title: G-protein-coupled receptor heteromers as key players in the molecular architecture of the central nervous system.
abstract: The overall architecture of the nervous system, especially the CNS, is remarkable. The anatomy of the nervous system is constituted not only by macroscopic and microscopy identifiable regions and neuronal cell types, but also by protein complexes whose identification and localization require sophisticated techniques. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute an example of proteins that are the key factors in the framework needed to sustain brain and nerve structure and function. The versatility underlying nervous system anatomy takes advantage of a recently discovered feature of GPCRs, the possibility to form heteromers that, placed at specific neuronal subsets and at specific locations (pre-, post-, or peri-synaptic), contribute to attain unique neural functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro investigación biomédica en red enfermedades neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brugarolas
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Pinilla
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Angelats
authors.forename: Vicent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Casadó
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lanciego
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
keywords: Adenosine receptor; Cannabinoid receptor; Dopamine receptor; GPCR heteromer; Glutamate receptor; Heteromer