J. Levitz

Synaptic plasticity via receptor tyrosine kinase / G protein-coupled receptor crosstalk

The paper identifies a novel form of hippocampal synaptic plasticity mediated by TrkB and mGluR5 crosstalk in response to BDNF.

A cholesterol switch controls phospholipid scrambling by G protein-coupled receptors

The paper shows cholesterol inhibits GPCR-mediated phospholipid scrambling in synthetic vesicles, suggesting a mechanism for maintaining plasma membrane asymmetry.

Deuteration provides a general strategy to enhance azobenzene-based photopharmacology

This paper introduces deuterated azobenzene photoswitches to enhance photopharmacological molecules by improving light sensitivity, photoswitch efficiency, and kinetics.

Control of G protein-coupled receptor function via membrane-interacting intrinsically disordered C-terminal domains

This paper investigates how C-terminal domains of GPCRs interact with membranes to regulate receptor function, showing that these interactions influence transducer coupling and are modulated by phosphorylation and membrane composition.

Structural basis of allosteric modulation ofmetabotropic glutamate receptor activation and desensitization

This study investigates how orthosteric and allosteric ligands affect mGluR activation and desensitization using electrophysiology, imaging, and cryo-EM structures.

Unusual mode of dimerization of retinitis pigmentosa-associated F220C rhodopsin

The paper investigates the dimerization behavior of F220C rhodopsin mutant and wild-type opsin in vitro and in the plasma membrane, finding that the mutant forms a unique dimer with distinct conformational features.

Interrogating surface versus intracellular transmembrane receptor populations using cell-impermeable SNAP-tag substrates

The paper introduces SBG-conjugated fluorophores to improve extracellular labeling of SNAP-fused proteins, enabling precise analysis of GPCR populations in living cells and tissues.

Branched photoswitchable tethered ligands enable ultra-efficient optical control and detection of class C G protein-coupled receptors

This paper develops branched photoswitchable ligands for efficient optical control and detection of class C G protein-coupled receptors, demonstrating near-complete agonism and dual imaging/manipulation capabilities.

SNAP-tagged nanobodies enable reversible optical control of a G protein-coupled receptor via a remotely tethered photoswitchable ligand

This paper introduces a method to reversibly control GPCR activity using photoswitchable ligands tethered via SNAP-tagged nanobodies.