G-coupled protein receptors [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_protein–coupled_receptor GPCR's] are helical trans-membrane proteins that bind to an extracellular signal and activate a cellular response. The human genome encodes for approximately 750 GPCR's, 350 of which are known to respond to extracellular ligands<ref name="GPCRRep">PMID: 12679517 </ref>. GPCR's are divided into four major classes based on sequence similarity and transduction mechanism: Class A,B,C, and F<ref name="MSGPCR">PMID:23407534</ref>. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (<scene name='72/726409/Overview/5'>mGlu<sub>5</sub></scene>) is a class C GPCR that is involved in the G<sub>q</sub> pathway<ref name="CCGPCR">PMID:12782243</ref>. In this pathway, the G-protein disassociates and the alpha subunit activates [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phospholipase_C Phospholipase C]. Phospholipase C in turn cleaves [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylinositol_4,5-bisphosphate PIP2] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diglyceride DA] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol_trisphosphate IP3]. IP3 then binds to calcium channels on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoplasmic_reticulum Endoplasmic reticulum] creating an increased cellular concentration of calcium. Increased calcium concentrations thus leads to increased neuronal activity<ref name="MSGPCR">PMID:23407534</ref>. mGlu<sub>5</sub> is highly expressed in neuronal and glial cells in the central nervous system, where glutamate serves as the major neurotransmitter. When glutamate binds to the extracellular domain of mGlu<sub>5</sub> consisting of the Venus Fly Trap motif<ref name="Primary">PMID: 25042998 </ref>, a conformational change through the trans-membrane domains activates the coupled [http://proteopedia.org/wiki/index.php/GTP-binding_protein G-protein].
G-coupled protein receptors [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G_protein–coupled_receptor (GPCR's)] are helical trans-membrane proteins that bind to an extracellular signal and activate a cellular response. The human genome encodes for approximately 750 GPCR's, 350 of which are known to respond to extracellular ligands<ref name="GPCRRep">PMID: 12679517 </ref>. GPCR's are divided into four major classes based on sequence similarity and transduction mechanism: Class A,B,C, and F<ref name="MSGPCR">PMID:23407534</ref>. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (<scene name='72/726409/Overview/5'>mGlu<sub>5</sub></scene>) is a class C GPCR that is involved in the G<sub>q</sub> pathway<ref name="CCGPCR">PMID:12782243</ref>. In this pathway glutamate binds to the extracellular domain of mGlu<sub>5</sub>, the trans-membrane domains undergo a conformational change that activates the coupled [http://proteopedia.org/wiki/index.php/GTP-binding_protein G-protein] on the intracellular side of the membrane. <ref name="Primary">PMID: 25042998 </ref>
The activated G-protein disassociates and the alpha subunit activates [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phospholipase_C Phospholipase C]. Phospholipase C in turn cleaves [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphatidylinositol_4,5-bisphosphate PIP2] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diglyceride DA] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inositol_trisphosphate IP3]. IP3 then binds to calcium channels on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoplasmic_reticulum Endoplasmic reticulum] creating an increased cellular concentration of calcium. Increased calcium concentrations thus leads to increased neuronal activity<ref name="MSGPCR">PMID:23407534</ref>. Due to its involvement in neuronal activity mGlu<sub>5</sub> is highly expressed in neuronal and glial cells in the central nervous system, where glutamate serves as the major neurotransmitter.
G-coupled protein receptors (GPCR's) are helical trans-membrane proteins that bind to an extracellular signal and activate a cellular response. The human genome encodes for approximately 750 GPCR's, 350 of which are known to respond to extracellular ligands[1]. GPCR's are divided into four major classes based on sequence similarity and transduction mechanism: Class A,B,C, and F[2]. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 (mGlu<sub>5</sub>) is a class C GPCR that is involved in the Gq pathway[3]. In this pathway glutamate binds to the extracellular domain of mGlu5, the trans-membrane domains undergo a conformational change that activates the coupled G-protein on the intracellular side of the membrane. [4]
The activated G-protein disassociates and the alpha subunit activates Phospholipase C. Phospholipase C in turn cleaves PIP2 to DA and IP3. IP3 then binds to calcium channels on the Endoplasmic reticulum creating an increased cellular concentration of calcium. Increased calcium concentrations thus leads to increased neuronal activity[2]. Due to its involvement in neuronal activity mGlu5 is highly expressed in neuronal and glial cells in the central nervous system, where glutamate serves as the major neurotransmitter.
Structure
Overall Stucture
mGlu<sub>5</sub> is seen as a homodimerin vivo, with each subunit being comprised of three domains: extracellular, trans-membrane and cysteine-rich. mGlu5 is centered on the trans-membrane domain, comprised of seven α-helices all roughly parallel to one another[4]. Also displayed is the Intracellular Loop (ICL) 1 which forms a short α-helix. Additionally, ICL3 and Extracellular Loops (ECL) 1 and 3 all lack secondary structure, and ECL2 interacts with trans-membrane (TM) helices 1, 2, and 3 as well as ECL 1[4].
