Signaling snapshots of a serotonin receptor activated by the prototypical psychedelic LSD.
Cao, C., Barros-Alvarez, X., Zhang, S., Kim, K., Damgen, M.A., Panova, O., Suomivuori, C.M., Fay, J.F., Zhong, X., Krumm, B.E., Gumpper, R.H., Seven, A.B., Robertson, M.J., Krogan, N.J., Huttenhain, R., Nichols, D.E., Dror, R.O., Skiniotis, G., Roth, B.L.(2022) Neuron 110: 3154
- PubMed: 36087581 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.08.006
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7SRQ, 7SRR, 7SRS - PubMed Abstract: 
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) 5-HT2-family receptors represent essential targets for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and all other psychedelic drugs. Although the primary psychedelic drug effects are mediated by the 5-HT 2A serotonin receptor (HTR2A), the 5-HT 2B serotonin receptor (HTR2B) has been used as a model receptor to study the activation mechanisms of psychedelic drugs due to its high expression and similarity to HTR2A. In this study, we determined the cryo-EM structures of LSD-bound HTR2B in the transducer-free, Gq-protein-coupled, and β-arrestin-1-coupled states. These structures provide distinct signaling snapshots of LSD's action, ranging from the transducer-free, partially active state to the transducer-coupled, fully active states. Insights from this study will both provide comprehensive molecular insights into the signaling mechanisms of the prototypical psychedelic LSD and accelerate the discovery of novel psychedelic drugs.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7365, USA.
Organizational Affiliation: