title: Allele-specific activation of genetically engineered receptors.
abstract: The binding of agonists and antagonists to the beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) is postulated to involve an ionic interaction between the amine group of the ligand and the carboxylate side chain of Asp113 in the third hydrophobic domain of the receptor. To explore the importance of this interaction in the binding of ligands to the beta AR, a Ser residue was substituted for Asp113, and the ability of this mutant receptor to respond to compounds which could potentially interact with the hydroxyl side chain of the Ser residue was assessed. The mutant receptor was fully activated by catechol-containing esters and ketones, compounds which did not activate the wild-type beta AR. The demonstration that the molecular substitution of a single amino acid residue can alter the ligand binding specificity of the beta AR provides evidence that the chemical nature of this residue is a critical determinant in the recognition site of the receptor. Further, the ability to modify the specificity of a receptor by the replacement of amino acids at the binding site demonstrates the potential for the rational design of drugs which function specifically at genetically engineered receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Merck, Sharp, and Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey 07065.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Strader
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sugg
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Candelore
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keys
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Patchett
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D007739:L Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000067956:Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D008024:Ligands; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D012694:Serine; D011433:Propranolol