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Related Concept Videos

G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
G-protein Coupled Receptors01:21

G-protein Coupled Receptors

G-protein coupled receptors are ligand binding receptors that indirectly affect changes in the cell. The actual receptor is a single polypeptide that transverses the cell membrane seven times creating intracellular and extracellular loops. The extracellular loops create a ligand specific pocket which binds to neurotransmitters or hormones. The intracellular loops holds onto the G-protein.
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors01:30

Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors

G Protein–Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to various stimuli. GPCRs regulate critical physiological pathways and are excellent drug targets for treating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, depression, or Alzheimer's. Nearly 35% of approved drugs implement their therapeutic effects by selectively interacting with specific GPCRs.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity01:09

GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity

Some GPCRs transmit signals through adenylyl cyclase (AC), a transmembrane enzyme. AC helps synthesize second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). AC catalyzes cyclization reaction and converts ATP to cAMP by releasing a pyrophosphate. The pyrophosphate is further hydrolyzed to phosphate by the enzyme pyrophosphatase, which drives cAMP synthesis to completion. However, cAMP is rapidly degraded to 5′ AMP by the enzymes phosphodiesterase (PDE), preventing overstimulation of cells.
Two...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization
09:19

Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization

Published on: March 16, 2020

How and why do GPCRs dimerize?

Vsevolod V Gurevich1, Eugenia V Gurevich

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. vsevolod.gurevich@vanderbilt.edu

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|April 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) often form dimers. However, recent studies show a single GPCR molecule is sufficient to activate G proteins and bind arrestins, challenging previous dimerization models.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization
09:19

Strategic Screening and Characterization of the Visual GPCR-mini-G Protein Signaling Complex for Successful Crystallization

Published on: March 16, 2020

Measuring G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling via Radio-labeled GTP Binding
10:13

Measuring G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling via Radio-labeled GTP Binding

Published on: June 9, 2017

A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
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A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators

Published on: February 20, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Dimerization is a common phenomenon in the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily.
  • Previous hypotheses suggested GPCR dimers were required for G protein or arrestin binding.
  • Crystallized structures of inactive GPCRs, G proteins, and arrestins appeared compatible with dimerization models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the necessity of GPCR dimerization for G protein and arrestin interaction.
  • To investigate the biological significance of GPCR self-association beyond G protein and arrestin binding.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent experimental studies on GPCR-G protein and GPCR-arrestin interactions.
  • Analysis of structural data for inactive GPCRs, G proteins, and arrestins.

Main Results:

  • Experimental evidence demonstrates that a single GPCR molecule is sufficient for G protein activation and arrestin binding.
  • The previously proposed model requiring GPCR dimers for these interactions has been experimentally refuted.

Conclusions:

  • The functional role of GPCR dimerization needs to be re-examined, focusing on functions beyond G protein and arrestin binding.
  • Future research should explore alternative roles of GPCR self-association throughout their functional cycle.