Coupling of receptors to G proteins, pharmacological implications

There are four main classes of membrane-bound receptors: receptors which are also enzymes (tyrosine protein-kinase or guanylate cyclase), receptor channels, receptors coupled to G proteins (GTP binding proteins) and receptors with unknown transduction mechanisms. Receptors coupled to G proteins which have been cloned, constitute a superfamily of proteins containing seven hydrophobic transmembrane helices. The binding site of the ligand is within the hydrophobic core of the protein and the domain of interaction of the G proteins is constituted by the N- and C-terminal parts of the third intracellular loop, plus the C-terminal tail, adjacent to the transmembrane VII. G proteins themselves are also members of another superfamily. These proteins have highly conserved domains constituting the GTP binding site and they interact with the receptors by their C-terminal parts. Compounds such as mastoparan, substance P and 48/80 directly stimulate G proteins, an action which probably mediates their exocytotic properties. A high degree of homologies between G protein-linked receptors explains the non-specificity of some antagonists (like beta-adrenergic blocking agents on 5-HT1 receptors). The discovery of new members of the G protein-linked receptors which have not yet been pharmacologically characterized, raises the problem of receptor classification.