Exploring the unique pharmacology of a novel opioid receptor, ZFOR1, using molecular modeling and the 'message-address' concept

Iain J. McFadyen, Thomas G. Metzger, M. Germana Paterlini, David M. Ferguson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies have probed the structural basis of ligand selectivity in the mu, delta and kappa opioid receptors through the application of molecular modeling techniques in concert with the 'message-address' concept. Here, this approach was used in an attempt to rationalize the unique pharmacological profile of a recently cloned novel opioid receptor, ZFOR1 (ZebraFish Opioid Receptor 1). Specifically, a model of the transmembrane domains of ZFOR1 was constructed and used to explore the binding modes of various prototypical opioid ligands. The results show that the 'message' portion of the binding pocket of ZFOR1 is highly conserved; hence, the binding modes of non-selective opioid ligands are well preserved. In contrast, a small number of variant residues at the extracellular end of the binding pocket, particularly Lys288 (VI:26) and Trp304 (VII:03), are shown to create adverse steric interactions with all delta and kappa selective ligands examined, thereby disrupting their binding modes. These results are consistent with, and serve as an explanation for, the observed pharmacology of this receptor, lending support to both the validity of the 'message-address' concept itself and to the use of molecular modeling approaches in its application.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)953-960
Number of pages8
JournalProtein Engineering
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Message-address
  • Modeling
  • Opioid
  • Structure-function
  • ZFOR1

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Exploring the unique pharmacology of a novel opioid receptor, ZFOR1, using molecular modeling and the 'message-address' concept'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this