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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Measuring G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling via Radio-labeled GTP Binding
Published on: June 9, 2017
RGS proteins: G protein-coupled receptors meet their match
Scott A Chasse1, Henrik G Dohlman
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
Many drugs act on receptors coupled to heterotrimeric G proteins. Historically, drug discovery has focused on agents that bind to the receptors and either stimulate or inhibit the receptor-initiated signal. This is an approach that is both direct and logical, and has proven extremely fruitful in the past. However, as our understanding of G-protein signaling has increased, novel opportunities for drug development have emerged. RGS proteins are multifunctional GTPase-accelerating proteins that inactivate G-protein signaling pathways. GTPase-accelerating protein activity is a general feature of RGS proteins, and serves to facilitate the inactivation of the G protein rather than the receptor. Thus, agents that bind and inhibit RGS proteins could modulate endogenous neurotransmitter and hormone signaling, in a manner analogous to neurotransmitter uptake inhibitors. Here we discuss the potential of RGS proteins as drug targets.
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