Emerging Approaches to GPCR Ligand Screening for Drug Discovery

The superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represents the largest class of cell surface receptors and, thus, a prominent family of drug targets. Recently, there has been significant progress in determination of GPCR crystal structures. The structure-based ligand discovery of GPCRs is emerging as a powerful path to drug development. Sensor surface-immobilized GPCRs can identify direct receptor-ligand interactions of a range of chemical libraries. This type of screening shows great promise as an alternative strategy for ligand discovery. Here, we summarize the most recent developments of structure- and sensor-based GPCR ligand discovery. We also highlight certain areas where GPCRs harbor great potential for the development of novel therapeutics, emphasizing the strategic approaches that may yield significant breakthroughs.