Flavors of GPCR signaling bias

GPCRs are inherently flexible molecules existing in an equilibrium of multiple conformations. Binding of GPCR agonists shifts this equilibrium. Certain agonists can increase the fraction of active-like conformations that predispose the receptor to coupling to a particular signal transducer or a select group of transducers. Such agonists are called biased, in contrast to balanced agonists that facilitate signaling via all transducers the receptor couples to. These biased agonists preferentially channel the signaling of a GPCR to particular G proteins, GRKs, or arrestins. Preferential activation of particular G protein or arrestin subtypes can be beneficial, as it would reduce unwanted on-target side effects, widening the therapeutic window. However, biasing GPCRs has two important limitations: a) complete bias is impossible due to inherent flexibility of GPCRs; b) receptor-independent functions of signal transducer proteins cannot be directly affected by GPCR ligands or differential receptor barcoding by GRK phosphorylation. This article is part of the Special Issue on "Ligand Bias".