Theoretical study on mutation-induced activation of the luteinizing hormone receptor. J Mol Biol 296:1333–1351[CrossRef][Medline]
  49. Zhang D, Weinstein H 1993 Signal transduction by a 5-HT2 receptor: a mechanistic hypothesis from molecular dynamics simulations of the three-dimensional model of the receptor complexed to ligands. J Med Chem 36:934–938[CrossRef][Medline]
  50. Laakkonen L, Li WH, Perlman JH, Guarnieri F, Osman R, Moeller KD, Gershengorn MC 1996 Restricted analogues provide evidence of a biologically active conformation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Mol Pharmacol 49:1092–1096[Abstract]
  51. Rivkees SA, Barbhaiya H, IJzerman AP 1999 Identification of the adenine binding site of the human A1 adenosine receptor. J Biol Chem 274:3617–3621[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  52. Kim J, Wess J, Van Rhee AM, Schöneberg T, Jacobson KA 1995 Site-directed mutagenesis identifies residues involved in ligand recognition in the human A2a adenosine receptor. J Biol Chem 270:13987–13997[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  53. Kontoyianni M, DeWeese C, Penzotti JE, Lybrand TP 1996 Three-dimensional models for agonist and antagonist complexes with ß2 adrenergic receptor. J Med Chem 39:4406–4420[CrossRef][Medline]
  54. Bramblett RD, Panu AM, Ballesteros JA, Reggio PH 1995 Construction of a 3D model of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor: determination of helix ends and helix orientation. Life Sci 56:1971–1982[CrossRef][Medline]
  55. Javitch JA, Ballesteros JA, Chen JY, Chiappa V, Simpson MM 1999 Electrostatic and aromatic microdomains within the binding-site crevice of the D2 receptor: contributions of the second membrane-spanning segment. Biochemistry 38:7961–7968[CrossRef][Medline]
  56. Mills JS, Miettinen HM, Barnidge D, Vlases MJ, Wimer-Mackin S, Dratz EA, Sunner J, Jesaitis AJ 1998 Identification of a ligand binding site in the human neutrophil formyl peptide receptor using a site-specific fluorescent photoaffinity label and mass spectrometry. J Biol Chem 273:10428–10435[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  57. Burstein ES, Spalding TA, Brann MR 1998 Structure/function relationships of a G-protein coupling pocket formed by the third intracellular loop of the m5 muscarinic receptor. Biochemistry 37:4052–4058[CrossRef][Medline]
  58. Pepin MC, Yue SY, Roberts E, Wahlestedt C, Walker P 1997 Novel "restoration of function" mutagenesis strategy to identify amino acids of the delta-opioid receptor involved in ligand binding. J Biol Chem 272:9260–9267[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  59. Ishii I, Izumi T, Tsukamoto H, Umeyama H, Ui M, Shimizu T 1997 Alanine exchanges of polar amino acids in the transmembrane domains of a platelet-activating factor receptor generate both constitutively active and inactive mutants. J Biol Chem 272:7846–7854[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  60. Moro S, Guo DP, Camaioni E, Boyer JL, Harden TK, Jacobson KA 1998 Human P2Y1 receptor: molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis as tools to identify agonist and antagonist recognition sites. J Med Chem 41:1456–1466[CrossRef][Medline]
  61. Underwood DJ, Strader CD, Rivero R, Patchett AA, Greenlee W, Prendergast K 1994 Structural model of antagonist and agonist binding to the angiotensin II, AT1 subtype, G protein coupled receptor. Chem Biol 1:211–221[CrossRef][Medline]
  62. Noda K, Feng YH, Liu XP, Saad Y, Husain A, Karnik SS 1996 The active state of the AT1 angiotensin receptor is generated by angiotensin II induction. Biochemistry 35:16435–16442[CrossRef][Medline]
