Download MendeleyA biased allosteric modulator is a molecular glue for beta 2 AR dimerization.
Shen, J., Peddada, T.N., Komolov, K.E., De Pascali, F., Garces, A.M., Wang, H., Ehsan, M., Chae, P.S., Lerch, M.T., Benovic, J.L., Xu, J., Kobilka, B.K.(2026) Nature
- PubMed: 42618785 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10892-y
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9Q3L - PubMed Abstract:
Family A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are typically described as monomers, yet growing evidence suggests that they can form dimers with distinct signalling properties 1-3 . However, the mechanisms and therapeutic potential of such dimerization remain poorly understood. Here we show that AP-7-168, an optimized derivative of a β-arrestin-biased negative allosteric modulator of the β 2 -adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) that sustains bronchorelaxation in cell and tissue models 4 , functions as a molecular glue to stabilize β 2 AR homodimerization. Cryogenic electron microscopy structures reveal a unique binding mode in which two AP-7-168 molecules pack within a pocket formed by transmembrane helices 3, 4 and 5 of two protomers, stabilizing a dimeric conformation that selectively prevents β-arrestin coupling. In cells, AP-7-168 robustly stabilizes β 2 AR dimerization and drives enlarged nanocluster formation. Combined with extensive functional studies, our findings identify an allosteric mechanism by which a small molecule biases β 2 AR signalling through dimerization, highlighting ligand-stabilized dimerization as a strategy for GPCR modulation.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Organizational Affiliation:
