title: Coupling of receptors to G proteins, pharmacological implications.
abstract: There are four main classes of membrane-bound receptors: receptors which are also enzymes (tyrosine protein-kinase or guanylate cyclase), receptor channels, receptors coupled to G proteins (GTP binding proteins) and receptors with unknown transduction mechanisms. Receptors coupled to G proteins which have been cloned, constitute a superfamily of proteins containing seven hydrophobic transmembrane helices. The binding site of the ligand is within the hydrophobic core of the protein and the domain of interaction of the G proteins is constituted by the N- and C-terminal parts of the third intracellular loop, plus the C-terminal tail, adjacent to the transmembrane VII. G proteins themselves are also members of another superfamily. These proteins have highly conserved domains constituting the GTP binding site and they interact with the receptors by their C-terminal parts. Compounds such as mastoparan, substance P and 48/80 directly stimulate G proteins, an action which probably mediates their exocytotic properties. A high degree of homologies between G protein-linked receptors explains the non-specificity of some antagonists (like beta-adrenergic blocking agents on 5-HT1 receptors). The discovery of new members of the G protein-linked receptors which have not yet been pharmacologically characterized, raises the problem of receptor classification.
authors.affiliation: Centre CNRS-INSERM de Pharmacologie-Endocrinologie, Montpellier.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bockaert
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins