Binding Modes and Selectivity of Cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid 2 (CB2) Receptor Ligands. 2020

Jing-Fang Yang, and Alexander H Williams, and Narsimha R Penthala, and Paul L Prather, and Peter A Crooks, and Chang-Guo Zhan

The cannabinoid (CB) receptors (CB1R and CB2R) represent a promising therapeutic target for several indications such as nociception and obesity. The ligands with nonselectivity can be traced to the high similarity in the binding sites of both cannabinoid receptors. Therefore, the need for selectivity, potency, and G-protein coupling bias has further complicated the design of desired compounds. The bias of currently studied cannabinoid agonists is seldom investigated, and agonists that do exhibit bias are typically nonselective. However, certain long-chain endocannabinoids represent a class of selective and potent CB1R agonists. The binding mode for this class of compounds has remained elusive, limiting the implementation of its binding features to currently studied agonists. Hence, in the present study, the binding poses for these long-chain cannabinoids, along with other interesting ligands, with the receptors have been determined, by using a combination of molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with molecular mechanics-Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy calculations. The binding poses for the long-chain cannabinoids implicate that a site surrounded by the transmembrane (TM)2, TM7, and extracellular loop (ECL)2 is vital for providing the long-chain ligands with the selectivity for CB1R, especially I267 of CB1R (corresponding to L182 of CB2R). Based on the obtained binding modes, the calculated relative binding free energies and selectivity are all in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data, suggesting that the determined binding poses are reasonable. The computational strategy used in this study may also prove fruitful in applications with other GPCRs or membrane-bound proteins.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008024 Ligands A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Ligand
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D002186 Cannabinoids Compounds having the cannabinoid structure. They were originally extracted from Cannabis sativa L. The most pharmacologically active constituents are TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; CANNABINOL; and CANNABIDIOL. Cannabinoid
D043884 Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 A subclass of cannabinoid receptor found primarily on central and peripheral NEURONS where it may play a role modulating NEUROTRANSMITTER release. Cannabinoid Receptor CB1,CB1 Receptor,Receptor CB1, Cannabinoid,Receptor, CB1
D043885 Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 A subclass of cannabinoid receptor found primarily on immune cells where it may play a role modulating release of CYTOKINES. Cannabinoid Receptor CB2,CB2 Receptor,CB2, Cannabinoid Receptor,Receptor CB2, Cannabinoid,Receptor, CB2
D062105 Molecular Docking Simulation A computer simulation technique that is used to model the interaction between two molecules. Typically the docking simulation measures the interactions of a small molecule or ligand with a part of a larger molecule such as a protein. Molecular Docking,Molecular Docking Simulations,Molecular Docking Analysis,Analysis, Molecular Docking,Docking Analysis, Molecular,Docking Simulation, Molecular,Docking, Molecular,Molecular Docking Analyses,Molecular Dockings,Simulation, Molecular Docking
D063386 Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists Compounds that interact with and stimulate the activity of CANNABINOID RECEPTORS. Cannabinoid Agonist,Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist,Cannabinoid Agonists,Cannabinoid Receptor Activators,Activators, Cannabinoid Receptor,Agonist, Cannabinoid,Agonist, Cannabinoid Receptor,Agonists, Cannabinoid,Agonists, Cannabinoid Receptor,Receptor Activators, Cannabinoid,Receptor Agonist, Cannabinoid,Receptor Agonists, Cannabinoid

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