Structural basis for the activation and ligand recognition of the human oxytocin receptor.

Waltenspühl, Yann; Ehrenmann, Janosch; Vacca, Santiago; Thom, Cristian; Medalia, Ohad; Plückthun, Andreas · Nat Commun · 2022

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The small cyclic neuropeptide hormone oxytocin (OT) and its cognate receptor play a central role in the regulation of social behaviour and sexual reproduction. Here we report the single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the active oxytocin receptor (OTR) in complex with its cognate ligand oxytocin. Our structure provides high-resolution insights into the OT binding mode, the OTR activation mechanism as well as the subtype specificity within the oxytocin/vasopressin receptor family.

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