Negative allosteric modulation of the µ-opioid receptor

Abstract

AbstractThe µ-opioid receptor (µOR) is a well-established target for analgesia, yet conventional opioid receptor agonists cause serious adverse effects, notably addiction and respiratory depression, which have led to the present opioid overdose epidemic. µOR negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) may serve as powerful tools in preventing opioid overdose deaths, but promising chemical scaffolds remain elusive. We screened a large DNA-encoded chemical library against inactive µOR, counter-screening with active, G-protein and agonist bound receptor to “steer” selections toward functional negative allosteric modulators. We discovered a NAM compound with high and selective enrichment to inactive µOR; the molecule potently blocks the activity of orthosteric agonists and enhances the affinity of the key opioid overdose reversal molecule, naloxone. It accomplishes this by binding to a site on the extracellular vestibule proximal to naloxone, stabilizing a unique inactive conformation of the extracellular portions of the second and seventh transmembrane helices. The NAM perturbs orthosteric ligand kinetics in therapeutically desirable ways and works cooperatively with low doses of naloxonein vivoto inhibit morphine-induced antinociception, respiratory depression and conditioned place preference while minimizing withdrawal behaviors. Our results provide detailed structural insights into the mechanism of a negative allosteric modulator for the µOR and demonstrate how it can be exploitedin vivo.