Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41542452›Full record

ArticlebioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2026

Atypical GPCR Activation Resolved by Nanobody Engineering.

Roman R Schlimgen, Shawn E Jenjak, Alexa De La Sancha, Joy Darcis, Christian B Billesbølle, Linda J Olson, Francis C Peterson, Martine J Smit, Aashish Manglik, Martyna Szpakowska and 2 more

Abstract readPreprint
In one paragraph

Article in bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Roman R SchlimgenDepartment of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3395-5519
Shawn E JenjakDepartment of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2142-334X
Alexa De La SanchaDepartment of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Joy DarcisImmuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.ORCID 0009-0001-3821-8553
Christian B BillesbølleDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8084-1552
Linda J OlsonDepartment of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5910-7281
Francis C PetersonDepartment of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9890-4224
Martine J SmitAmsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-2713-0238
Aashish ManglikDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7173-3741
Martyna SzpakowskaImmuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0002-5659-8377
Andy ChevigneImmuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics, Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.ORCID 0000-0002-8089-6665
Brian F VolkmanDepartment of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6681-5179

Funding

Structural Basis for Chemokine FunctionR37AI058072 · NIAID · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · PI Brian F Volkman · 2020 to 2026
$2.8M
NIAID NIH HHS R37 AI058072
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of clinically targeted proteins, yet most therapeutics target a narrow subset of structurally well-behaved receptors. The atypical chemokine receptor ACKR3 defies canonical models, displaying broad ligand recognition, high basal activity, and resistance to inhibition. Using engineered nanobodies, cryo-EM, NMR, and structure-guided pharmacology, we uncover an unconventional activation mechanism in ACKR3 that challenges established paradigms of GPCR activation. We find that receptor activity is controlled by changes in extracellular pocket volume rather than conformational rearrangements in conserved microswitches, and an expanded aromatic cluster at the intracellular transducer binding pocket stabilizes the active state. These findings redefine how GPCRs can be modulated and open new strategies for targeting pharmacologically intractable receptors.

Indexed as

ACKR3ChemokineCryo-EMGPCRNanobodyNMRVHH

Identifiers

PMID41542452
PMCPMC12803360

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.