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Introduction

The neurotensin receptor (NTSR1) belongs to the superfamily of proteins known as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and responds to the 13 amino acid hormone neurotensin (NTS). Currently around 800 G protein-coupled receptors have been identified and are hypothesized to be responsible for roughly 80% of signal transduction.^[1] GPCRs are involved in a vast array of physiological processes within the body that range from interactions with dopamine to effects on secretion of bile in the intestines.^{[2] [3]} Due to the vast array of functions that these proteins serve and their high abundance within the body, these proteins have become major drug targets.^[4]

A critical topic in the understanding of GPCRs is the transition from the inactive to active state. This transition is responsible for the transduction of a signal from the extracellular to the intracellular space. The transition occurs when a ligand, NTS in the case of NTSR1, binds to the receptor causing a conformational change in the protein that leads to the activation of the intracellular G protein. Currently no crystal structures of the receptor in its unbound, inactive form exist making the transition more difficult to study. NTSR1 can be seen in blue and the ligand NTS can be seen in green.^[5]

Neurotensin

Neurotensin (NTS) is a 13-amino acid peptide originally isolated from bovine hypothalamus. ^[6] NTS fulfills the roles of both a neurotransmitter and a neuromodulator in the nervous system and a hormone in the periphery nervous system. NTS is a neuromodulator of dopamine transmission and of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. ^[7] In the periphery of the digestive tract and cardiovascular system, NTS is a paracrine and endocrine modulator.^[8] Finally, NTS serves as a growth factor for many normal and cancerous cell types. ^[9]

Only the C-terminal tail of NTS, amino acids 8-13, were resolved in the .(PDB code:4GRV) Only amino acids 8-13 were resolved because these are the amino acids that interact with NTRS1 to produce the conformational change that is responsible for G-protein activation. The peptide is colored by element: carbon, oxygen, nitrogen.

Structure

Overall Structure

Figure 1: Neurotensin Incorporation in Membrane. This image depicts the spanning of the membrane made by NTSR1 and illustrates the need for transduction from its extracellular binding site to the intracellular region. This picture was obtained from PubMed

Like other G protein-coupled receptors, the neurotensin receptor is composed of 3 distinct regions. An extracellular binding site where neurotensin binds and causes a conformational change of the protein. A region containing (PDB code:4GRV) that transduce the signal from the extracellular side of the cell membrane to the intracellular side. Lastly, an intracellular region that when activated by a conformational change in the protein activates a G protein associated with this receptor. Currently no crystal structures of the inactive form of the neurotensin receptor available. Without a representation of the inactive form, the conformational changes caused by agonist binding are still not completely known.

Neurotensin Binding Site

Binding of NTS to the binding site is enriched by (PDB code:4GRV)between the positive NTS arginine side chains and the electronegative pocket. The protein is colored by charge: negative and positive. Two of NTS's arginine residues are colored blue. In addition, the C-terminus of NTS forms a (PDB code:4GRV) with R328 of NTSR1. Three hydrogen bonds are made between the side chains of NTS and the receptor. Most of the interactions are van der Waals interactions. The binding pocket is partially capped by a at the proximal end of the receptor protein's N-terminus.^[5]

Hydrophobic Stacking

A major player in the transduction of the extracellular signal to the intracellular G protein is the (PDB code:4GRV)that links the bound hormone with the hydrophobic core of the neurotensin receptor. The carboxylate of L13 forms a hydrogen bond network with R327, R328, and Y324. The Y324, in turn, is brought into an orientation to make the formation of a (PDB Code:4XEE) network between F358, W321, A157, and F317 possible.^[10] The conformational changes caused by this stacking allows for the signal to be moved from the extracellular binding site through the transmembrane helices of the receptor to the intracellular region activating the G protein.

Sodium Binding Pocket

Conserved across all class A GPCRs, a (PDB code:4GRV) is seen in the middle of TM2 helix. The ion is coordinated with a highly conserved D^2.50 and four other contacts with oxygen atoms. Some of these oxygen atoms are sourced from water molecules. In order for G-protein activation, a (PDB Code:4XEE) with T^3.39, S^7.46 ,N^7.49 of the NPxxY motif, prevents the coordination of a Na⁺. ^[10][11]

Allosteric Effects

Sodium ions are a negative allosteric inhibitor to the binding of the neurotensin agonist to the binding site on the neurotensin receptor. D113 of the highly conserved D/RY motif and N365 of the highly conserved NPxxY motif form a substantial hydrogen bonding network with T156 and S362.^[10] This hydrogen bonding network prevents the incorporation of the sodium ion by collapsing upon itself and therefore filling the sodium binding pocket. W321 also works to inhibit the incorporation of the sodium ion by capping off the sodium binding pocket to not allow sodium to enter from the top. W321 uses van der Walls interactions with other amino acids in the binding pocket to place it in the conformation necessary to complete this task.

Clinical Relevance

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