Modulating G-protein coupled receptor/G-protein signal transduction by small molecules suggested by virtual screening

J Med Chem. 2008 Sep 11;51(17):5297-303. doi: 10.1021/jm800326q. Epub 2008 Aug 16.

Abstract

Modulation of interactions between activated GPCRs (G-protein coupled receptors) and the intracellular (IC) signal transducers, heterotrimeric G-proteins, is an attractive, yet essentially unexplored, paradigm for treatment of certain diseases. Regulating downstream signaling for treatment of congenital diseases due to constitutively active GPCRs, as well as tumors where GPCRs are often overexpressed, requires the development of new methodologies. Modeling, experimental data, docking, scoring, and experimental testing (MEDSET) was developed to discover inhibitors that target the IC loops of activated GPCRs. As proof-of-concept, MEDSET developed and utilized a model of the interface between photoactivated rhodopsin (R*) and transducin (Gt), its G-protein. A National Cancer Institute (NCI) compound library was screened to identify compounds that bound at the interface between R* and its G-protein. High-scoring compounds from this virtual screen were obtained and tested experimentally for their ability to stabilize R* and prevent Gt from binding to R*. Several compounds that modulate signal transduction have been identified.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / drug effects
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / drug effects*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Rhodopsin
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Transducin

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Rhodopsin
  • Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • Transducin