  63. Prado GN, Mierke DF, Pellegrini M, Taylor L, Polgar P 1998 Motif mutation of bradykinin B2 receptor second intracellular loop and proximal C terminus is critical for signal transduction, internalization, and resensitization. J Biol Chem 273:33548–33555[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  64. Webb ML, Patel PS, Rose PM, Liu ECK, Stein PD, Barrish J, Lach DA, Stouch T, Fisher SM, Hadjilambris O, Lee H, Skwish S, Dickinson EKJ, Krystek Jr SR 1996 Mutational analysis of the endothelin type A receptor (ETA): interactions and model of the selective ETA antagonist EMS-182874 with the putative ETA receptor binding cavity. Biochemistry 35:2548–2556[CrossRef][Medline]
  65. Prusis P, Frändberg P-A, Muceniece R, Kalvinsh I, Wikberg JES 1995 A three dimensional model for the interaction of MSH with the melanocortin-1 receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 210:205–210[CrossRef][Medline]
  66. Sautel M, Rudolf K, Wittneben H, Herzog H, Martinez R, Munoz M, Eberlein W, Engel W, Walker P, Beck-Sickinger AG 1996 Neuropeptide Y and the nonpeptide antagonist BIBP 3226 share an overlapping binding site at the human Y1 receptor. Mol Pharmacol 50:285–292[Abstract]
  67. Barroso S, Richard F, Nicolas-Ethève D, Reversat JL, Bernassau JM, Kitabgi P, Labbé-Jullié C 2000 Identification of residues involved in neurotensin binding and modeling of the agonist binding site in neurotensin receptor 1. J Biol Chem 275:328–336[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  68. Giolitti A, Cucchi P, Renzetti AR, Rotondaro L, Zappitelli S, Maggi CA 2000 Molecular determinants of peptide and nonpeptide NK-2 receptor antagonists binding sites of the human tachykinin NK-2 receptor by site-directed mutagenesis. Neuropharmacology 39:1422–1429[CrossRef][Medline]
  69. Ryu K, Gilchrist RL, Tung CS, Ji I, Ji TH 1998 High affinity hormone binding to the extracellular N-terminal exodomain of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor is critically modulated by exoloop 3. J Biol Chem 273:28953–28958[Abstract/Free Full Text]



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Protein Eng Des SelHome page
V. Pabuwal and Z. Li
Network pattern of residue packing in helical membrane proteins and its application in membrane protein structure prediction
Protein Eng. Des. Sel., January 3, 2008; (2008) gzm059v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
H. Jaschke, S. Neumann, S. Moore, C. J. Thomas, A.-O. Colson, S. Costanzi, G. Kleinau, J.-K. Jiang, R. Paschke, B. M. Raaka, et al.
A Low Molecular Weight Agonist Signals by Binding to the Transmembrane Domain of Thyroid-stimulating Hormone Receptor (TSHR) and Luteinizing Hormone/Chorionic Gonadotropin Receptor (LHCGR)
J. Biol. Chem., April 14, 2006; 281(15): 9841 - 9844.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
A. C. Conner, J. Simms, S. G. Howitt, M. Wheatley, and D. R. Poyner
The Second Intracellular Loop of the Calcitonin Gene-related Peptide Receptor Provides Molecular Determinants for Signal Transduction and Cell Surface Expression
J. Biol. Chem., January 20, 2006; 281(3): 1644 - 1651.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
D. Du, B. M. Raaka, H. Grimberg, M. Lupu-Meiri, Y. Oron, and M. C. Gershengorn
Carboxyl Tail Cysteine Mutants of the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Type 1 Exhibit Constitutive Signaling: Role of Palmitoylation
Mol. Pharmacol., July 1, 2005; 68(1): 204 - 209.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
E. Archer-Lahlou, C. Escrieut, P. Clerc, J. Martinez, L. Moroder, C. Logsdon, A. Kopin, C. Seva, M. Dufresne, L. Pradayrol, et al.
