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5. Understanding the Ligand–Receptor–G Protein Ternary Complex for GPCR Drug Discovery
Abstract
Understanding the ternary complex between G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), cognate G proteins, and their ligands is an important landmark for drug discovery. Yet, little is known about the specific interactions between GPCRs and G proteins. For a better perspective on the ternary complex dynamics, we adapted a β2-adrenergic receptor(β2AR)–tetGsα reconstitution system and found evidence that for efficient coupling of the β2AR to Gs does not require specific interactions between the βγ-subunits and the β2AR. Our results demonstrate that specific interactions between βγ and the β2AR are not required for G protein activation but likely serve to anchor Gsα to the plasma membrane. Our results also suggests that the advantages of analysis of G protein activation by using β2AR receptor–tetGsα system in vitro at the close proximity of the receptor may constitute a simple screening system that avoids false positives and potentially adapted to screen drugs for other GPCRs.
Affiliation(s): (2) Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
(3) Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
Series: Methods in Molecular Biology  |  Volume: 552  |  Pub. Date: Aug-01-2009  |  Page Range: 67-77  |  DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-317-6_5
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