Nature Communications (Aug 2021)

Activation pathway of a G protein-coupled receptor uncovers conformational intermediates as targets for allosteric drug design

  • Shaoyong Lu,
  • Xinheng He,
  • Zhao Yang,
  • Zongtao Chai,
  • Shuhua Zhou,
  • Junyan Wang,
  • Ashfaq Ur Rehman,
  • Duan Ni,
  • Jun Pu,
  • Jinpeng Sun,
  • Jian Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25020-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a critical target in modern drug development across a wide range of indications. Here the authors provide a comprehensive characterization of a typical GPCR, the angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 receptor (AT1R), and provide insight into its activation mechanism that suggest avenues for the design of allosteric GPCR modulators.