Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025 Jun 24;12225:e2500112122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2500112122.

Cryo-EM structures of GnRHR: Foundations for next-generation therapeutics.

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Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) is critical for reproductive health and a key therapeutic target for endocrine disorders and hormone-responsive cancers. Using high-resolution cryoelectron microscopy, we determined the structures of Sus scrofa and Xenopus laevis GnRHRs bound to mammal GnRH, uncovering conserved and species-specific mechanisms of receptor activation and G protein coupling. The conserved "U"-shaped GnRH conformation mediates high-affinity binding through key interactions with residues such as K3.32, Y6.51, and Y6.52. Species-specific variations in extracellular loops and receptor-ligand contacts fine-tune receptor function, while ligand binding induces structural rearrangements, including N terminus displacement and TM6 rotation, critical for signaling. Structure-activity relationship analysis demonstrates how D-amino acid substitutions in GnRH analogs enhance stability and receptor affinity. Distinct binding modes of agonists and antagonists elucidate mechanisms of ligand-dependent activation and inactivation. These insights lay the groundwork for designing next-generation GnRHR therapeutics with enhanced specificity and efficacy for conditions like endometriosis, prostate cancer, and infertility.

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