The action of a negative allosteric modulator at the dopamine D2 receptor is dependent upon sodium ions

Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 19;8(1):1208. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19642-1.

Abstract

Sodium ions (Na+) allosterically modulate the binding of orthosteric agonists and antagonists to many class A G protein-coupled receptors, including the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R). Experimental and computational evidences have revealed that this effect is mediated by the binding of Na+ to a conserved site located beneath the orthosteric binding site (OBS). SB269652 acts as a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the D2R that adopts an extended bitopic pose, in which the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety interacts with the OBS and the indole-2-carboxamide moiety occupies a secondary binding pocket (SBP). In this study, we find that the presence of a Na+ within the conserved Na+-binding pocket is required for the action of SB269652. Using fragments of SB269652 and novel full-length analogues, we show that Na+ is required for the high affinity binding of the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety within the OBS, and that the interaction of the indole-2-carboxamide moiety with the SBP determines the degree of Na+-sensitivity. Thus, we extend our understanding of the mode of action of this novel class of NAM by showing it acts synergistically with Na+ to modulate the binding of orthosteric ligands at the D2R, providing opportunities for fine-tuning of modulatory effects in future allosteric drug design efforts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetulus
  • Dopamine / chemistry
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists / chemistry
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Ions / chemistry
  • Ions / metabolism*
  • Isoquinolines / chemistry
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / chemistry
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2 / metabolism*
  • Sodium / chemistry
  • Sodium / metabolism*

Substances

  • 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid (4-(2-(cyano-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolin-2-yl)ethyl)cyclohexyl)amide
  • Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists
  • Indoles
  • Ions
  • Isoquinolines
  • Receptors, Dopamine D2
  • Sodium
  • Dopamine