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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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MRGPRX1
MAS related GPR family member X1
Chromosome 11 · 11p15.1|11
NCBI Gene: 259249Ensembl: ENSG00000170255.8HGNC: HGNC:17962UniProt: Q96LB2
23PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
transmembrane signaling receptor activityG protein-coupled receptor activityC-C chemokine receptor activitysignal transductioncancerneoplasmbreast cancerlung adenocarcinoma
✦AI Summary

MRGPRX1 is a G protein-coupled receptor specifically expressed in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion that mediates itch perception and pain transmission 1. The receptor is activated by diverse ligands including enkephalin neuropeptides (BAM8-22, BAM22) 1, tick defensins 2, and conotoxin CNF-Tx2, inducing histamine-independent itch 1. MRGPRX1 activation triggers conformational changes that couple to both Gq and Gi G proteins: Gq coupling activates phospholipase C-beta to release second messengers (DAG and IP3) that sensitize TRPV1 in pruriceptors, while Gi coupling inhibits adenylate cyclase 1. Peripheral MRGPRX1 activation elicits itch and scratching behavior 2, whereas central nervous system activation by BAM8-22 dampens chr11 pain by preventing nociceptive signal transmission at spinal cord synapses 3. Recent structural studies reveal a shallow, plastic orthosteric binding pocket and unique features accommodating peptide C-terminal motifs 1. Clinically, MRGPRX1 represents a promising non-opioid analgesic target, with positive allosteric modulators showing efficacy in neuropathic pain models without inducing tolerance or adverse effects 3. Additionally, MRGPRX1 suppresses melanogenesis, suggesting roles in pigmentary disorders 4.

Sources cited
1
MRGPRX1 ligand recognition, G protein coupling mechanisms with BAM8-22 and CNF-Tx2, and conformational plasticity
PMID: 37591889
2
MRGPRX1 expression in sensory neurons, roles in itch and pain perception, and activation by various peptide ligands
PMID: 35934214
3
MRGPRX1-mediated pain modulation, positive allosteric modulation, spinal nociceptive transmission inhibition, and absence of tolerance
PMID: 41406243
4
MRGPRX1 expression in melanocytes and suppression of melanogenesis through Gq-coupled signaling pathways
PMID: 41033482
5
MRGPRX1 activation mechanism, BAM8-22 binding mode, and structural requirements for allosteric modulation
PMID: 36302898
Disease Associationsⓘ20
cancerOpen Targets
0.12Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.11Weak
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
lung adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
acute myeloid leukemiaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
major depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
psychiatric disorderOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 1Open Targets
0.07Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
chronic lymphocytic leukemiaOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
metabolic syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
obesityOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
COVID-19Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
medulloblastomaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
GNB1Protein interaction92%GNASProtein interaction90%GNG2Protein interaction84%NPFFProtein interaction84%GRPProtein interaction79%AP1B1Protein interaction74%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Ovary
0%
Heart
0%
Liver
0%
Brain
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
MRGPRX1GNB1GNASGNG2NPFFGRPAP1B1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB8JGF · 2.70 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.82LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.36Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.00 [0.00–1.82]
RankingsWhere MRGPRX1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #13,465of 20,598
    Most Researched23
  • #16,659of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.82
Genes detectedMRGPRX1
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Skin neurogenic inflammation.
PMID: 29713744
Semin Immunopathol · 2018
1.00
2
Ligand recognition and G protein coupling of the human itch receptor MRGPRX1.
PMID: 37591889
Nat Commun · 2023
0.90
3
Structure, function and pharmacology of human itch GPCRs.
PMID: 34789874
Nature · 2021
0.80
4
Ligand recognition and allosteric modulation of the human MRGPRX1 receptor.
PMID: 36302898
Nat Chem Biol · 2023
0.70
5
Discovery of Benzamidine- and 1-Aminoisoquinoline-Based Human MAS-Related G-Protein-Coupled Receptor X1 (MRGPRX1) Agonists.
PMID: 31498617
J Med Chem · 2019
0.60