Receptor conformational states

Fig. 5. Conceptual schematic of the receptor conformational states elicited by binding to partial (L, ) or full (Ly) agonists, and a depiction of the correlation between the various conformational states and their ability to bind with G proteins. Solid lines show the conformational distributions hypothesized from soluble ternary complex data analyzed by the simple ternary complex model. When a partial agonist binds with a receptor (L R) in this model, the receptor forms a conformational state which has an intermediate affinity for G protein, consequendy leading to formation of intermediate amounts of L RG. On the other hand, the dotted line represents the potential receptor conformations induced by a partial agonist consistent with the extended ternary complex model, which includes the isomerization of receptor between R and R, the only receptor conformation allowed to bind with G protein. For this model, the interactions of a partial agonist with a receptor would result in two populations of ligand-bound receptors with only one (LR ) able to bind with G protein. The x-axis is analogous to the cooperativity factor a.

There also exist a class of ligands referred to as SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) that display tissue-selective pharmacology [13]. Raloxifene and tamoxifen are two clinically used SERMs for which structures are available. Crystal structures of the estrogen receptor bound to different ligands (estradiol, tamoxifen, or raloxifene) reveal that ligands of different sizes and shapes induce a spectrum of receptor conformational states. These states can be interpreted by the cellular complexion of co-regulators and the environment of the local promoter of... 

LIGAND-RECEPTOR INTERACTIONS DEPEND UPON RECEPTOR CONFORMATIONAL STATES... 

Steyaert, J., Kobilka, B. K. (2011). Nanobody stabilization of G protein-coupled receptor conformational states. Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 21, 567—572. 

The ability of receptors to couple to G-proteins and initiate GTPase activity may also be independent of ligand. Thus, specific mutations in a- and P-adrenergic receptors have led to receptors that mediate agonist-independent activation of adenylyl cyclase (69,70). These mutations presumably mimic the conformational state of the ligand-activated receptor when they are activated conventionally by ligands. 

Thermodynamically it would be expected that a ligand may not have identical affinity for both receptor conformations. This was an assumption in early formulations of conformational selection. For example, differential affinity for protein conformations was proposed for oxygen binding to hemoglobin [17] and for choline derivatives and nicotinic receptors [18]. Furthermore, assume that these conformations exist in an equilibrium defined by an allosteric constant L (defined as [Ra]/[R-i]) and that a ligand [A] has affinity for both conformations defined by equilibrium association constants Ka and aKa, respectively, for the inactive and active states ... 

In constitutively active receptor systems (where the baseline is elevated due to spontaneous formation of receptor active states, see Chapter 3 for full discussion), unless the antagonist has identical affinities for the inactive receptor state, the spontaneously formed active state, and the spontaneously G-protein coupled state (three different receptor conformations, see discussion in Chapter 1 on receptor conformation) it will alter the relative concentrations of these species—and in so doing alter the baseline response. If the antagonist has higher affinity for the... 

Very often, it is unknown which conformahon of a flexible molecule is needed. For example, in drug design, we hunt often for the so-called bioachve conformation, which is the molecule in its receptor-bound state. In this case, any other experimental structure of the isolated molecule - in vacuum, in soluhon or in crystal - can be the wrong choice. 

To describe the all-or-none transition between distinct conformational states of enzymes or receptors — an allosteric transition. In keeping with this usage, the constant that describes the position of the equilibrium between the states (e.g., E0 in the schemes of Figures 1.11 and 1.28) is sometimes described as the allosteric constant. 

Desensitization can be defined as the tendency of a response to wane, despite the presence of a stimulus of constant intensity (e.g., constant agonist concentration). In the case of the nicotinic ACh receptor, good evidence suggests that desensitization results from a change in receptor conformation to an inactive refractory state (Rang and Ritter, 1970). To describe this in terms of the AChR activation mechanism, we could add a desensitized state to the scheme shown in Eq. (6.2) to give ... 

To achieve receptor desensitization and activation by ligand, multiple conformational states of the receptor are required. The binding steps represented in horizontal equilibria are rapid vertical steps reflect the slow, unimolecular isomerizations involved in desensitization (scheme 2). Rapid isomerization to the open channel state (scheme 1) should be added. To accommodate the additional complexities of the observed fast and slow steps of desensitization, additional states have to be included. 

In this scheme, M <1 and K equilibrium constants. Direct binding experiments have confirmed the generality of this scheme for nicotinic receptors. Thus, distinct conformational states govern the different temporal responses that ensue upon addition of a ligand to the nicotinic receptor. No direct energy input or covalent modification of the receptor channel is required. 

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