Publication Abstract from PubMed
Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are vasoactive cyclic-peptide hormones important in blood pressure regulation through interaction with natriuretic cell-surface receptors. We report the hormone-binding thermodynamics and crystal structures at 2.9 and 2.0 angstroms, respectively, of the extracellular domain of the unliganded human NP receptor (NPR-C) and its complex with CNP, a 22-amino acid NP. A single CNP molecule is bound in the interface of an NPR-C dimer, resulting in asymmetric interactions between the hormone and the symmetrically related receptors. Hormone binding induces a 20 angstrom closure between the membrane-proximal domains of the dimer. In each monomer, the opening of an interdomain cleft, which is tethered together by a linker peptide acting as a molecular spring, is likely a conserved allosteric trigger for intracellular signaling by the natriuretic receptor family.
Allosteric activation of a spring-loaded natriuretic peptide receptor dimer by hormone.,He Xl, Chow Dc, Martick MM, Garcia KC Science. 2001 Aug 31;293(5535):1657-62. PMID:11533490[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
