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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Construction of Model Lipid Membranes Incorporating G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
Published on: February 5, 2022
Structural basis for lysophosphatidic acid recognition and atypical Gαq coupling by LPAR5
Xin Li1,2, Kai Wang1,2, Zhongliang Xing3
1State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
Structural insights into Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 5 (LPAR5) reveal a unique G protein coupling mechanism. This discovery advances understanding of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and specificity in LPA receptors.
Area of Science:
- Structural Biology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 5 (LPAR5) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) implicated in neuropathic pain, itch, and cancer.
- GPCRs mediate cellular responses through interactions with G proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of LPAR5 bound to 1-oleoyl-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and Gq.
- To elucidate the distinct mechanism of receptor activation and G protein coupling.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) at 2.96 Å resolution.
- Site-directed mutagenesis to confirm functional interactions.
Main Results:
- The structure reveals how LPA binds LPAR5, with its headgroup interacting with extracellular loop 2 and transmembrane helices (TM) 5-7, and its lipid tail in a hydrophobic cavity formed by TM3-5.
- LPAR5 displays a noncanonical G protein coupling mode, with the Gα C-terminal α5 helix positioned towards the intracellular loop 1-helix 8 interface, unlike typical GPCR-G protein structures.
- This unique interface involves limited TM6 displacement and modest rearrangement at the toggle-switch position (6.48), stabilized by specific interactions.
Conclusions:
- The findings present a novel mode of GPCR-G protein coupling mediated by LPAR5.
- This highlights the structural plasticity of LPA receptors and its role in signaling specificity.
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