title: The ORL1 receptor: molecular pharmacology and signalling mechanisms.
abstract: The cloning of the opioid-receptor-like 1 (ORL(1)) receptor and the identification of nociceptin as its endogenous agonist have revealed a new G-protein-coupled receptor signalling system. The structural and functional homology of ORL(1) to the opioid receptor systems has posed a number of challenges in understanding the often competing physiological responses elicited by these G-protein-coupled receptors. Thus, this review will attempt to summarize recent research by many groups that has revealed numerous subtleties of the ORL(1) receptor and its signalling pathways, as well as document the efforts to produce high-affinity selective ligands for the ORL(1) receptor that may be of value as research and therapeutic tools.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Neuroscience Center, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: New
authors.forename: Yung H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin
chemical_list: D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin; C000722283:OPRL1 protein, human