Identifying ligand binding conformations of the β2-adrenergic receptor by using its agonists as computational probes

PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e50186. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050186. Epub 2012 Dec 31.

Abstract

Recently available G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) structures and biophysical studies suggest that the difference between the effects of various agonists and antagonists cannot be explained by single structures alone, but rather that the conformational ensembles of the proteins need to be considered. Here we use an elastic network model-guided molecular dynamics simulation protocol to generate an ensemble of conformers of a prototypical GPCR, β(2)-adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR). The resulting conformers are clustered into groups based on the conformations of the ligand binding site, and distinct conformers from each group are assessed for their binding to known agonists of β(2)AR. We show that the select ligands bind preferentially to different predicted conformers of β(2)AR, and identify a role of β(2)AR extracellular region as an allosteric binding site for larger drugs such as salmeterol. Thus, drugs and ligands can be used as "computational probes" to systematically identify protein conformers with likely biological significance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / metabolism*
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Albuterol / metabolism
  • Allosteric Site
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism*
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • ADRB2 protein, human
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Albuterol