Download MendeleyStructure of the agonist-bound neurotensin receptor.
White, J.F., Noinaj, N., Shibata, Y., Love, J., Kloss, B., Xu, F., Gvozdenovic-Jeremic, J., Shah, P., Shiloach, J., Tate, C.G., Grisshammer, R.(2012) Nature 490: 508-513
- PubMed: 23051748
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11558
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
4GRV - PubMed Abstract:
Neurotensin (NTS) is a 13-amino-acid peptide that functions as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone through the activation of the neurotensin receptor NTSR1, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In the brain, NTS modulates the activity of dopaminergic systems, opioid-independent analgesia, and the inhibition of food intake; in the gut, NTS regulates a range of digestive processes. Here we present the structure at 2.8 Å resolution of Rattus norvegicus NTSR1 in an active-like state, bound to NTS(8-13), the carboxy-terminal portion of NTS responsible for agonist-induced activation of the receptor. The peptide agonist binds to NTSR1 in an extended conformation nearly perpendicular to the membrane plane, with the C terminus oriented towards the receptor core. Our findings provide, to our knowledge, the first insight into the binding mode of a peptide agonist to a GPCR and may support the development of non-peptide ligands that could be useful in the treatment of neurological disorders, cancer and obesity.
Organizational Affiliation:
Membrane Protein Structure Function Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland 20852, USA.
