A team of international researchers has achieved the remarkable feat of capturing the activation of a crucial receptor on film. By freezing the molecules involved at various points in time and photographing them with an electron microscope, they were able to create a sequence of still images that reveal the spatial changes the receptor undergoes during activation.
Cells communicate through signal molecules detected by specific receptors embedded in the cell membrane. One of the most important receptor groups is the GPCRs.
When an appropriate signal molecule binds to these receptors, a complex series of reactions is triggered. The receptor undergoes spatial changes, activating an attached G-protein inside the cell. This protein then moves to regulate enzymes or gene transcription.
Prof. Dr. Peter Gmeiner, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at FAU, explains, “Humans have over 800 GPCRs, each specialized for detecting specific signals. Our study focused on the β2-adrenergic receptor, which is activated by adrenaline and plays a role in regulating heart and lung function.”
This receptor is a crucial target for developing treatments for asthma or cardiac insufficiency. Gmeiner emphasizes the importance of understanding the receptor’s activation and the attached G-protein for developing effective medicines.
2024-03-13 16:00:04
Original from phys.org