Subtype-selective mechanisms of negative allosteric modulators binding to group I metabotropic glutamate receptors

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu(1) and mGlu(5)) are promising targets for multiple psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the subtype selectivity of mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) allosteric sites is essential for the rational design of novel modulators with single- or dual-target mechanism of action. In this study, starting from the deposited mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) crystal structures, we utilized computational modeling approaches integrating docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and efficient post-trajectory analysis to reveal the subtype-selective mechanism of mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) to 10 diverse drug scaffolds representing known negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) in the literature. The results of modeling identified six pairs of non-conserved residues and four pairs of conserved ones as critical features to distinguish the selective NAMs binding to the corresponding receptors. In addition, nine pairs of residues are beneficial to the development of novel dual-target NAMs of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Furthermore, the binding modes of a reported dual-target NAM (VU0467558) in mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) were predicted to verify the identified residues that play key roles in the receptor selectivity and the dual-target binding. The results of this study can guide rational structure-based design of novel NAMs, and the approach can be generally applicable to characterize the features of selectivity for other G-protein-coupled receptors.

Automated summary

This study utilized computational modeling approaches to reveal the subtype-selective mechanism of mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) receptors to different drug scaffolds, identifying critical residues that affect the binding of selective NAMs to the receptors. The results of this study can guide the rational design of novel NAMs.