Ligand-specific regulation of the extracellular surface of a G protein coupled receptor

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are seven transmembrane proteins that mediate the majority of cellular responses to hormones and neurotransmitters. They are the largest group of therapeutic targets for a broad spectrum of diseases. Recent crystal structures of GPCRs1,2,3,4,5 reveal structural conservation extending from the orthosteric ligand binding site in the transmembrane core to the cytoplasmic G protein coupling domains. In contrast, the extracellular surface (ECS) of GPCRs is remarkably diverse, and therefore represents an ideal target for the discovery of subtype-selective drugs. However, little is known about the functional role of the ECS in receptor activation, or about conformational coupling of this surface to the native ligand binding pocket. Here we use NMR spectroscopy to investigate ligand-specific conformational changes around a central structural feature in the ECS of the β(2) adrenergic receptor: a salt bridge linking extracellular loops (ECLs) 2 and 3. Small molecule drugs that bind within the transmembrane core and exhibit different efficacies towards G protein activation (agonist, neutral antagonist, and inverse agonist) also stabilize distinct conformations of the ECS. We thereby demonstrate conformational coupling between the ECS and the orthosteric binding site, showing that drugs targeting this diverse surface could function as allosteric modulators with high subtype selectivity. Moreover, these studies provide new insight into the dynamic behavior of GPCRs not addressable by static, inactive-state crystal structures.