New Horizons on Molecular Pharmacology Applied to Drug Discovery: When Resonance Overcomes Radioligand Binding

Author(s)

Pernomian, Larissa ; Gomes, Mayara Santos ; Moreira, Josimar Dornelas ; Tomich de Paula da Silva, Carlos Henrique ; Campos Rosa, Joaquin Maria ; de Barros Cardoso, Cristina Ribeiro

• Document type: Review article
• Source: CURRENT RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS; v. 10, n. 1, p. 16-20, 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

One of the cornerstones of rational drug development is the measurement of molecular parameters derived from ligand-receptor interaction, which guides therapeutic windows definition. Over the last decades, radioligand binding has provided valuable contributions in this field as key method for such purposes. However, its limitations spurred the development of more exquisite techniques for determining such parameters. For instance, safety risks related to radioactivity waste, expensive and controlled disposal of radioisotopes, radiotracer separation-dependence for affinity analysis, and one-site mathematical models-based fitting of data make radioligand binding a suboptimal approach in providing measures of actual affinity conformations from ligands and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Current advances on high-throughput screening (HTS) assays have markedly extended the options of sparing sensitive ways for monitoring ligand affinity. The advent of the novel bioluminescent donor NanoLuc luciferase (Nluc), engineered from Oplophorus gracilirostris luciferase, allowed fitting bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) for monitoring ligand binding. Such novel approach named Nluc-based BRET (NanoBRET) binding assay consists of a real-time homogeneous proximity assay that overcomes radioligand binding limitations but ensures the quality in affinity measurements. Here, we cover the main advantages of NanoBRET protocol and the undesirable drawbacks of radioligand binding as molecular methods that span pharmacological toolbox applied to Drug Discovery. Also, we provide a novel perspective for the application of NanoBRET technology in affinity assays for multiple-state binding mechanisms involving oligomerization and/or functional biased selectivity. This new angle was proposed based on specific biophysical criteria required for the real-time homogeneity assigned to the proximity NanoBRET protocol. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/00640-7 - Study of the consequences of the inflammatory process induced by AT1 receptors during atherosclerosis on the ACE2 - angiotensin-(1-7) - Mas axis in mouse aorta and the involvement of Mas receptors in the vaso- and atheroprotective effects of losartan
• Grantee: Larissa Pernomian
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/17740-0 - Planning, development ánd pharmacological evaluation of new aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR) antagonists that are candidates for atheroprotective drugs
• Grantee: Larissa Pernomian
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/09019-3 - Consequences of dyslipidemia on the ACE - Ang II - AT1 and ACE2 - Ang-(1-7) - mas axes from the angiotensinergic system in aorta from young and adult LDLr knockout mice
• Grantee: Ana Maria de Oliveira
• Support type: Regular Research Grants