G protein-coupled receptors represent the largest superfamily of cell membrane-spanning receptors. We used allosteric small molecules as a novel approach to better understand conformational changes underlying the inactive-to-active switch in native receptors. Allosteric molecules bind outside the orthosteric area for the endogenous receptor activator. The human muscarinic M 2 acetylcholine receptor is prototypal for the study of allosteric interactions. We measured receptor-mediated G protein activation, applied a series of structurally diverse muscarinic allosteric agents, and analyzed their cooperative effects with orthosteric receptor agonists. A strong negative cooperativity of receptor binding was observed with acetylcholine and other full agonists, whereas a pronounced negative cooperativity of receptor activation was observed with the partial agonist pilocarpine. Applying a newly synthesized allosteric tool, point mutated receptors, radioligand binding, and a three-dimensional receptor model, we found that the deviating allosteric/orthosteric interactions are mediated through the core region of the allosteric site. A key epitope is M 2 Trp 422 in position 7.35 that is located at the extracellular top of transmembrane helix 7 and that contacts, in the inactive receptor, the extracellular loop E2. Trp 7.35 is critically involved in the divergent allosteric/orthosteric cooperativities with acetylcholine and pilocarpine, respectively. In the absence of allosteric agents, Trp 7.35 is essential for receptor binding of the full agonist and for receptor activation by the partial agonist. This study provides first evidence for a role of an allosteric E2/transmembrane helix 7 contact region for muscarinic receptor activation by orthosteric agonists.
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)4 have outstanding importance as targets for drug action (1, 2). Conformational changes underlying the inactive-to-active receptor switch in GPCRs are in the focus of current research. In general, the receptor transmembrane helices (TMs) rearrange, allowing the intracellular loop region to unfold and to stimulate neighboring G proteins (3, 4). Conformational changes include extracellular receptor regions, and a critical role of the second extracellular loop (E2) for GPCR activation and ligand binding has emerged (5-9). Rational development of agonistic drugs for GPCR activation requires deeper insight into such conformational changes. Because GPCRs are hardly accessible for crystallization, indirect approaches are applied that often involve modification of the receptor protein such as receptor mutagenesis, introduction of metal ion sites or disulfide bridges, or covalent linkage of moieties for fluorescence resonance energy transfer.Allosteric small molecules allow the study of native receptors. An increasing number of GPCRs is known to contain allosteric sites (10, 11); cinacalcet is the first allosteric GPCR modulator that has recently entered the market (12). Allosteric sites are located outside the orthosteric area that is occupied...