title: Thematic minireview series: cell biology of G protein signaling.
abstract: This thematic series is on the topic of cell signaling from a cell biology perspective, with a particular focus on G proteins. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs, also known as seven-transmembrane receptors) are typically found at the cell surface. Upon agonist binding, these receptors will activate a GTP-binding G protein at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane. Additionally, there is growing evidence that G proteins can also be activated by non-receptor binding partners, and they can signal from non-plasma membrane compartments. The production of second messengers at multiple, spatially distinct locations represents a type of signal encoding that has been largely neglected. The first minireview in the series describes biosensors that are being used to monitor G protein signaling events in live cells. The second describes the implementation of antibody-based biosensors to dissect endosome signaling by G proteins and their receptors. The third describes the function of a non-receptor, cytoplasmic activator of G protein signaling, called GIV (Girdin). Collectively, the advances described in these articles provide a deeper understanding and emerging opportunities for new pharmacology.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7260 hdohlman@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Henrik G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Dohlman
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins
keywords: Biosensor; Cell Biology; Endosome; Fluorescence; G Protein; G Protein-coupled Receptor (GPCR); Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF)