Molecular basis for allosteric agonism and G protein subtype selectivity of galanin receptors

Abstract

Peptide hormones and neuropeptides are complex signaling molecules that predominately function through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Two unanswered questions remaining in the field of peptide-GPCR signaling systems pertain to the basis for the diverse binding modes of peptide ligands and the specificity of G protein coupling. Here, we report the structures of a neuropeptide, galanin, bound to its receptors, GAL1R and GAL2R, in complex with their primary G protein subtypes G_i and G_q, respectively. The structures reveal a unique binding pose of galanin, which almost ‘lays flat’ on the top of the receptor transmembrane domain pocket in an α-helical conformation, and acts as an ‘allosteric-like’ agonist via a distinct signal transduction cascade. The structures also uncover the important features of intracellular loop 2 (ICL2) that mediate specific interactions with G_q, thus determining the selective coupling of G_q to GAL2R. ICL2 replacement in G_i-coupled GAL1R, μOR, 5-HT_1AR, and G_s-coupled β₂AR and D1R with that of GAL2R promotes G_q coupling of these receptors, highlighting the dominant roles of ICL2 in G_q selectivity. Together our results provide insights into peptide ligand recognition and allosteric activation of galanin receptors and uncover a general structural element for G_q coupling selectivity.

The basis for the diverse peptide-binding modes and the G protein selectivity of peptide GPCRs remains elusive. Here, the authors offer a structural basis for allosteric-like agonism and G protein selectivity of a neuropeptide GPCR, galanin receptor.