Recent advances in structure-based virtual screening of G-protein coupled receptors

AAPS J. 2009 Mar;11(1):178-85. doi: 10.1208/s12248-009-9094-3. Epub 2009 Mar 17.

Abstract

In addition to the rhodopsin crystal structure, high-resolution crystal structures of ligand-mediated G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have recently become available, and these have become attractive templates for developing homology models of several GPCRs of therapeutic interest. These crystal structures and the homology models derived from them have provided significant insights into ligand-receptor interactions. Moreover, several studies have demonstrated that the structural models are indeed suitable for virtual screening of compound databases to identify new ligands for various GPCRs. Recent examples of such virtual screening against GPCRs are discussed in this review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Hormones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter / chemistry
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter / metabolism
  • Receptors, Peptide / chemistry
  • Receptors, Peptide / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Hormones
  • Ligands
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neurotransmitter
  • Receptors, Peptide