Computational Biology Lab, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Bioengineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India.
Division of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Vector Control Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Pondicherry, India.
Proteins. 2022 Mar;90(3):704-719. doi: 10.1002/prot.26267. Epub 2021 Oct 25.
In the past two decades, the structural biology studies on G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are on the rise. Understanding the relation between the structure and function of GPCRs is important as they play a huge role in various signaling mechanisms in a eukaryotic cell. Somatostatin receptor 3 (SSTR3), one of the GPCRs, is one such important receptor which oversees different cellular processes including cell-to-cell signaling. However, the information available regarding the structural features of SSTR3 responsible for their bioactivity is scarce. In this study, we report a structural understanding of SSTR3-ligand binding that could be helpful in demystifying the structural complexities related to functioning of the receptor. An integrated protocol consisting of different computational structural biology tools including protein structure prediction via comparative modeling, binding site characterization, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship based on comparative molecular field analysis and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis, density functional theory, and molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Different understandings from the simulation of SSTR3-ligand complexes, mainly the conditions that are favorable for the formation of lowest bioactive state of SSTR3 ligands are reported. In addition to that, we report the important physicochemical descriptors of SSTR3 ligands that could significantly influence their bioactivity. The results of the study could be helpful in developing novel SSTR3 ligands (both agonists and antagonists) with high potency and receptor selectivity.
在过去的二十年中,G 蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)的结构生物学研究呈上升趋势。了解 GPCR 的结构与功能之间的关系非常重要,因为它们在真核细胞中的各种信号转导机制中起着巨大的作用。生长抑素受体 3(SSTR3)是 GPCR 之一,是一种重要的受体,负责监督包括细胞间信号在内的不同细胞过程。然而,关于负责其生物活性的 SSTR3 结构特征的信息却很少。在这项研究中,我们报告了对 SSTR3-配体结合的结构理解,这可能有助于揭示与受体功能相关的结构复杂性。采用了包括通过比较建模进行蛋白质结构预测、结合位点表征、基于三维定量构效关系的比较分子场分析和比较分子相似性指数分析、密度泛函理论和分子动力学模拟在内的不同计算结构生物学工具的综合方案。报告了从 SSTR3-配体复合物模拟中获得的不同理解,主要是有利于 SSTR3 配体形成最低生物活性状态的条件。此外,我们还报告了 SSTR3 配体的重要物理化学描述符,这些描述符可能会显著影响它们的生物活性。该研究的结果可能有助于开发具有高效力和受体选择性的新型 SSTR3 配体(激动剂和拮抗剂)。