G protein-coupled receptor dimerisation: molecular basis and relevance to function.
The belief that G protein-coupled receptors exist and function as monomeric, non-interacting species has been largely supplanted in recent years by evidence, derived from a range of approaches, that indicate they can form dimers and/or higher-order oligomeric complexes. Key roles for receptor homo-dimerisation include effective quality control of protein folding prior to plasma membrane delivery and interactions with hetero-trimeric G proteins. Growing evidence has also indicated the potential for many co-expressed G protein-coupled receptors to form hetero-dimers/oligomers. The relevance of this to physiology and function is only beginning to be unravelled but may offer great potential for more selective therapeutic intervention.
Milligan
Graeme
G
Molecular Pharmacology Group, Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. g.milligan@bio.gla.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D012243:Rhodopsin