Structural basis of selective cannabinoid CB 2 receptor activation.

Cannabinoid CB ₂ receptor (CB ₂ R) agonists are investigated as therapeutic agents in the clinic. However, their molecular mode-of-action is not fully understood. Here, we report the discovery of LEI-102, a CB ₂ R agonist, used in conjunction with three other CBR ligands (APD371, HU308, and CP55,940) to investigate the selective CB ₂ R activation by binding kinetics, site-directed mutagenesis, and cryo-EM studies. We identify key residues for CB ₂ R activation. Highly lipophilic HU308 and the endocannabinoids, but not the more polar LEI-102, APD371, and CP55,940, reach the binding pocket through a membrane channel in TM1-TM7. Favorable physico-chemical properties of LEI-102 enable oral efficacy in a chemotherapy-induced nephropathy model. This study delineates the molecular mechanism of CB ₂ R activation by selective agonists and highlights the role of lipophilicity in CB ₂ R engagement. This may have implications for GPCR drug design and sheds light on their activation by endogenous ligands.
(© 2023. The Author(s).)