Cannabidiol binding and negative allosteric modulation at the cannabinoid type 1 receptor in the presence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol: An In Silico study

PLoS One. 2019 Jul 23;14(7):e0220025. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220025. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Recent evidence has raised in discussion the possibility that cannabidiol can act as a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor. Here we have used computational methods to study the modulation exerted by cannabidiol on the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and the possibility of direct receptor blockade. We propose a putative allosteric binding site that is located in the N-terminal region of receptor, partially overlapping the orthosteric binding site. Molecular dynamics simulations reveled a coordinated movement involving the outward rotation of helixes 1 and 2 and subsequent expansion of the orthosteric binding site upon cannabidiol binding. Finally, changes in the cytoplasmic region and high helix 8 mobility were related to impaired receptor internalization. Together, these results offer a possible explanation to how cannabidiol can directly modulate effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the cannabinoid receptor type 1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Allosteric Site*
  • Cannabidiol / chemistry
  • Cannabidiol / metabolism*
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / chemistry
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / metabolism*
  • Dronabinol / chemistry
  • Dronabinol / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation*
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / chemistry*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol

Grants and funding

This work has been supported by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Fondo Nacional de Desarolloro Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT). CDP acknowledges support from FONDECYT grant No 1150121. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.