title: Regulation of heptaspanning-membrane-receptor function by dimerization and clustering.
abstract: G-protein-coupled receptors form homomers and heteromers; agonist-induced conformational changes within interacting receptors of the oligomer modify their pharmacology, signalling and/or trafficking. When these receptors are activated, the oligomers rearrange and cluster and a novel mechanism of receptor-operation regulation by oligomer intercommunication is possible. This intercommunication would be assisted by components of the plasma membrane and by scaffolding proteins. Receptor cross-sensitization, cross-desensitization and novel, integrated receptor responses can then develop between oligomeric receptor complexes of the cluster without direct contact between them. This concept gives a new perspective to the understanding of neurotransmission and neuronal plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of Barcelona, Martí Franquès 1, Spain. r.franco@bq.ub.es
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canals
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marcellino
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferré
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Agnati
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mallol
authors.forename: Vicent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casadó
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciruela
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuxe
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lluis
authors.forename: Enric I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Canela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled