Structures of the human cholecystokinin 1 (CCK1) receptor bound to Gs and Gq mimetic proteins: insight into mechanisms of G protein selectivity

Abstract G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are critical regulators of cellular function acting via heterotrimeric G proteins as their primary transducers with individual GPCRs capable of pleiotropic coupling to multiple G proteins. Structural features governing G protein selectivity and promiscuity are currently unclear. Here we used cryo-electron microscopy to determine structures of the CCK1R bound to the CCK peptide agonist, CCK-8 and two distinct transducer proteins, its primary transducer Gq, and the more weakly coupled Gs. As seen with other Gq/11-GPCR complexes, the Gq-α5 helix bound to a relatively narrow pocket in the CCK1R core. Surprisingly, the backbone of the CCK1R and volume of the G protein binding pocket was essentially equivalent when Gs was bound, with the Gs α5 helix displaying a conformation that arises from “unwinding” of the far C-terminal residues, compared to canonically Gs coupled receptors. Thus, integrated changes in the conformations of both the receptor and G protein play critical roles in the promiscuous coupling of individual GPCRs. One-Sentence Summary Cryo-EM structures of the CCK-1R reveal key mechanisms for promiscuous G protein coupling.