Molecular Mechanism Underlying Partial and Full Agonism Mediated by the Human Cholecystokinin-1 Receptor
J. Biol. Chem., March 18, 2005; 280(11): 10664 - 10674.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
A. C. Conner, D. L. Hay, J. Simms, S. G. Howitt, M. Schindler, D. M. Smith, M. Wheatley, and D. R. Poyner
A Key Role for Transmembrane Prolines in Calcitonin Receptor-Like Receptor Agonist Binding and Signalling: Implications for Family B G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
Mol. Pharmacol., January 1, 2005; 67(1): 20 - 31.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Interv.Home page
K. A. Jacobson, S.-K. Kim, S. Costanzi, and Z.-G. Gao
PURINE RECEPTORS: GPCR STRUCTURE AND AGONIST DESIGN
Mol. Interv., December 1, 2004; 4(6): 337 - 347.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
X. Lu, W. Huang, S. Worthington, P. Drabik, R. Osman, and M. C. Gershengorn
A Model of Inverse Agonist Action at Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Type 1: Role of a Conserved Tryptophan in Helix 6
Mol. Pharmacol., November 1, 2004; 66(5): 1192 - 1200.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Endocr. Rev.Home page
R. P. Millar, Z.-L. Lu, A. J. Pawson, C. A. Flanagan, K. Morgan, and S. R. Maudsley
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptors
Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2004; 25(2): 235 - 275.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
C. Gales, M. Poirot, J. Taillefer, B. Maigret, J. Martinez, L. Moroder, C. Escrieut, L. Pradayrol, D. Fourmy, and S. Silvente-Poirot
Identification of Tyrosine 189 and Asparagine 358 of the Cholecystokinin 2 Receptor in Direct Interaction with the Crucial C-Terminal Amide of Cholecystokinin by Molecular Modeling, Site-Directed Mutagenesis, and Structure/Affinity Studies
Mol. Pharmacol., May 1, 2003; 63(5): 973 - 982.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.Home page
K. A. Gary, K. A. Sevarino, G. G. Yarbrough, A. J. Prange Jr., and A. Winokur
The Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) Hypothesis of Homeostatic Regulation: Implications for TRH-Based Therapeutics
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., May 1, 2003; 305(2): 410 - 416.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
B. Karges, W. Karges, M. Mine, L. Ludwig, R. Kuhne, E. Milgrom, and N. de Roux
Mutation Ala171Thr Stabilizes the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor in Its Inactive Conformation, Causing Familial Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2003; 88(4): 1873 - 1879.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Mol. Pharmacol.Home page
X.-Q. Ding, D. I. Pinon, K. E. Furse, T. P. Lybrand, and L. J. Miller
Refinement of the Conformation of a Critical Region of Charge-Charge Interaction between Cholecystokinin and Its Receptor
Mol. Pharmacol., May 1, 2002; 61(5): 1041 - 1052.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
W. Wang, D. J. Seward, L. Li, J. L. Boyer, and N. Ballatori
Expression cloning of two genes that together mediate organic solute and steroid transport in the liver of a marine vertebrate
PNAS, July 19, 2001; (2001) 161099898.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Biol. Chem.Home page
M. H. Perrin, W. H. Fischer, K. S. Kunitake, A. G. Craig, S. C. Koerber, L. A. Cervini, J. E. Rivier, J. C. Groppe, J. Greenwald, S. M. Nielsen, et al.
Expression, Purification, and Characterization of a Soluble Form of the First Extracellular Domain of the Human Type 1 Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptor
J. Biol. Chem., August 17, 2001; 276(34): 31528 - 31534.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
W. Wang, D. J. Seward, L. Li, J. L. Boyer, and N. Ballatori
Expression cloning of two genes that together mediate organic solute and steroid transport in the liver of a marine vertebrate
PNAS, July 31, 2001; 98(16): 9431 - 9436.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gershengorn, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Osman, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gershengorn, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Osman, R.


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals