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Updated: Dec 14, 2025

Real Time Monitoring of Intracellular Bile Acid Dynamics Using a Genetically Encoded FRET-based Bile Acid Sensor
Published on: January 4, 2016
Structural basis of GPBAR activation and bile acid recognition
Fan Yang1,2, Chunyou Mao3,4, Lulu Guo1,2
1Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Structural insights into the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR) reveal unique features for bile acid recognition and signaling. These findings illuminate the receptor
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Pharmacology
Background:
- The G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR) is crucial for bile acid signaling and metabolic regulation.
- GPBAR acts as a key signaling hub in the liver-bile acid-microbiota-metabolism axis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of GPBAR-Gs complexes.
- To elucidate the structural basis of bile acid recognition and allosteric modulation by GPBAR.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at 3 Å resolution.
- Complex stabilization using high-affinity ligand P395 and bile acid derivative INT-777.
Main Results:
- Revealed a large ligand-binding pocket with key residues for diverse bile acid recognition.
- Identified a putative allosteric bile acid-binding site and structural features contributing to biased signaling.
- Uncovered an atypical GPBAR activation and G protein coupling mechanism involving specific residue networks and motifs.
Conclusions:
- The study provides unique structural insights into GPBAR's bile acid binding and allosteric regulation.
- Findings suggest distinct mechanisms for ligand-binding pocket to G-protein-binding site communication in GPCRs.
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