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 fundamental questions remained in the field of peptide-GPCR signaling systems are the basis for the diverse binding mode 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 Gi and Gq, respectively. The structures reveal a unique binding pose of galanin, which almost ‘lay 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 Gq, thus determining the selective coupling of Gq to GAL2R. ICL2 replacement in Gi-coupled GAL1R, μOR, 5-HT1AR, and Gs-coupled b2AR and D1R with that of GAL2R promotes Gq coupling of these receptors, highlighting the dominant roles of ICL2 in Gq selectivity. Together our results provide important insights into peptide ligand recognition and allosteric activation of galanin receptors and uncover a general structural element for Gq coupling selectivity.