Structural basis for Na+-sensitivity in dopamine D2 and D3 receptors

Abstract

To understand the structural basis for the Na⁺-sensitivity of ligand binding to dopamine D2-like receptors, using computational analysis in combination with binding assays, we identified interactions critical in propagating the impact of Na⁺ on receptor conformations and on the ligand-binding site. Our findings expand the pharmacologically-relevant conformational spectrum of these receptors.