GPR156 (G protein-coupled receptor 156), is a humangene which encodes aG protein-coupled receptor belonging tometabotropic glutamate receptor subfamily.[5] Bysequence homology, this gene was proposed as being a possibleGABAB receptor subunit, however when expressed in cells alone or with other GABAB subunits, no response to GABAB ligands could be detected. In vitro studies on GPR156 constitutive activity revealed a high level of basal activation and coupling with members of theGi/Goheterotrimeric G protein family.[6] In 2021, an article was reported that GPR156 modulates hair cell orientation in the cochlea.[7] Also, it was proposed that GPR156 is related to congenital hearing loss.[8] GPR156 in complex with any of the Gi/o heterotrimers regulates the hair cell orientation.[9] In 2024, molecular structures of G-free and Go-bound GPR156 were characterized by using cryogenic electron microscopy.[10]
Among class C GPCR family members, GPR156 is unique because it lacks a large extracellular domain. Structural analyses revealed that the asymmetric binding of Go-protein to GPR156 triggers conformational change of its cytoplasmic face without altering dimer interface.[10] Although the inactive class C GPCRs undergo rearrangement of their dimeric interface, the agonist- and/or the positive allosteric modulator-bound class C GPCRs retain their dimeric interface upon G-protein binding. Thus, the G-free GPR156 is likely to represent an active state.[10] Structural and functional analyses suggest that abundant endogenous phospholipids, receptor dimerization, and the G-protein binding-induced conformational change of the cytoplasmic face are the primary reasons for constitutive activation of GPR156.[10] Phosphatidylglycerol further stimulates the activity of GPR156, which suggests the environmental changes of the phospholipid composition may regulate the GPR156 activity.[10]
^abcdeShin J, Park J, Jeong J, Lam JH, Qiu X, Wu D, et al. (April 2024). "Constitutive activation mechanism of a class C GPCR".Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.31 (4):678–687.doi:10.1038/s41594-024-01224-7.PMID38332368.
