Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
Structural insights for the design of new PPARgamma partial agonists with high binding affinity and low
Laura Guasch1, Esther Sala, Cristina Valls
1Grup de Recerca en Nutrigenòmica, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus de Sescelades, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
Abstract:
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ) full agonists are molecules with powerful insulin-sensitizing action that are used as antidiabetic drugs. Unfortunately, these compounds also present various side effects. Recent results suggest that effective PPARγ agonists should show a low transactivation activity but a high binding affinity to inhibit phosphorylation at Ser273. We use several structure activity relationship studies of synthetic PPARγ agonists to explore the different binding features of full and partial PPARγ agonists with the aim of differentiating the features needed for binding and those needed for the transactivation activity of PPARγ. Our results suggest that effective partial agonists should have a hydrophobic moiety and an acceptor site with an appropriate conformation to interact with arm II and establish a hydrogen bond with Ser342 or an equivalent residue at arm III. Despite the fact that interactions with arm I increase the binding affinity, this region should be avoided in order to not increase the transactivation activity of potential PPARγ partial agonists.
Related Concept Videos
The Two-State Receptor Model
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with one...
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Adrenergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Aromatic ring substitutions: Substituting the aromatic ring with –OH groups at positions 3 and 4 yields catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine), which have a high affinity for adrenoceptors. Hydrogen bonding between –OH groups and receptors enhances adrenergic activity.
Separation of the aromatic...
Drug-Receptor Interactions
Several parameters, such as the drug's affinity for its receptor and its efficacy, which is its ability to activate the receptor, determine the drug's effect on the tissue.
G Protein-coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
