title: G protein beta gamma subunits.
abstract: Guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins relay extracellular signals encoded in light, small molecules, peptides, and proteins to activate or inhibit intracellular enzymes and ion channels. The larger G proteins, made up of G alpha beta gamma heterotrimers, dissociate into G alpha and G beta gamma subunits that separately activate intracellular effector molecules. Only recently has the G beta gamma subunit been recognized as a signal transduction molecule in its own right; G beta gamma is now known to directly regulate as many different protein targets as the G alpha subunit. Recent X-ray crystallography of G alpha, G beta gamma, and G alpha beta gamma subunits will guide the investigation of structure-function relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Clapham
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Neer
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008055:Lipids; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D012243:Rhodopsin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins