• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제29권3호
• /
• pp.656-662
• /
• 2008

Antagonists of the d -opioid receptor are effective in overcoming resistance against analgesic drugs such as morphine. To identify novel antagonists of the d -opioid receptor that display high potency and low resistance, we performed 3D-QSAR analysis using chemical feature-based pharmacophore models. Chemical features for d -opioid receptor antagonists were generated using quantitative (Catalyst/HypoGen) and qualitative (Catalyst/HipHop) approaches. For HypoGen analysis, we collected 16 peptide and 16 non-peptide antagonists as the training set. The best-fit pharmacophore hypotheses of the two antagonist models comprised identical features, including a hydrophobic aromatic (HAR), a hydrophobic (HY), and a positive ionizable (PI) function. The training set of the HipHop model was constructed with three launched opioid drugs. The best hypothesis from HipHop included four features: an HAR, an HY, a hydrogen bond donor (HBD), and a PI function. Based on these results, we confirm that HY, HAR and PI features are essential for effective antagonism of the d -opioid receptor, and determine the appropriate pharmacophore to design such antagonists.

• 통합자연과학논문집
• /
• 제11권2호
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2018

5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 7 ($5-HT_7R$) is one of G-Protein coupled receptors, which is found to be involved in the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders including depression, sleep disorders, memory deficiency and neuropathic pain. After activation of $5-HT_7R$ by serotonin, it activates the production of the intracellular signaling molecule cyclic AMP. The availability of 3D structure of the receptor would enhance the development of new drugs. Hence, in the present study, homology modelling of human 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 7 ($5-HT_7R$) was performed using comparative modelling (Easy Modeller) and threading (I-TASSER) approaches. The generated models were validated using Ramachandran plot and ERRAT plot and the best models were selected based on the validation results. The 3D model developed here could be useful for identifying crucial residues and further docking study.

• 통합자연과학논문집
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2017

Chemerin receptor, which predominantly expressed in immune cells as well as adipose tissue, was found to stimulate chemotaxis of dendritic cells and macrophages to the site of inflammation. Chemerin is a widely distributed multifunctional secreted protein implicated in immune cell migration, adipogenesis, osteoblastogenesis, angiogenesis, myogenesis, and glucose homeostasis. Recent studies suggest chemerin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance and it becomes a potential therapeutic target for treating type II diabetes. The crystal structure of chemerin receptor has not yet been resolved. Therefore, in the present study, homology modelling of CMKLR1 was done utilizing the crystal structure of human angiotension receptor in complex with inverse agonist olmesartan as the template. Since the template has low sequence identity, we have incorporated both threading and comparative modelling approach to generate the three dimensional structure. 3D models were generated and validated. The reported models can be used to characterize the critical amino acid residues in the binding site of CMKLR1.

• 통합자연과학논문집
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.185-189
• /
• 2016

Urotensin-2 receptor (UTS2R) is the most potent vasoconstrictor and plays a major role in the pathophysiology of various cardiovascular diseases and becomes a potential target for human pharmacotherapy. The crystal structure of Urotension-2 receptor has not yet been resolved. Hence, in the current study homology modelling of UTS2R was done utilizing the crystal structure of human delta opioid receptor as the template. Since the template has low sequence identity, we have incorporated both comparative modelling and threading approach to generate the three dimensional structure. 10 models were generated and validated. The reported models can be used to characterize the critical amino acid residues in the binding site of UTS2R.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제29권7호
• /
• pp.868-876
• /
• 2000

Objective : Parkinsonian rat models have generally been characterized by unilateral destruction of both the nigrostriatal pathway and the mesolimbic pathway using the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine. The induction of contraversive turning by apomorphine in these models is thought to reflect the stimulation of supersensitive dopamine D2 receptor or receptor-mediated mechanisms in denervated neostriatum. The present study was undertaken to investigate the expression of dopamine D2 receptor in denervated striatum according to modalities of apomorphine(dopamine agonist) treatment after creating a hemiparkinsonian rat model in which there is 6-hydroxydopamine induced destruction of the unilateral dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. Methods : After making complete lesion in left side substantia nigra pars compacta(SNpc) by stereotactic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into medial and lateral areas of SNpc, and confirming successful animal model by apomorphine induced contraversive turning behavior without recovery and complete destruction of ipsilateral SNpc with tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining in 7th day after operation, 15 rats of parkinsonian model were studied with or without administration of apomorphine at varying doses and durations. According to the modalities of apomorphine treatment for 4 days, these rats were divided into 3 groups, as not-treated group, intermittently treated group and constantly treated group. For investigating the extent of the expression of dopamine D2 receptor in denervated striatum, immunohistochemical staining by dopamine D2 receptor antibody and Western blot were performed. Results : In the D2 receptor antibody immunohistochemical staining, the mean number of positive stained neurons was highest in not-treated group($20.5{\pm}1.14$) of 3 groups. In constantly treated group, the mean number of positive stained neurons was less($3.9{\pm}1.79$) than intermittently treated group(p<0.05). The Western blotting with the D2 receptor antibody revealed that expression of receptors was also highest in not-treated group and less in constantiy treated group than intermittently treated group. Conclusion : Dopamine D2 receptors in denervated striatum of parkinsonian rat models, which were not treated with apomorphine, revealed to be most highly expressed. And, according to doses and durations of apomorphine administration, desensitization of the receptor was more apt to develop with constant treatment than intermittent treatment. In clinical setting, the authors believe that, in long-term treated parkinsonian patients, desensitization of dopamine receptors due to chronic dopaminergic stimulation seems to be partially related to mechanisms of drug tolerance.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.55-59
• /
• 2009

