Molecular modeling of salsolinol, a full Gi protein agonist of the μ‐opioid receptor, within the receptor binding site

• Published in: Chemical biology & drug design 2019-08, Vol.94 (2), p.1467-1477
• Main Authors: Berríos‐Cárcamo, Pablo, Rivera‐Meza, Mario, Herrera‐Marschitz, Mario, Zapata‐Torres, Gerald
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: enantiomeric specificity; functional selectivity; molecular modeling; salsolinol; μ‐Opioid receptor
• ISSN: 1747-0277; 1747-0285
• DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13523

(R/S)‐Salsolinol is a full agonist of the μ‐opioid receptor (μOR) Gi protein pathway via its (S)‐enantiomer and is functionally selective as it does not promote β‐arrestin recruitment. Compared to (S)‐salsolinol, the (R)‐enantiomer is a less potent agonist of the Gi protein pathway. We have now studied the interactions of the salsolinol enantiomers docked in the binding pocket of the μOR to determine the molecular interactions that promote enantiomeric specificity and functional selectivity of (R/S)‐salsolinol. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that (S)‐salsolinol interacted with 8 of the 11 residues of the μOR binding site, enough to stabilize the molecule. (R)‐Salsolinol showed higher mobility with fewer prevalent bonds. Hence, the methyl group bound to the (S)‐stereogenic center promoted more favorable interactions in the μOR binding site than in the (R)‐orientation. Because (S)‐salsolinol is a small molecule (179.2 Da), it did not interact with residues implicated in the binding of larger morphinan agonists that are located toward the extracellular portion of the binding pocket: W3187.35, I3227.39, and Y3267.43. Our results suggest that contact with residues which (S)‐salsolinol interacts with are enough to elicit Gi protein activation, and possibly define a minimum set required by μOR ligands to promote activation of the Gi protein pathway. (S)‐Salsolinol is a µ‐opioid receptor agonist that activates the Gi protein pathway without β‐arrestin recruitment. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we found that (S)‐salsolinol interacts with 8 of 11 residues of the µ‐opioid receptor binding site. (S)‐salsolinol is a small molecule (179 Da), and it cannot reach residues located toward the extracellular space that interact with morphinan agonists, suggesting that contacts with residues which (S)‐salsolinol interacts are enough and possibly define a minimum set to promote Gi protein pathway activation.