Nanobody-based conjugates targeting small molecule-binding GPCRs and exhibiting logic-gated signaling

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of plasma membrane embedded signaling proteins. These receptors are involved in a wide array of physiological processes, marking them as attractive targets for drug development. Bitopic ligands, which are comprised of a pharmacophore that targets the receptor orthosteric site and a linked moiety that binds to a separate site, have considerable potential for addressing GPCR function. Here, we report the synthesis and evaluation of novel bitopic conjugates consisting of a small molecule pharmacophore that activates the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) linked to antibody fragments (nanobodies, Nbs). This approach leverages the high affinity and specificity binding of Nbs to non-orthosteric sites on engineered A2AR variants to provide bitopic Nb-ligand conjugates that stimulate strong and enduring signaling responses. We further demonstrate that such bitopic conjugates can induce activation by spanning two distinct receptor protomers. This property enables the selective targeting of receptor pairs over either individual receptor, as a form of "logic-gated" activity. We showcase the broad applicability of bitopic conjugates in this context by demonstrating their activity in targeting several pairs of co-expressed receptors, including GPCR monomers from different classes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this dual-targeting strategy initiates signaling responses that diverge from those induced by monovalent ligands. The ability to target receptor pairs using nanobody-ligand conjugates offers a powerful strategy with potential for cell type-selective signaling and implications for GPCR drug discovery efforts more broadly.