Selective Allosteric Modulation of N-Terminally Cleaved, but Not Full Length CCL3 in CCR1

Olav Larsen, Michael Lückmann, Wijnand J.C. van der Velden, Marta Oliva-Santiago, Matjaz Brvar, Trond Ulven, Thomas M Frimurer, Stefanie Karlshøj, Mette M Rosenkilde

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Abstract

Chemokines undergo post-translational modification such as N-terminal truncations. Here, we describe how N-terminal truncation of full length CCL3(1-70) affects its activity at CCR1. Truncated CCL3(5-70) has 10-fold higher potency and enhanced efficacy in β-arrestin recruitment, but less than 2-fold increased potencies in G protein signaling determined by calcium release, cAMP and IP3 formation. Small positive ago-allosteric ligands modulate the two CCL3 variants differently as the metal ion chelator bipyridine in complex with zinc (ZnBip) enhances the binding of truncated, but not full length CCL3, while a size-increase of the chelator to a chloro-substituted terpyridine (ZnClTerp), eliminates its allosteric, but not agonistic action. By employing a series of receptor mutants and in silico modeling we describe residues of importance for chemokine and small molecule binding. Notably, the chemokine receptor-conserved Glu2877.39 interacts with the N-terminal amine of truncated CCL3(5-70) and with Zn2+ of ZnBip, thereby bridging their binding sites and enabling the positive allosteric effect. Our study emphasizes that small allosteric molecules may act differently toward chemokine variants and thus selectively modulate interactions of specific chemokine subsets with their cognate receptors.

Original languageEnglish
JournalACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
Volume2
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)429-441
Number of pages13
ISSN2575-9108
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

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Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.

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