4ej4

Publication Abstract from PubMed

The opioid receptor family comprises three members, the micro-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors, which respond to classical opioid alkaloids such as morphine and heroin as well as to endogenous peptide ligands like endorphins. They belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, and are excellent therapeutic targets for pain control. The delta-opioid receptor (delta-OR) has a role in analgesia, as well as in other neurological functions that remain poorly understood. The structures of the micro-OR and kappa-OR have recently been solved. Here we report the crystal structure of the mouse delta-OR, bound to the subtype-selective antagonist naltrindole. Together with the structures of the micro-OR and kappa-OR, the delta-OR structure provides insights into conserved elements of opioid ligand recognition while also revealing structural features associated with ligand-subtype selectivity. The binding pocket of opioid receptors can be divided into two distinct regions. Whereas the lower part of this pocket is highly conserved among opioid receptors, the upper part contains divergent residues that confer subtype selectivity. This provides a structural explanation and validation for the 'message-address' model of opioid receptor pharmacology, in which distinct 'message' (efficacy) and 'address' (selectivity) determinants are contained within a single ligand. Comparison of the address region of the delta-OR with other GPCRs reveals that this structural organization may be a more general phenomenon, extending to other GPCR families as well.

Structure of the delta-opioid receptor bound to naltrindole.,Granier S, Manglik A, Kruse AC, Kobilka TS, Thian FS, Weis WI, Kobilka BK Nature. 2012 May 16;485(7398):400-4. doi: 10.1038/nature11111. PMID:22596164^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.