Cryo-EM structure of the bicarbonate receptor GPR30.
Kaneda, S., Jo-Watanabe, A., Akasaka, H., Oshima, H.S., Yokomizo, T., Shihoya, W., Nureki, O.(2026) Elife 13
- PubMed: 42599157 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.99874
- Primary Citation Related Structures: 
9X74 - PubMed Abstract: 
G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is a bicarbonate receptor that plays a vital role in cellular responses to extracellular pH and ion homeostasis. Despite its significance, the mechanisms by which GPR30 interacts with bicarbonate ions remain elusive. There is no consensus on a drug that targets GPR30, and difficulties in pharmacological analyses have limited biological and drug discovery research on GPR30. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of human GPR30 in the presence of bicarbonate ions at 3.15 Å resolution. Our structure reveals unique extracellular pockets and critical residues for bicarbonate binding and activation. Functional assays demonstrate that mutations in these residues impair bicarbonate-induced GPR30 activation, underscoring their importance in receptor function. This study also provides insights into G-protein coupling, highlighting the structural divergence between GPR30 and other G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Our findings not only advance the understanding of the role of GPR30 in pH homeostasis but also pave the way for the development of high-affinity drugs targeting GPR30 for therapeutic interventions in diseases associated with acid-base imbalance.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Organizational Affiliation: 




















