In Silico Modeling of the α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: New Pharmacological Challenges Associated with Multiple Modes of Signaling

Overview

Journal Mini Rev Med Chem

Publisher Bentham Science Publishers

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2020 Feb 1

PMID 32000651

Citations 5

Authors

Alican Gulsevin

Roger L Papke

Nicole Horenstein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is a homopentameric ion-channel of the Cys-loop superfamily characterized by its low probability of opening, high calcium permeability, and rapid desensitization. The α7 receptor has been targeted for the treatment of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer's disease, but it is also involved in inflammatory modulation as a part of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Despite its functional importance, in silico studies of the α7 receptor cannot produce a general model explaining the structural features of receptor activation, nor predict the mode of action for various ligand classes. Two particular problems in modeling the α7 nAChR are the absence of a high-resolution structure and the presence of five potentially nonequivalent orthosteric ligand binding sites. There is wide variability regarding the templates used for homology modeling, types of ligands investigated, simulation methods, and simulation times. However, a systematic survey focusing on the methodological similarities and differences in modeling α7 has not been done. In this work, we make a critical analysis of the modeling literature of α7 nAChR by comparing the findings of computational studies with each other and with experimental studies under the main topics of structural studies, ligand binding studies, and comparisons with other nAChR. In light of our findings, we also summarize current problems in the field and make suggestions for future studies concerning modeling of the α7 receptor.

Citing Articles

Differential Activation and Desensitization States Promoted by Noncanonical 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists.

Stokes C, Camacho-Hernandez G, Thakur G, Wu X, Taylor P, Papke R J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2022; 383(2):157-171.

PMID: 36279397 PMC: 9553115. DOI: 10.1124/jpet.122.001354.

Therapeutic Targeting of 7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.

Papke R, Horenstein N Pharmacol Rev. 2021; 73(3):1118-1149.

PMID: 34301823 PMC: 8318519. DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.120.000097.

Stable desensitization of α nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by NS6740 requires interaction with S36 in the orthosteric agonist binding site.

Pismataro M, Horenstein N, Stokes C, Dallanoce C, Thakur G, Papke R Eur J Pharmacol. 2021; 905:174179.

PMID: 34004208 PMC: 8478151. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174179.

A Computational Analysis of the Factors Governing the Dynamics of α7 nAChR and Its Homologs.

Gulsevin A, Meiler J, Horenstein N Biophys J. 2020; 119(8):1656-1669.

PMID: 33010233 PMC: 7642335. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.09.006.

Therapeutic potential of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists to combat obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.

Xie H, Yepuri N, Meng Q, Dhawan R, Leech C, Chepurny O Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2020; 21(4):431-447.

PMID: 32851581 PMC: 7572644. DOI: 10.1007/s11154-020-09584-3.

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