Structural studies of serotonin receptor family

BMB Rep. 2023 Oct;56(10):527-536. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2023-0147.

Abstract

Serotonin receptors, also known as 5-HT receptors, belong to the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) superfamily. They mediate the effects of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in a wide range of functions including mood regulation, cognition and appetite. The functions of serotonin are mediated by a family of 5-HT receptors including 12 GPCRs belonging to six major families: 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT4, 5-HT5, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7. Despite their distinct characteristics and functions, these receptors' subtypes share common structural features and signaling mechanisms. Understanding the structure, functions and pharmacology of the serotonin receptor family is essential for unraveling the complexities of serotonin signaling and developing targeted therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. However, developing drugs that selectively target specific receptor subtypes is challenging due to the structural similarities in their orthosteric binding sites. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the structural studies of 5-HT receptors, highlighting the key structural features of each subtype and shedding light on their potential as targets for mental health and neurological disorders (such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and migraine) drugs. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(10): 527-536].

Publication types

  • Review
  • News

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Receptors, Serotonin* / metabolism
  • Serotonin* / metabolism

Substances

  • Serotonin
  • Receptors, Serotonin

Grants and funding

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by the National Research foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (RS-2023-00214187). This work was supported by the Yonsei University Research Fund of 2022 (2022-22-0138).