9pa2
PCP bound mu-opioid receptor in complex with Gi1
Structural highlights
FunctionOPRM_HUMAN Receptor for endogenous opioids such as beta-endorphin and endomorphin (PubMed:10529478, PubMed:12589820, PubMed:7891175, PubMed:7905839, PubMed:7957926, PubMed:9689128). Receptor for natural and synthetic opioids including morphine, heroin, DAMGO, fentanyl, etorphine, buprenorphin and methadone (PubMed:10529478, PubMed:10836142, PubMed:12589820, PubMed:19300905, PubMed:7891175, PubMed:7905839, PubMed:7957926, PubMed:9689128). Also activated by enkephalin peptides, such as Met-enkephalin or Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe, with higher affinity for Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe (By similarity). Agonist binding to the receptor induces coupling to an inactive GDP-bound heterotrimeric G-protein complex and subsequent exchange of GDP for GTP in the G-protein alpha subunit leading to dissociation of the G-protein complex with the free GTP-bound G-protein alpha and the G-protein beta-gamma dimer activating downstream cellular effectors (PubMed:7905839). The agonist- and cell type-specific activity is predominantly coupled to pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i) and G(o) G alpha proteins, GNAI1, GNAI2, GNAI3 and GNAO1 isoforms Alpha-1 and Alpha-2, and to a lesser extent to pertussis toxin-insensitive G alpha proteins GNAZ and GNA15 (PubMed:12068084). They mediate an array of downstream cellular responses, including inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity and both N-type and L-type calcium channels, activation of inward rectifying potassium channels, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phospholipase C (PLC), phosphoinositide/protein kinase (PKC), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and regulation of NF-kappa-B (By similarity). Also couples to adenylate cyclase stimulatory G alpha proteins (By similarity). The selective temporal coupling to G-proteins and subsequent signaling can be regulated by RGSZ proteins, such as RGS9, RGS17 and RGS4 (By similarity). Phosphorylation by members of the GPRK subfamily of Ser/Thr protein kinases and association with beta-arrestins is involved in short-term receptor desensitization (By similarity). Beta-arrestins associate with the GPRK-phosphorylated receptor and uncouple it from the G-protein thus terminating signal transduction (By similarity). The phosphorylated receptor is internalized through endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits which involves beta-arrestins (By similarity). The activation of the ERK pathway occurs either in a G-protein-dependent or a beta-arrestin-dependent manner and is regulated by agonist-specific receptor phosphorylation (By similarity). Acts as a class A G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) which dissociates from beta-arrestin at or near the plasma membrane and undergoes rapid recycling (By similarity). Receptor down-regulation pathways are varying with the agonist and occur dependent or independent of G-protein coupling (By similarity). Endogenous ligands induce rapid desensitization, endocytosis and recycling (By similarity). Heterooligomerization with other GPCRs can modulate agonist binding, signaling and trafficking properties (By similarity).[UniProtKB:P33535][1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Couples to GNAS and is proposed to be involved in excitatory effects.[10] Does not bind agonists but may act through oligomerization with binding-competent OPRM1 isoforms and reduce their ligand binding activity.[11] Does not bind agonists but may act through oligomerization with binding-competent OPRM1 isoforms and reduce their ligand binding activity.[12] Publication Abstract from PubMedKetamine offers rapid relief for treatment-resistant depression and severe pain in the clinic, providing immediate benefits that traditional medications often fail to deliver. While its antagonistic action at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is a key mechanism, ketamine's dual nature as both a promising treatment and a drug with abuse potential suggests its therapeutic effects extend beyond NMDAR inhibition. Here we provide structural evidence of human opioid receptors bound to ketamine and its parent analog phencyclidine (PCP), supporting that both ligands can directly bind and activate opioid receptors. The structures, together with site-directed mutagenesis and structure-activity relationship studies, identify key motifs involved in ketamine and PCP recognition and efficacy modulation. Furthermore, we determine the structure of the ligand-free state of human kappa opioid receptor, revealing molecular details before ligand engagement. Compared to PCP, ketamine displays more notable binding dynamics in the orthosteric site that may contribute to its unique pharmacology at opioid receptors. Our findings highlight the importance of including opioid receptors to fully understand ketamine's versatility in clinical settings. Structural basis of opioid receptor activation by PCP and ketamine.,Jiang Q, Han J, Fine EJ, Ramos-Gonzalez N, Rangari VA, Ruiz MV, Critz ML, Suomivuori CM, Wang J, Albert TL, Whiddon K, Li K, Robertson MJ, Huang XP, Land BB, Majumdar S, Fay JF, Dror RO, Che T Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2026 Jun 22. doi: 10.1038/s41594-026-01839-y. PMID:42332075[13] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
| ||||||||||||||||||||
