Receptors coupling to G proteins: is there a signal behind the sequence?

Upon the binding of their ligands, G protein-coupled receptors couple to the heterotrimeric G proteins to transduce a signal. One receptor family may couple to a single G protein subtype and another family to several ones. Is there a signal in the receptor sequence that can give an indication of the G protein subtype selectivity? We used a sequence analysis method on biogenic amine and adenosine receptors and concluded that a weak signal can be detected in receptor families where specialization for coupling to a given G protein occurred during a recent divergent evolutionary process. Proteins 2000;41:448-459.

5'-substituted adenosine analogs as new high-affinity partial agonists for the adenosine A1 receptor.

5'-(Alkylthio)-, 5'-(methylseleno)-, and 5'-(alkylamino)-substituted analogues of N6-cyclopen-tyladenosine (CPA) were synthesized in 30-50% overall yields. The affinities of these compounds for the adenosine A1 and A2A receptors were determined in rat brain membranes. The 5'-substituted CPA analogues proved selective for the adenosine A1 receptors, displaying affinities in the nanomolar range. The compounds were also evaluated for their ability to stimulate [35S]GTP gamma S binding, also in rat brain membranes. The Ki values in receptor binding studies corresponded well to the EC50 values thus obtained. Intrinsic activities of the compounds were tested in vitro by determining the GTP shift in receptor binding studies as well as the maximal binding of [35S]GTP gamma S. It appeared that the 5'-thio and 5'-seleno derivatives in particular behaved as partial agonists.

Deoxyribose analogues of N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA): partial agonists at the adenosine A1 receptor in vivo.

1. The purpose of the present study was to quantify the cardiovascular effects of the 2'-, 3'-, 5'-deoxyribose analogues of the selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) in vivo. The blood concentration-effect relationships of the compounds were assessed in individual rats and correlated to their receptor binding characteristics. 2. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the compounds were determined after a single intravenous infusion of 0.80 mg kg (-1) (63 micromol kg(-1)of 2' dCPA. The heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were monitored continuously during the experiment and serial arterial blood samples were taken for analysis of drug concentration. 3. The relationship between blood concentrations and the reductions in both heart rate and blood pressure were described according to the sigmoidal Emax model. For the bradycardiac effect, the potencies based on free drug concentrations (EC50,u) of 5'dCPA, 3'dCPA, 2'dCPAin blood were 5.9 +/- 1.7, 18 +/- 4 and 260 +/- 70 ng ml (-1) (19 +/- 6, 56 +/- 11 and 830 +/- 210 nM), respectively, and correlated well with the adenosine A1 receptor affinity in vitro. The Emax value of 2'dCPA was significantly less than those of the other compounds, suggesting that this compound may be regarded as a partial agonist when compared to the other analogues. The rank order of the maximal reduction in heart rate of the compounds corresponded well with the order of the GTP-shifts, as determined in vitro. 4. It is concluded that deoxyribose derivatives of CPA may be partial agonists for the adenosine A1 receptor and may serve as tools for further investigation of adenosine receptor partial agonism in vivo.

Ribose-modified adenosine analogues as potential partial agonists for the adenosine receptor.

We have adopted a practical three-step route for the synthesis of 2'- and 3'-deoxy analogues of N6-substituted adenosines: protection of the hydroxyl groups, replacement of the N6-amino by a better leaving group, and combined deprotection and N6-amination in the last step. This route was used to synthesize deoxy analogues of CPA, CHA, and R- and S-PIA. The compounds were tested on the adenosine A1 and A2a receptors in our search for partial agonists for these receptors. The GTP shift was used as an in vitro measure for the intrinsic activity of these compounds; the in vivo intrinsic activities of the deoxy analogues of CPA and R-PIA were determined in the rat cardiovascular system. Thus, it was shown that the hydroxyl groups are determinants for the affinity and intrinsic activity of these analogues. Removal of the 2'- and 3'-hydroxyl groups affects affinity and intrinsic activity, whereas removal of the 5'-hydroxyl group decreases only affinity.

8-substituted adenosine and theophylline-7-riboside analogues as potential partial agonists for the adenosine A1 receptor.

A series of 8-substituted adenosine and theophylline-7-riboside analogues (28 and 9 compounds, respectively) was tested on adenosine A1 and A2A receptors as an extensive exploration of the adenosine C8-region. Alkylamino substituents at the 8-position cause an affinity decrease for adenosine analogues, but an affinity increase for theophylline-7-riboside derivatives. The affinity decrease is probably due to a direct steric hindrance between the C8-substituent and the binding site as well as to electronic effects, not to a steric influence on the ribose moiety to adopt the anti conformation. The 8-substituents increase the affinity of theophylline-7-riboside analogues probably by binding to a lipophilic binding site. The intrinsic activity was tested in vitro for some 8-substituted adenosine analogues, by determining the GTP shift in receptor binding studies and the inhibition of adenylate cyclase in a culture of rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells, and in vivo in the rat cardiovascular system for 8-butylaminoadenosine. Thus, it was shown that 8-ethyl-, 8-butyl-, and 8-pentylamino substituted analogues of adenosine may be partial agonists in vitro, and that 8-butylaminoadenosine is a partial agonist for the rat cardiovascular A1 receptor in vivo.

Relative binding orientations of adenosine A1 receptor ligands--a test case for Distributed Multipole Analysis in medicinal chemistry.

The electrostatic properties of adenosine-based agonists and xanthine-based antagonists for the adenosine A1 receptor were used to assess various proposals for their relative orientation in the unknown binding site. The electrostatic properties were calculated from distributed multipole representations of SCF wavefunctions. A range of methods of assessing the electrostatic similarity of the ligands were used in the comparison. One of the methods, comparing the sign of the potential around the two molecules, gave inconclusive results. The other approaches, however, provided a mutually complementary and consistent picture of the electrostatic similarity and dissimilarity of the molecules in the three proposed relative orientations. This was significantly different from the results obtained previously with MOPAC AM1 point charges. In the standard model overlay, where the aromatic nitrogen atoms of both agonists and antagonists are in the same position relative to the binding site, the electrostatic potentials are so dissimilar that binding to the same receptor site is highly unlikely. Overlaying the N6-region of adenosine with that near C8 of theophylline (the N6-C8 model) produces the greatest similarity in electrostatic properties for these ligands. However, N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) and 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentyl-xanthine (DPCPX) show greater electrostatic similarity when the aromatic rings are superimposed according to the flipped model, in which the xanthine ring is rotated around its horizontal axis. This difference is mainly attributed to the change in conformation of N6-substituted adenosines and could result in a different orientation for theophylline and DPCPX within the receptor binding site. However, it is more likely that DPCPX also binds according to the N6-C8 model, as this model gives the best steric overlay and would be favoured by the lipophilic forces, provided that the binding site residues could accommodate the different electrostatic properties in the N6/N7-region. Finally, we have shown that Distributed Multipole Analysis (DMA) offers a new, feasible tool for the medicinal chemist, because it provides the use of reliable electrostatic models to determine plausible relative binding orientations.

Partial agonism of theophylline-7-riboside on adenosine receptors.

Theophylline-7-riboside was evaluated as a partial agonist for rat adenosine receptors. Radioligand binding experiments were performed on both A1 and A2a adenosine receptors, using several methodologies to discriminate between agonists and antagonists. Mainly from thermodynamic data it was concluded that on A1 receptors theophylline-7-riboside had characteristics intermediate between full agonists, such as N6-cyclopentyladenosine, and full antagonists, such as the xanthines. The partial agonistic behaviour of theophylline-7-riboside was further explored in second messenger studies in intact cells. In FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells theophylline-7-riboside behaved as a partial agonist for A1 receptors, slightly inhibiting forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP levels. The implications of these biochemical findings were further analysed in in vivo pharmacology. The infusion of theophylline-7-riboside in conscious, normotensive rats led to marked changes in cardiovascular parameters, although less outspoken than observed with full agonists for either A1 or A2a receptors. The concomitant determination of the blood concentrations of theophylline-7-riboside and its metabolite theophylline allowed the estimation of in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. Thus, the EC50 value of theophylline-7-riboside for lowering the mean arterial pressure was 47 +/- 12 micrograms/ml blood. The short duration of action of theophylline-7-riboside makes it improbable that its metabolite theophylline interferes with its effects. In conclusion, theophylline-7-riboside is one of the first partial agonists for adenosine receptors. It may serve as a tool in further investigations of adenosine receptor partial agonism.

