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The Mechanism of Ligand‐Induced Activation or Inhibition of μ‐ and κ‐Opioid Receptors
Author(s) -
Yuan Shuguang,
Palczewski Krzysztof,
Peng Qian,
Kolinski Michal,
Vogel Horst,
Filipek Slawomir
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201501742
Subject(s) - receptor , g protein coupled receptor , chemistry , ligand (biochemistry) , biophysics , opioid receptor , small molecule , opioid , molecule , stereochemistry , biochemistry , biology , organic chemistry
G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important targets for treating severe diseases. However why certain molecules act as activators whereas others, with similar structures, block GPCR activation, is poorly understood since the same molecule can activate one receptor subtype while blocking another closely related receptor. To shed light on these central questions, we used all‐atom, long‐time‐scale molecular dynamics simulations on the κ‐opioid and μ‐opioid receptors (κOR and μOR). We found that water molecules penetrating into the receptor interior mediate the activating versus blocking effects of a particular ligand–receptor interaction. Both the size and the flexibility of the bound ligand regulated water influx into the receptor. The solvent‐accessible inner surface area was found to be a parameter that can help predict the function of the bound ligand.