Spatiotemporal Modeling of GPCR Signaling: The Role of Endosomal Dynamics and Receptor Recycling

Abstract

Cells communicate via extracellular ligands, such as hormones, which bind to plasma membrane receptors and trigger intracellular signaling cascades. G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) exemplify this mechanism by initiating signaling both at the cell surface and, from intracellular compartments such as endosomes. The kinetics and spatial localization of these signals are critical determinants of cellular responses, yet receptor trafficking-including internalization, endosomal sorting, and recycling-remains a pivotal but often overlooked component of theoretical GPCR models. In this study, we present a mathematical framework that integrates receptor trafficking and signaling compartmentalization into generic GPCR dynamic models. Using a compartmentalized approach based on systems of ordinary differential equations (Chemical Reaction Networks), we analyze how receptor internalization and recycling modulate ligand-induced responses. Our results show that the balance between plasma membrane and endosomal signaling can significantly enhance or diminish ligand efficacy. Calibrated with high-throughput kinetic data, our model offers a refined tool for ligand pharmacological characterization and advances the understanding of GPCR signaling spatial organization.