Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
Published on: February 20, 2018
AMD3100 is a CXCR7 ligand with allosteric agonist properties
Irina Kalatskaya1, Yamina A Berchiche, Stéphanie Gravel
1Department of Biochemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
The bicyclam AMD3100, an inhibitor of CXCR4, also binds CXCR7. AMD3100 acts as an allosteric agonist for CXCR7, revealing a new signaling pathway and necessitating caution in its use.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- AMD3100 is a known inhibitor of the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)-binding C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4).
- CXCR4 plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including immune cell trafficking and cancer progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction of AMD3100 with the alternative CXCL12 receptor, CXCR7.
- To elucidate the signaling pathways modulated by AMD3100 at CXCR7.
- To characterize the functional consequences of AMD3100 binding to CXCR7.
Main Methods:
- Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to measure receptor dimerization and conformational changes.
- Assessment of beta-arrestin recruitment to CXCR7.
- Analysis of CXCL12 binding affinity to CXCR7 in the presence of AMD3100.
Main Results:
- AMD3100 binds to CXCR7, in addition to its known binding to CXCR4.
- AMD3100 activates beta-arrestin recruitment to CXCR7, establishing a novel signaling pathway.
- AMD3100 enhances CXCL12 binding to CXCR7 and induces conformational changes in the receptor dimer.
- AMD3100 acts as an allosteric agonist of CXCR7, increasing the potency of CXCL12-induced signaling.
Conclusions:
- AMD3100 exhibits dual activity, binding to both CXCR4 and CXCR7 with opposing effects.
- AMD3100 is an allosteric agonist of CXCR7, activating a previously unrecognized signaling pathway.
- Caution is advised when using AMD3100 to study CXCL12 signaling due to its complex interactions with both CXCR4 and CXCR7.
More Related Videos
09:09Preparation and Delivery of Protein Microcrystals in Lipidic Cubic Phase for Serial Femtosecond Crystallography
Published on: September 20, 2016
06:56A Flow Cytometry-based Assay to Identify Compounds That Disrupt Binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC Chemokine Ligand 12 to CXC Chemokine Receptor 4
Published on: March 10, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist
Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.
Drug-Receptor Interactions
Several parameters, such as the drug's affinity for its receptor and its efficacy, which is its ability to activate the receptor, determine the drug's effect on the tissue.
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Opioid Receptors: Overview
The Two-State Receptor Model
The binding affinity of a drug determines its interaction with one...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...