Coupling ligand structure to specific conformational switches in the beta2-adrenoceptor

Nat Chem Biol. 2006 Aug;2(8):417-22. doi: 10.1038/nchembio801. Epub 2006 Jun 25.

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate a wide variety of physiological functions in response to structurally diverse ligands ranging from cations and small organic molecules to peptides and glycoproteins. For many GPCRs, structurally related ligands can have diverse efficacy profiles. To investigate the process of ligand binding and activation, we used fluorescence spectroscopy to study the ability of ligands having different efficacies to induce a specific conformational change in the human beta2-adrenoceptor (beta2-AR). The 'ionic lock' is a molecular switch found in rhodopsin-family GPCRs that has been proposed to link the cytoplasmic ends of transmembrane domains 3 and 6 in the inactive state. We found that most partial agonists were as effective as full agonists in disrupting the ionic lock. Our results show that disruption of this important molecular switch is necessary, but not sufficient, for full activation of the beta2-AR.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Albuterol / pharmacology
  • Alprenolol / pharmacology
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Epinephrine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Structure
  • Propanolamines / pharmacology
  • Protein Conformation / drug effects
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / drug effects
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / metabolism*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Ligands
  • Propanolamines
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
  • ICI 118551
  • Alprenolol
  • Isoproterenol
  • Albuterol
  • Epinephrine

Associated data

  • PubChem-Substance/11534307
  • PubChem-Substance/11534308
  • PubChem-Substance/11534309
  • PubChem-Substance/11534310
  • PubChem-Substance/11534311
  • PubChem-Substance/11534312
  • PubChem-Substance/11534313
  • PubChem-Substance/11534314
  • PubChem-Substance/11534315
  • PubChem-Substance/11534316