Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal Fundamental Role of Water As Factor Determining Affinity of Binding of β-Blocker Nebivolol to β2-Adrenergic Receptor

The beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta-blockers) constitute a class of drugs that have well-established roles in treatments of various cardiovascular diseases. Despite a 50 year history, there are two clinically important subtypes of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta ARs) called beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR that still are promising drug targets. Our study maps the interactions between nebivolol one of the most efficient beta-blocking agents-and the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor by simulating two optical isomers of nebivolol: ssss-nebivolol and srrr-nebivolol. The srrr-configuration binds preferentially to beta(1)AR and beta(2)AR. The ssss-form has much lower binding affinity to both of them. Our work indicates that water is a very important component of the binding site of the beta(2)AR receptor. We found that the higher stereoselectivity of the srrr-configuration is due to interactions with water molecules, which extensively hydrate the binding site of beta(2)AR. By lowering the energy of binding, water enhanced the affinity of the srrr-form to beta(2)AR. We also address the problem of beta(1)AR/beta(2)AR selectivity. At higher concentrations, all beta-blocking agents lose their specificity and bind nonselectively, causing many adverse effects. Our simulations indicate that PHE194, TYR308, and ILE309 of the beta(2)AR and the corresponding residues of the beta(1)AR receptor may be important determinants of beta(1)AR versus beta(2)AR selectivity.