# Ligand efficacy modulates conformational dynamics of the µ-opioid receptor

*PRI Rank #19 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/receptor-mechanisms-and-signaling/2026/rank-19*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #19 |
| 18m citations | 41 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41586-024-07295-2 |
| Corresponding authors | Matthias Elgeti, Brian K. Kobilka, Chunlai Chen |
| Institution | Tsinghua University, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/receptor-mechanisms-and-signaling/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41586-024-07295-2](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07295-2)

## Topics

μ-opioid receptor · Ligand efficacy · Conformational change · double electron–electron resonance · single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer · Ligand efficacy · cytoplasmic face conformations · pre-activated conformation · fully activated conformation · G-protein binding · GDP affinity · ternary complex · β-arrestin-1 · Gi protein

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/receptor-mechanisms-and-signaling/2026. Accessed 2026-07-29.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```