REV-ERBβ Binding Pocket Dynamics With Implications for Rational Design of Small Molecule Modulators

REV-ERBβ is a nuclear receptor (NR) with heme as an endogenous ligand that regulates its transcriptional activity. With a key role in cellular functions such as glucose metabolism, immune response, and dysregulation in pathologies such as Type-2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, small molecule agonists and antagonists targeting REV-ERBs have been discovered. However, due to a lack of crystal structures in complex with these compounds, the structural and dynamical basis of these activities still remains elusive and hinders the rational design of molecules targeting REV-ERB. Using molecular dynamics simulations and docking studies, we have characterized the dynamics of REV-ERBβ ligand-binding domain (LBD) in different conformational states. The presence of heme in the binding pocket within LBD was found to dampen its dynamics as well as nuclear co-repressor (NCoR) peptide binding. We further show that the binding of the antagonist destabilizes the NCoR peptide binding to LBD mediated by loss of interactions with residues at the NCoR-REV-ERBβ interface. These findings could be utilized to design molecular scaffolds with better activity and selectivity against REV-ERBβ.