title: New roles for G-protein beta gamma-dimers in transmembrane signalling.
abstract: When a membrane-bound receptor acts on a G protein, the GTP-binding or G alpha subunit dissociates from the G beta gamma dimer. Until recently, the G alpha subunit alone was thought to act on the enzymes and ion channels controlled by these proteins. Newer evidence indicates that the G beta gamma dimer also plays a major part in signal transmission, enhancing the complexity of the possible interactions between the G proteins and their targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Clapham
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Neer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins