Introduction: History of the Adhesion GPCR Field.
Development of the aGPCR scientific field based on PubMed-listed research articles and selected key findings Since the discovery of adhesion G-protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) 20 years ago, reverse genetics approaches have dominated the elucidation of their function and work mechanisms. Seminal findings in this field comprise the description of aGPCRs as seven-transmembrane (7TM) molecules with an extended extracellular region, the identification of matricellular ligands that bind to distinct protein folds at the N-terminus, the clarification of an autoproteolytic cleavage event at a juxtamembranous GPCR proteolysis site (GPS), the elucidation of the crystal structure of the GPCR autoproteolysis-inducing (GAIN) domain that embeds the GPS and connects the receptor fragments, the demonstration that a short N-terminal sequence of the seven-transmembrane (7TM) region can serve as a tethered agonist, and, recently, the notification that aGPCRs can serve as mechanosensors. We here discuss how these discoveries have moved forward aGPCR research and, finally, linked the field to the GPCR field. We argue that crucial questions remain to be addressed before we can fully appreciate the biological nature of these fascinating receptors.
Department of Experimental Immunology, K0-144, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.hamann@amc.uva.nl.
Jörg
J
Hamann
Laboratory of Receptor Cell Biology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997, Moscow, Russia. petrenkoag@gmail.com.
Alexander G
AG
Petrenko
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000737:chemistry / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
Adhesion GPCRs; Biology; History; Pharmacology; Signaling; Structure