Conformational Plasticity of Human Protease-Activated Receptor 1 upon Antagonist- and Agonist-Binding

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) show complex relationships between functional states and conformational plasticity that can be qualitatively and quantitatively described by contouring their free energy landscape. However, how ligands modulate the free energy landscape to direct conformation and function of GPCRs is not entirely understood. Here, we employ single-molecule force spectroscopy to parametrize the free energy landscape of the human protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), and delineate the mechanical, kinetic, and energetic properties of PAR1 being set into different functional states. Whereas in the inactive unliganded state PAR1 adopts mechanically rigid and stiff conformations, upon agonist or antagonist binding the receptor mechanically softens, while increasing its conformational flexibility, and kinetic and energetic stability. By mapping the free energy landscape to the PAR1 structure, we observe key structural regions putting this conformational plasticity into effect. Our insight, complemented with previously acquired knowledge on other GPCRs, outlines a more general framework to understand how GPCRs stabilize certain functional states.

Keywords: G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR); atomic force microscopy (AFM); energetic properties; free energy landscape; functional states; human protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1); kinetic properties; ligand binding; mechanical properties; single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS); structural stiffness.