Structural insights into ligand recognition, activation, and signaling of the α2Aadrenergic receptor

Xu J, Cao S, Hübner H, Weikert D, Chen G, Lu Q, Yuan D, Gmeiner P, Liu Z, Du Y (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Science Advances American Association for the Advancement of Science

Book Volume: 8

Article Number: eabj5347

Journal Issue: 9

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5347

Abstract

The α2A adrenergic receptor (α2AAR) is a G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-Vbinding protein)-Vcoupled receptor that mediates important physiological functions in response to the endogenous neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine, as well as numerous chemically distinct drugs. However, the molecular mechanisms of drug actions remain poorly understood. Here, we report the cryo-Velectron microscopy structures of the human α2AAR-GoA complex bound to norepinephrine and three imidazoline derivatives (brimonidine, dexmedetomidine, and oxymetazoline). Together with mutagenesis and functional data, these structures provide important insights into the molecular basis of ligand recognition, activation, and signaling at the α2AAR. Further structural analyses uncover different molecular determinants between α2AAR and βARs for recognition of norepinephrine and key regions that determine the G protein coupling selectivity. Overall, our studies provide a framework for understanding the signal transduction of the adrenergic system at the atomic level, which will facilitate rational structure-based discovery of safer and more effective medications for α2AAR.

Authors with CRIS profile

Harald Hübner Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Chemie Dorothée Weikert Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Chemie Peter Gmeiner Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Chemie

Involved external institutions

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) CN China (CN) Tsinghua University CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Xu, J., Cao, S., Hübner, H., Weikert, D., Chen, G., Lu, Q.,... Du, Y. (2022). Structural insights into ligand recognition, activation, and signaling of the α2Aadrenergic receptor. Science Advances, 8(9). https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj5347

MLA:

Xu, Jun, et al. "Structural insights into ligand recognition, activation, and signaling of the α2Aadrenergic receptor." Science Advances 8.9 (2022).

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