Abstract Photoswitchable ligands enable reversible control of receptor signaling through light-induced cis – trans isomerization, yet predicting how subtle structural modifications affect efficacy remains challenging. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate two azobenzene-based human 5–HT 2A receptor ligands differing only by a methoxy substituent position ( para – vs meta...
The serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) modulates various neurotransmitter systems and is implicated in psychiatric disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Despite progress, the detailed mechanisms of signaling at the 5-HT2AR and its therapeutic implications remain unclear, warranting further exploration. Overcoming the limitations of conventional pharmacology, photopharmacology...
Classical psychedelics are a group of hallucinogens which trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness through activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2A R) in the brain. However, the exact mechanism of how 5-HT2A R agonism alters perception remains elusive. When studying receptor signaling, tools which work at the same spatiotemporal resolution as the receptor are exceptionally useful. To...