Abstract.
The high-resolution crystal structure of an engineered human β2-adrenergic receptor has recently been resolved, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which cholesterol may mediate receptor dimerization. Here, we present a critical examination of new structural and functional insights derived from unprecedented preliminary homology modeling of cannabinoid receptors, obtained using the crystal structure of β2-adrenergic receptor as a template. The structural comparison between the two cannabinoid receptor subtypes and the β2-adrenergic receptor may be of particular interest, by providing important clues for the elucidation of the structural determinants involved in cholesterol binding. In addition, the implications of G protein coupled receptor dimerization, as well as the role of cholesterol in this process, are briefly discussed.
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E. Dainese, S. Oddi: These authors contributed equally to this work.
Received 19 March 2008; received after revision 30 April 2008; accepted 08 May 2008
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Dainese, E., Oddi, S. & Maccarrone, M. Lipid-mediated dimerization of β2-adrenergic receptor reveals important clues for cannabinoid receptors. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 65, 2277–2279 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8139-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-008-8139-6