Structural features of the C-terminus from the human neurokinin-1 receptor.

The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) is a G-protein coupled receptor found in the central and peripheral nervous systems of vertebrates, and is responsible for many physiological processes. The C-terminus domain seems to be essential for coupling to the corresponding G-protein and β-arrestin, and is important for receptor desensitization, internalization and recycling. We have focused our study on expression of the human NK1R (hNK1R) C-terminus in Escherichia coli, and its purification and characterization, in order to elucidate its structural properties.