Consequences of lipid raft association on G-protein-coupled receptor function.
GPCRs (G-protein-coupled receptors) play key roles in many cellular processes, and malfunction may lead to a range of pathologies, including psychiatric and neurological disorders. It is therefore not surprising that this group of receptors supplies a majority of the targets for pharmaceutical drug development. Despite their importance, the mechanisms that regulate their function and signalling still remain only partially understood. Recently, it has become evident that a subset of GPCRs is not homogeneously distributed in the plasma membrane, but localizes instead to specific membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts. Lipid rafts are characterized by their enrichment in cholesterol and sphingolipids, and have been suggested to serve as platforms for a range of cellular signalling complexes. In the present review, we will be discussing the effects of the lipid raft environment on trafficking, signalling and internalization of raft-associated GPCRs.
Becher
Anja
A
MRC Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TH, U.K. anja.becher@pharm.ox.ac.uk
McIlhinney
R A Jeffrey
RA
D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D006801:Humans; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin / Q000378:metabolism; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D018002:Receptors, Bradykinin; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D011966:Receptors, LHRH