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Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Processes by Modeling Ligands in Cryo-EM Maps
Published on: July 19, 2024
Structure and dynamics of semaglutide- and taspoglutide-bound GLP-1R-Gs complexes
Xin Zhang1, Matthew J Belousoff1, Yi-Lynn Liang2
1Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; ARC Centre for Cryo-electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia.
Abstract:
The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) regulates insulin secretion, carbohydrate metabolism, and appetite and is an important target for treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Multiple GLP-1R agonists have entered into clinical trials, with some, such as semaglutide, progressing to approval. Others, including taspoglutide, failed due to the high incidence of side effects or insufficient efficacy. GLP-1R agonists have a broad spectrum of signaling profiles, but molecular understanding is limited by a lack of structural information on how different agonists engage with the GLP-1R. Here, we report cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures and cryo-EM 3D variability analysis of semaglutide- and taspoglutide-bound GLP-1R-Gs protein complexes. These reveal similar peptide interactions to GLP-1 but different motions within the receptor and bound peptides, providing insights into the molecular determinants of GLP-1R peptide engagement.
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