title: G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization and brain integration: focus on adenosinergic transmission.
abstract: The control of glutamatergic corticostriatal transmission is essential for the induction and expression of plasticity mechanisms in the striatum, a phenomenon thickly regulated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Interestingly, in addition to dopamine receptors, adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors also play a key role in striatal functioning. The existence of a supramolecular organization (i.e. oligomer) containing dopamine, adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors in the striatal neurons is now being widely accepted by the scientific community. Indeed, these oligomers may enhance the diversity and performance by which extracellular striatal signals are transferred to the G-proteins in the process of receptor transduction, and also may allow unpredictable receptor-receptor allosteric regulations. Overall, here we want to review how formations of adenosine, dopamine and metabotropic glutamate receptors-containing oligomers impinge into striatal functioning in both normal and pathological conditions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Brain Integration.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain. fciruela@ub.edu
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciruela
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernández-Dueñas
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.forename: Dasiel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Borroto-Escuela
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cuffí
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Luigi F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Agnati
authors.forename: Kjell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fuxe
authors.forename: Carla I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Tasca
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000241:Adenosine