- Nguyen, Anthony H;
- Thomsen, Alex RB;
- Cahill, Thomas J;
- Huang, Rick;
- Huang, Li-Yin;
- Marcink, Tara;
- Clarke, Oliver B;
- Heissel, Søren;
- Masoudi, Ali;
- Ben-Hail, Danya;
- Samaan, Fadi;
- Dandey, Venkata P;
- Tan, Yong Zi;
- Hong, Chuan;
- Mahoney, Jacob P;
- Triest, Sarah;
- Little, John;
- Chen, Xin;
- Sunahara, Roger;
- Steyaert, Jan;
- Molina, Henrik;
- Yu, Zhiheng;
- des Georges, Amedee;
- Lefkowitz, Robert J
Classically, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are thought to activate G protein from the plasma membrane and are subsequently desensitized by β-arrestin (β-arr). However, some GPCRs continue to signal through G protein from internalized compartments, mediated by a GPCR-G protein-β-arr 'megaplex'. Nevertheless, the molecular architecture of the megaplex remains unknown. Here, we present its cryo-electron microscopy structure, which shows simultaneous engagement of human G protein and bovine β-arr to the core and phosphorylated tail, respectively, of a single active human chimeric β2-adrenergic receptor with the C-terminal tail of the arginine vasopressin type 2 receptor (β2V2R). All three components adopt their canonical active conformations, suggesting that a single megaplex GPCR is capable of simultaneously activating G protein and β-arr. Our findings provide a structural basis for GPCR-mediated sustained internalized G protein signaling.