title: Dimerization of dopamine D1 and D3 receptors in the regulation of striatal function.
abstract: Co-localization of dopamine D1 (D1R) and D3 receptors (D3R) in specific neuronal populations in the striatum and nucleus accumbens suggests that their cross-talk in the regulation of rewarding mechanisms and emotional and cognitive processes and in the development of motor dysfunctions might involve direct interactions. This paper summarizes recent data showing that D1R and D3R form a receptor heteromer in the striatum. A unique characteristic of this receptor complex is a synergistic interaction by which D3R stimulation increases D1R agonist affinity, allows a stronger stimulatory coupling of the D1R to the cAMP system and potentiates D1R-mediated behaviour. The putative role of the D1R-D3R heteromer in the development of motor dysfunctions is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Busi
authors.forename: PierFranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Missale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020239:Receptor Cross-Talk; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D000242:Cyclic AMP