Three dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship between diazabicyclo[4.2.0]octanes and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor($h{\alpha}4{\beta}2$ and $h{\alpha}3{\beta}4$) agonists was studied using comparative molecular field analysis(CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis(CoMSIA). From 11 CoMFA and CoMSIA models, CoMSIA with steric and electrostatic fields gave the best predictive models($q^2=0.926$ and 0.945, ${r^2}_{ncv}=0.983$ and 0.988). This study can be used to develop potent $h{\alpha}4{\beta}2$ receptor agonists with low activity on $h{\alpha}3{\beta}4$ subtype.

• 통합자연과학논문집
• /
• 제7권4호
• /
• pp.234-240
• /
• 2014

C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) is a chemokine receptor with seven transmembrane helices and it belongs to the GPCR family. It plays an important role in asthma, lung disease, atopic dermatitis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, the mosquito-borne tropical diseases, such as dengue fever and allergic rhinitis. Because of its role in wide spectrum of disease processes, CCR4 is considered to be an important drug target. Three dimensional structure of the protein is essential to determine the functions. In the present study homology modeling of human CCR4 was performed based on crystal structure of CCR5 chemokine receptor. The generated models were validated using various parameters. Among the generated homology models the best one is selected based on validation result. The model can be used for performing further docking studies to identifying the critical interacting residues.

• 통합자연과학논문집
• /
• 제10권3호
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2017

Glucagon-like peptide 2 receptor, a GPCR, binds with the glucagon-like peptide, GLP-2 and regulates various metabolic functions in the gastrointestinal tract. It plays an important role in the nutrient homeostasis related to nutrient assimilation by regulating mucosal epithelium. GLP-2 receptor affects the cellular response to external injury, by controlling the intestinal crypt cell proliferation. As they are therapeutically attractive towards diseases related with the gastrointestinal tract, it becomes essential to analyse their structural features to study the pathophysiology of the diseases. As the three dimensional structure of the protein is not available, in this study, we have performed the homology modelling of the receptor based on single- and multiple template modeling. The models were subjected to model validation and a reliable model based on the validation statistics was identified. The predicted model could be useful in studying the structural features of GLP-2 receptor and their role in various diseases related to them.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제13권6호
• /
• pp.425-429
• /
• 2009

Intracranial headaches, including migraines, are mediated by nociceptive activation of the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC), but the precise mechanisms are poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that selective blockage of spinal sigma-1 receptors (Sig-1R) produces a prominent antinociceptive effect in several types of pain models. This study evaluates whether the Sig-1R antagonist (BD1047) has an antinociceptive effect on capsaicin (a potent C-fiber activator) induced headache models in rats. Intracisternal infusion of capsaicin evoked pain behavior (face grooming), which was significantly attenuated by BD1047 pretreatment. BD1047 consistently reduced capsaicin-induced Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI), a neuronal activator, in the TNC in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, capsaicininduced phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 1 was reversed by BD1047 pretreatment in the TNC. These results indicate that the Sig-1R antagonist has an inhibitory effect on nociceptive activation of the TNC in the capsaicin-induced headache animal model.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• 제23권6호
• /
• pp.427-448
• /
• 2019

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor, nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, are localized in brain areas implicated in depression including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, habenula, and monoaminergic nuclei in the brain stem. N/OFQ inhibits neuronal excitability of monoaminergic neurons and monoamine release from their terminals by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channels and inhibition of voltage sensitive calcium channels, respectively. Therefore, NOP receptor antagonists have been proposed as a potential antidepressant. Indeed, mounting evidence shows that NOP receptor antagonists have antidepressant-like effects in various preclinical animal models of depression, and recent clinical studies again confirmed the idea that blockade of NOP receptor signaling could provide a novel strategy for the treatment of depression. In this review, we describe the pharmacological effects of N/OFQ in relation to depression and explore the possible mechanism of NOP receptor antagonists as potential antidepressants.