Homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations of the active state of the nociceptin receptor reveal new insights into agonist binding and activation.

ABSTRACT: The opioid receptor-like receptor, also known as the nociceptin receptor (NOP), is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the opioid receptor family. Although NOP shares a significant homology with the other opioid receptors, it does not bind known opioid ligands and has been shown to have a distinct mechanism of activation compared to the closely related opioid receptors mu, delta, and kappa. Previously reported homology models of the NOP receptor, based on the inactive-state GPCR crystal structures, give limited information on the activation and selectivity features of this fourth member of the opioid receptor family. We report here the first active-state homology model of the NOP receptor based on the opsin GPCR crystal structure. An inactive-state homology model of NOP was also

SUBMITTER: Daga PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3393802 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature