Structural basis for lipid-mediated activation of G protein-coupled receptor GPR55

Tobias Claff, Rebecca Ebenhoch, Jörg T. Kley, Aniket Magarkar, Herbert Nar and Dietmar Weichert ()
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Rebecca Ebenhoch: Global Medicinal Chemistry
Jörg T. Kley: Global Medicinal Chemistry
Aniket Magarkar: Global Medicinal Chemistry
Herbert Nar: Global Medicinal Chemistry
Dietmar Weichert: Global Medicinal Chemistry

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract GPR55 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and represents a promising drug target for cancer, inflammation, and metabolic diseases. The endogenous activation of lipid GPCRs can be solely mediated by membrane components and different lipids have been proposed as endogenous activators of GPR55, such as cannabinoids and lysophosphatidylinositols. Here, we determine high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of the activated GPR55 in complex with heterotrimeric G13 and two structurally diverse ligands: the putative endogenous agonist 1-palmitoyl-2-lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) and the synthetic agonist ML184. These results reveal insights into ligand recognition at GPR55, G protein coupling and receptor activation. Notably, an orthosteric binding site opening towards the membrane is observed in both structures, enabling direct interaction of the agonists with membrane lipids. The structural observations are supported by mutagenesis and functional experiments employing G protein dissociation assays. These findings will be of importance for the structure-based development of drugs targeting GPR55.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57204-y

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