GPCR engineering yields high-resolution structural insights into beta2-adrenergic receptor function

Science. 2007 Nov 23;318(5854):1266-73. doi: 10.1126/science.1150609. Epub 2007 Oct 25.

Abstract

The beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) is a well-studied prototype for heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that respond to diffusible hormones and neurotransmitters. To overcome the structural flexibility of the beta2AR and to facilitate its crystallization, we engineered a beta2AR fusion protein in which T4 lysozyme (T4L) replaces most of the third intracellular loop of the GPCR ("beta2AR-T4L") and showed that this protein retains near-native pharmacologic properties. Analysis of adrenergic receptor ligand-binding mutants within the context of the reported high-resolution structure of beta2AR-T4L provides insights into inverse-agonist binding and the structural changes required to accommodate catecholamine agonists. Amino acids known to regulate receptor function are linked through packing interactions and a network of hydrogen bonds, suggesting a conformational pathway from the ligand-binding pocket to regions that interact with G proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / chemistry
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / metabolism
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / chemistry
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacteriophage T4 / enzymology
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Inverse Agonism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / metabolism
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muramidase / chemistry
  • Muramidase / metabolism
  • Propanolamines / chemistry
  • Propanolamines / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Ligands
  • Propanolamines
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • carazolol
  • Muramidase

Associated data

  • PDB/2RH1