Engineering a soluble parathyroid hormone GPCR mimetic
Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Procurement of Parathyroid Glands from Living Donor Pigs and Ex Vivo Identification
Published on: August 1, 2025
Christopher O Audu1, Jessica J Plati, Maria Pellegrini
1Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755.
Abstract:
We designed and characterized a soluble mimic of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptor (PTH1R) that incorporates the N-terminus and third extracellular loop of PTH1R, important for ligand binding. The engineered receptor (PTH1R-NE3) was conceived to enable easy production and the use of standard biochemical and biophysical assays for the screening of competitive antagonists of PTH. We show that PTH1R-NE3 is folded, thermodynamically stable and selectively binds PTH. We also demonstrate the utility of our mimic by identifying a small molecule that competes with PTH in our PTH1R-NE3-based fluorescence polarization assay. Antagonists to PTH1R, a transmembrane protein belonging to the class B G-protein coupled receptor family, may provide new therapeutic options for calcium metabolism diseases like humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
The Parathyroid Glands
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by...
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
GPCR Desensitization
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical,...
Production of Pharmaceuticals

