Crystal structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor-Gs protein complex

Søren Gøgsig Faarup Rasmussen, Brian T DeVree, Yaozhong Zou, Andrew C Kruse, Ka Young Chung, Tong Sun Kobilka, Foon Sun Thian, Pil Seok Chae, Els Pardon, Diane Calinski, Jesper M Mathiesen, Syed T A Shah, Joseph A Lyons, Martin Caffrey, Samuel H Gellman, Jan Steyaert, Georgios Skiniotis, William I Weis, Roger K Sunahara, Brian K Kobilka

2005 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are responsible for the majority of cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters as well as the senses of sight, olfaction and taste. The paradigm of GPCR signalling is the activation of a heterotrimeric GTP binding protein (G protein) by an agonist-occupied receptor. The β(2) adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR) activation of Gs, the stimulatory G protein for adenylyl cyclase, has long been a model system for GPCR signalling. Here we present the crystal structure of the active state ternary complex composed of agonist-occupied monomeric β(2)AR and nucleotide-free Gs heterotrimer. The principal interactions between the β(2)AR and Gs involve the amino- and carboxy-terminal α-helices of Gs, with conformational changes propagating to the nucleotide-binding pocket. The largest conformational changes in the β(2)AR include a 14 Å outward movement at the cytoplasmic end of transmembrane segment 6 (TM6) and an α-helical extension of the cytoplasmic end of TM5. The most surprising observation is a major displacement of the α-helical domain of Gαs relative to the Ras-like GTPase domain. This crystal structure represents the first high-resolution view of transmembrane signalling by a GPCR.

Original languageEnglish
JournalNature
Volume477
Issue number7366
Pages (from-to)549-55
Number of pages7
ISSN0028-0836
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Sept 2011

Keywords

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Animals
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cattle
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Enzyme Activation
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Crystal structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor-Gs protein complex'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this