01680nas a2200157 4500008004100000022001400041245007800055210006900133260007100202300001600273490000800289520107500297100002001372700002801392856010201420 2012 eng d a1520-610600aIdentification of cholesterol binding sites in the serotonin(1A) receptor0 aIdentification of cholesterol binding sites in the serotonin1A r a1155 16TH ST, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USAbAMER CHEMICAL SOCcNOV a12991-129960 v1163 a
The serotonin(1A) receptor is a representative member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and serves as an important drug target in the development of therapeutic agents for neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous work has shown the requirement of membrane cholesterol in the organization, dynamics, and function of the serotonin(1A) receptor. We show here that membrane cholesterol binds preferentially to certain sites on the serotonin(1A) receptor by performing multiple, long time scale MARTINI coarse-grain molecular dynamics simulations. Interestingly, our results identify the highly conserved cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC) motif on transmembrane helix V as one of the sites with high cholesterol occupancy, thereby confirming its role as a putative cholesterol binding motif. These results represent the first direct evidence for membrane cholesterol binding to specific sites on the serotonin(1A) receptor and represent an important step in our overall understanding of GPCR function in health and disease.
1 aSengupta, Durba1 aChattopadhyay, Amitabha uhttp://library.ncl.res.in/content/identification-cholesterol-binding-sites-serotonin1a-receptor-0