The ␥-aminobutyric acid, type B (GABA B ) receptor is well recognized as being composed of two subunits, GABA B1 and GABA B2 . Both subunits share structural homology with other class-III G-protein-coupled receptors. They are composed of two main domains: a heptahelical domain (HD) typical of all G-protein-coupled receptors and a large extracellular domain (ECD). Although GABA B1 binds GABA, GABA B2 is required for GABA B1 to reach the cell surface. However, it is still not demonstrated whether the association of these two subunits is always required for function in the brain. Indeed, GABA B2 plays a major role in the coupling of the heteromer to G-proteins, such that it is possible that GABA B2 can transmit a signal in the absence of GABA B1 . Today only ligands interacting with GABA B1 ECD have been identified. Thus, the compounds acting exclusively on the GABA B2 subunit will be helpful in analyzing the specific role of this subunit in the brain. Here, we explored the mechanism of action of CGP7930, a compound described as a positive allosteric regulator of the GABA B receptor. We showed that it activates the wild type GABA B receptor but with a low efficacy. The GABA B2 HD is necessary for this effect, although one cannot exclude that CGP7930 could also bind to GABA B1 . Of interest, CGP7930 could activate GABA B2 expressed alone and is the first described agonist of GABA B2 . Finally, we show that CGP7930 retains its agonist activity on a GABA B2 subunit deleted of its ECD. This demonstrates that the HD of GABA B2 behaves similar to a rhodopsin-like receptor, because it can reach the cell surface alone, can couple to G-protein, and be activated by agonists. These data open new strategies for studying the mechanism of activation of GABA B receptor and examine any possible role of homomeric GABA B2 receptors.

Activating germline fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) mutations cause achondroplasia (ACH), the most common form of human dwarfism and a spectrum of skeletal dysplasias. FGFR3 is a tyrosine kinase receptor and constitutive FGFR3 activation impairs endochondral ossification and triggers severe disorganization of the cartilage with shortening of long bones. To decipher the role of FGFR3 in endochondral ossification, we analyzed the impact of a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), A31, on both human and mouse mutant FGFR3-expressing cells and on the skeleton of Fgfr3(Y367C/+) dwarf mice. We found that A31 inhibited constitutive FGFR3 phosphorylation and restored the size of embryonic dwarf femurs using an ex vivo culture system. The increase in length of the treated mutant femurs was 2.6 times more than for the wild-type. Premature cell cycle exit and defective chondrocyte differentiation were observed in the Fgfr3(Y367C/+) growth plate. A31 restored normal expression of cell cycle regulators (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, KI67, cyclin D1 and p57) and allowed pre-hypertrophic chondrocytes to properly differentiate into hypertrophic chondocytes. Our data reveal a specific role for FGFR3 in the cell cycle and chondrocyte differentiation and support the development of TKIs for the treatment of FGFR3-related chondrodysplasias.