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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Parallel Interrogation of β-Arrestin2 Recruitment for Ligand Screening on a GPCR-Wide Scale using PRESTO-Tango Assay
Published on: March 10, 2020
Discovery of Small Molecule Ligands Targeting Orphan G Protein-Coupled Receptors GPR3, GPR6, and GPR12
Xiaochen Tian1, Saghir Ali1, Jones A Addiah-Nickson1
1Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas 77555, United States.
Abstract:
GPR3, GPR6, and GPR12 form a subfamily of Class A orphan G protein-coupled receptors (oGPCRs), for which endogenous ligands have not been identified. Despite their high sequence similarity, each receptor exhibits unique expression profiles in human tissues. Their physiological roles and therapeutic potential are gradually being understood, indicating their critical involvement in various diseases, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders, metabolic diseases, and cancer. Notably, the GPR6 inverse agonist CVN424 is currently in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The recent determination of high-resolution structures of GPR3, GPR6, and GPR12 has significantly enhanced their attractiveness as emerging therapeutic targets for drug discovery. Herein, we summarize the current understanding of the structural and functional characteristics of GPR3, GPR6, and GPR12. We further highlight recent progress in relevant ligand discovery and discuss the key challenges and opportunities in developing potent and selective modulators targeting these orphan receptors.
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