Taste, pain, or response to stress—nearly all essential functions in the human body are regulated by molecular switches called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Researchers at the University of Basel have uncovered the fundamental mechanism for how such a GPCR works.

Using a method similar to the Earth satellite GPS, they could track the motions of a GPCR and observe it in action. Their findings, recently published in Science, provide guidance for designing drugs.

GPCRs are embedded in the cell membrane and transmit signals from the outside to the inside of the cell. Because of their vast diversity and crucial role in the body, GPCRs are targeted by many drugs, such as painkillers, heart medications, and even the semaglutide injection for diabetes and obesity. In fact, about one-third of all approved drugs target GPCRs.