Molecular insights into the atypical activation mechanism of GPR156 in maintaining auditory function

Abstract

The class C orphan GPCR GPR156, which lacks the typical extracellular region, plays a pivotal role in auditory function through Gi2/3. Here, we demonstrate that GPR156 with high constitutive activity is essential for maintaining auditory function, and we further present two cryo-EM structures of human GPR156. The GPR156 dimer in both the apo state and Gi3 protein-coupled state adopt a TM5/6-TM5/6 interface, indicating the high constitutive activity of GPR156 in the apo state. The C-terminus plays a dual role in promoting G protein binding within G-bound subunit while preventing the G-free subunit from binding to additional G protein. These observations explain how GPCR activity is maintained through dimerization and provide a mechanistic insight into the sustained role of GPR156 in maintaining auditory function.