title: Aromatic L-amino acids activate the calcium-sensing receptor.
abstract: The calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) is recognized as a member of class 3 of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. Members of this subgroup, which have large N-terminal extracellular domains, include receptors that respond specifically to the amino acid glutamate; receptors that respond to the glutamate analogue, gamma-amino butyric acid; and several receptors that act as broad-spectrum amino acid sensors. The CaR is one of these broad-spectrum amino acid sensors that, along with several other members of the subgroup, also responds to extracellular Ca2+. In this mini-review, we consider evidence that the CaR is a sensor of aromatic amino acids, that it has broad-spectrum amino acid sensing properties, that it provides an amino acid binding site in its extracellular N-terminal Venus Fly Trap domain, and that amino acids have a physiological impact on systems in which the CaR is expressed.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Sydney, Australia. a.conigrave@mmb.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Arthur D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Conigrave
authors.forename: Hee-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Hiu-Chuen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lok
mesh_terms: D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing; D002118:Calcium