Homodimerization of human mu-opioid receptor overexpressed in Sf9 insect cells

In this study, we demonstrate that human mu-opioid receptors do form SDS-resistant homodimers and examine the ability of human mu-opioid receptors to dimerize and the role of agonists in the dimerization. Increasing concentrations and longer exposure of agonists reduce the levels of dimmer with a corresponding increase in the levels of monomer. This effect is achieved with both peptide and alkaloid opioid agonists and it is antagonist reversible. These results suggest that human mu-opioid receptors are present as receptor oligomers and interconversion between dimeric and monomeric forms may be important for biological activity.