Clinical implications of recent insights into the structural biology of beta2 adrenoceptors.

Analysis of the crystal structure of beta-2 adrenoceptors (β2ARs) is providing new insights into the functioning of this receptor and perhaps of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) as a whole. This class of receptors represents the target of at least a third of the drugs on the market and plays an essential role in the study of therapetic drug-response. Among GPCRs, the β2AR is the best understood in terms of function, expression and activation.