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Updated: Jan 14, 2026

G Protein-selective GPCR Conformations Measured Using FRET Sensors in a Live Cell Suspension Fluorometer Assay
Published on: September 10, 2016
Conformational Signatures of Preassembled and Active Complexes of 5-HT7 with the Gs Protein
Zeenat Zara1,2, Alessandro Nicoli1,3, Ruiming He1,4
1Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising 85354, Germany.
Abstract:
5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor type 7 (5-HT7) receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) exhibiting noncanonical signaling properties. It has been shown that 5-HT7 can form stable inactive preassembled complexes with its cognate Gs protein. Structural determinants of such complex formation and the distinction between preassembled and intermediate activated complexes remain unknown. Here, we use molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to determine and characterize the binding interface between this receptor and the Gs protein in both the active and preassembly complexes. Our results show key interaction patterns specific for the different states and pinpoint unique structural features distinguishing active, inactive, and preassembled states of the receptor.
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