Understanding the molecular basis of pH-dependent G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling is crucial for comprehending physiological regulation and drug design. Here, we investigate the human β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR), a prototypical GPCR whose function is sensitive to pH conditions. Employing extensive constant-pH molecular dynamics simulations, we provide a detailed atomistic characterization of β2AR inactivation across physiologically relevant pH values (4-9). Our simulations reveal that β2AR inactivation is closely linked to protonation events at critical residues, notably E2686×30 involved in the ionic lock formation. Furthermore, we find that inactivation occurs without direct sodium binding to the ion-binding pocket around residue D792×50. Instead, sodium ions predominantly interact with D1133×32, effectively blocking deeper entry toward the traditional binding site. These results challenge existing mechanistic models and highlight the necessity of accurately modeling electrostatics in GPCR simulations. Our findings underscore the potential of constant-pH methodologies to advance the understanding of GPCR dynamics, influencing both fundamental biology and therapeutic strategies.
Ballabio et al. (Mon,) studied this question.