Key Interactions
A number of intramolecular interactions within the trans-membrane domain stabilize the inactive conformation of mGlu5, and demonstrated by mGlu<sub>5</sub> being represented in the inactivate state, the capacity for glutamate to bind to the mGlu5 receptor is critically hindered, thus decreasing the aforementioned Gq pathway. The first of these interactions is an ionic interaction, termed the Ionic Lock, between Lysine 665 of TM3 and Glutamate 770 of TM6. Evidence for the importance of this interaction came through a kinetic study of mutant proteins where both residues were separately substituted with alanine, resulting in constitutive activity of the GPCR and its coupled pathway[4]. A second critical interaction that stabilizes the inactive conformer is a Hydrogen Bond between Serine 614 of ICL1 and Arginine 668 of TM3. Similarly, when Serine 614 was mutated to alanine, high levels of activity were seen in the mutant GPCR[4].
A Disulfide Bond between Cysteine 644 of TM3 and Cysteine 733 of ECL2 is critical at anchoring ECL2 and is highly conserved across Class C GPCR’s[4]. The ECL2's presence combined with the helical bundle of the trans-membrane domain creates a Binding Cap that restricts entrance to the allosteric binding site within the seven trans-membrane α-helices. This restricted entrance has no effect on the natural ligand, glutamate, as it binds to the extracellular domain, but this entrance dictates potential drug targets that act through allosteric modulation[4].
Clinical Relevance
Role in Diseases
mGlu5 is located mainly post-synaptically and is in high abundance in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellar cortex[5].These areas of the brain are highly involved in cognition, motivation, and emotion, which are essential neural functions for everyday life. Diseases and other mental deficiencies arise from either an overactivation of the GPCR, which overactivates its coupled signaling pathway, or from underactivation of both the GPCR and its coupled pathway. Negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) work to decrease protein activity and are being studied as treatments for fragile X-syndrome, depression, anxiety and dyskinesia. Conversely, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) work to increase protein activity and are being studied for the treatment of schizophrenia and cognitive disorders[6].
Interactions with a Negative Allosteric Modulator
The structure of mGlu5 bound to the NAM Mavoglurant demonstrates how protein activity is decreased through drug interactions.
Mavoglurant binds within the allosteric binding site in the core of the seven trans-membrane α-helices, having passed through the restricted entrance formed by the ECL2. Bound Mavoglurant forms multiple interactions with the protein that further stabilize the inactive conformation.
The bicyclic ring system of the drug is surrounded by a pocket of mainly hydrophobic residues including Val 806, Met 802, Phe 788, Trp 785, Leu 744, Ile 651, Pro 655, and Asn 747[4] (Figure 1). The carbamate tail of Mavoglurant forms a hydrogen bond through its carbonyl oxygen to the amide side-chain of Asparagine 747 of TM4 (Figure 2). A hydroxyl group similarly forms hydrogen bonds to mGlu5, specifically at two serine residues (S805 and S809) of TM7. These residues form a hydrogen bonding network to other residues through their main chain atoms and a coordinated water molecule (omitted for clarity) (Figure 3). The interactions between Mavoglurant and mGlu5 involve TM helices that were not previously stabilized by any strong interactions, introducing a new level of stability that favors the inactive conformation of the protein and hence decreases the overall activity of mGlu5[4].
Figure 1. Hydrophobic Pocket Surrounding MavoglurantFigure 2. Hydrogen Bonding between mGlu5 and Mavoglurant. Blue coloration represents Hydrogen Bond donor whereas red coloration represents Hydrogen Bond acceptor.
↑Vassilatis DK, Hohmann JG, Zeng H, Li F, Ranchalis JE, Mortrud MT, Brown A, Rodriguez SS, Weller JR, Wright AC, Bergmann JE, Gaitanaris GA. The G protein-coupled receptor repertoires of human and mouse. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Apr 15;100(8):4903-8. Epub 2003 Apr 4. PMID:12679517 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0230374100
↑ 2.02.1Venkatakrishnan AJ, Deupi X, Lebon G, Tate CG, Schertler GF, Babu MM. Molecular signatures of G-protein-coupled receptors. Nature. 2013 Feb 14;494(7436):185-94. doi: 10.1038/nature11896. PMID:23407534 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11896
↑Pin JP, Galvez T, Prezeau L. Evolution, structure, and activation mechanism of family 3/C G-protein-coupled receptors. Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Jun;98(3):325-54. PMID:12782243
↑ 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.8Dore AS, Okrasa K, Patel JC, Serrano-Vega M, Bennett K, Cooke RM, Errey JC, Jazayeri A, Khan S, Tehan B, Weir M, Wiggin GR, Marshall FH. Structure of class C GPCR metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 transmembrane domain. Nature. 2014 Jul 31;511(7511):557-62. doi: 10.1038/nature13396. Epub 2014 Jul 6. PMID:25042998 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature13396
↑Shigemoto R, Nomura S, Ohishi H, Sugihara H, Nakanishi S, Mizuno N. Immunohistochemical localization of a metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR5, in the rat brain. Neurosci Lett. 1993 Nov 26;163(1):53-7. PMID:8295733
↑Li G, Jorgensen M, Campbell BM. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5-negative allosteric modulators for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders (2009-July 2013). Pharm Pat Anal. 2013 Nov;2(6):767-802. doi: 10.4155/ppa.13.58. PMID:24237242 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.4155/ppa.13.58
References
Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)