G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the G protein-coupled active state have
higher affinity for agonists as compared with when they are in the inactive
state, but the molecular basis for this is unclear. We have determined four
active-state structures of the β1-adrenoceptor (β1AR)
bound to conformation-specific nanobodies in the presence of agonists of varying
efficacy. Comparison with inactive-state structures of β1AR bound to
the identical ligands showed a 24 to 42% reduction in the volume of the
orthosteric binding site. Potential hydrogen bonds were also shorter, and there
was up to a 30% increase in the number of atomic contacts between the receptor
and ligand. This explains the increase in agonist affinity of GPCRs in the
active state for a wide range of structurally distinct agonists.