Structure-based survey of ligand binding in the human insulin receptor

Lokender Kumar, Whitney Vizgaudis, Judith Klein-Seetharaman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The insulin receptor is a membrane protein responsible for the regulation of nutrient balance; and therefore, it is an attractive target in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Pharmacology of the insulin receptor involves two distinct mechanisms: (1) activation of the receptor by insulin mimetics that bind in the extracellular domain and (2) inhibition of the receptor TK enzymatic activity in the cytoplasmic domain. While a complete structural picture of the full-length receptor comprising the entire sequence covering extracellular, transmembrane, juxtamembrane and cytoplasmic domains is still elusive, recent progress through cryoelectron microscopy has made it possible to describe the initial insulin ligand binding events at atomistic detail. We utilize this opportunity to obtain structural insights into the pharmacology of the insulin receptor. To this end, we conducted a comprehensive docking study of known ligands to the new structures of the receptor. Through this approach, we provide an in-depth, structure-based review of human insulin receptor pharmacology in light of the new structures. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Structure Guided Pharmacology of Membrane Proteins (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.14/issuetoc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3512-3528
Number of pages17
JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology
Volume179
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2022

Keywords

  • insulin
  • membrane receptor
  • molecular docking
  • protein structure–function
  • signal transduction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

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