Molecular modeling of adenosine receptors. The ligand binding site on the rat adenosine A2A receptor.

The amino acid sequence of the rat adenosine A2A receptor and the atomic coordinates of bacteriorhodopsin were combined to generate a three-dimensional model for the adenosine A2A receptor. This model consists of seven amphipathic alpha-helices, forming a pore that is rather hydrophilic compared to the hydrophobic outside of the protein. Subsequently, a highly potent and selective ligand for this receptor, 2-(cyclohexylmethylidinehydrazino)adenosine (SHA 174), was docked into this cavity. A binding site is proposed that takes into account the conformational characteristics of the ligand. Moreover, it involves two histidine residues that were shown to be important for ligand coordination from chemical modification studies. Subsequently, the deduced binding site was used to model other potent ligands, including 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine, a new A2-selective antagonist, that could all be accommodated consistent with earlier biochemical and pharmacological findings. Finally, some thoughts on how adenosine receptor activation might proceed are put forward, based on structural analogies with the enzyme family of serine proteases.

A steric and electrostatic comparison of three models for the agonist/antagonist binding site on the adenosine A1 receptor.

Several models have been described in the literature to explain the similarity of interaction of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists with the binding site of the receptor. Besides the superposition of the nitrogen atoms of adenosine and xanthine (the "standard" model), two other models have been described: one in which xanthine is rotated around its "horizontal" axis before superposition ("flipped") and one in which the adenosine N6-region and the xanthine C8-region are superimposed ("N6-C8"). In this study we compared the steric and electrostatic properties of these models. The flipped model tends to show higher percentages of overlap for the positive electrostatic potentials and the N6-C8 model yielded predominantly a slightly higher overlap for the negative electrostatic potentials, although these differences were rather small. Since the N6-region in adenosine and the C8-region in xanthine are coinciding in this model, the N6-C8 model yielded a much larger overlap in van der Waals volume than the other two models. The N6-C8 model seems therefore to be the more probable model, also because the interactive groups point in the same direction for both adenosine and xanthine analogues. We determined the geometries of both the adenosine N6-substituents and the xanthine 8-substituents in earlier studies. The N6-C8 model causes a coincidence of these separately determined conformations.

Mapping the xanthine C8-region of the adenosine A1 receptor with computer graphics.

Substitution at the 8-position of 1,3-dipropylxanthines can lead to very potent and selective adenosine A1 antagonists. The xanthine C8-region was investigated in this study, using CAMM (computer-assisted molecular modeling). This region can be divided into two subregions with a considerable overlap in volume: a phenyl region which binds the flat substituents and a cycloalkyl region which binds the other substituents. The 8-phenyl-substituted derivatives bind with an N9-C8-Cl'-C2' dihedral angle of 220 degrees; this dihedral angle is 330 degrees for the 8-cycloalkyl-substituted derivatives. The lower affinity of C8-substituted 7-methyl-1,3-dipropylxanthines can be explained quantitatively with steric hindrance, which C8-substituents experience from the 7-methyl group in these conformations. The substitution pattern determines the affinity for 8-phenyl-substituted compounds for which the energy cost to reach the dihedral angle of 220 degrees is low, but has little influence otherwise. The affinity of the 8-cycloalkyl-1,3-dipropylxanthines is mainly volume dependent, because of a forbidden area near the cycloalkyl region.