Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Detection of Ligand-activated G Protein-coupled Receptor Internalization by Confocal Microscopy
Published on: April 9, 2017
Constitutively active GPR6 is located in the intracellular compartments
Shalini Padmanabhan1, Amanda G Myers, Balakrishna M Prasad
1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
G protein-coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) is mainly found inside cells, not on the surface. This intracellular GPR6 maintains its signaling activity, suggesting it functions from within cellular compartments.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Pharmacology
Background:
- G protein-coupled receptor 6 (GPR6) is a constitutively active receptor coupled to Gs.
- Its precise cellular localization and signaling compartments remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cell surface presence and localization of GPR6.
- To determine if GPR6 can signal from intracellular compartments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pHluorin-tagged rat GPR6 expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells and primary striatal neurons.
- Employed imaging assays to assess accessibility of the N-terminal pHluorin tag to extracellular probes (protons, chymotrypsin, anti-GFP antibody).
- Confirmed Gs-mediated constitutive activity in both cell types.
Main Results:
- The pHluorin tag on GPR6 was inaccessible to extracellular probes, indicating primary intracellular localization.
- Intracellular localization of GPR6 was observed in both HEK293 cells and endogenous GPR6 in striatal neurons.
- Constitutive Gs-mediated activity of GPR6 was confirmed in these cellular models.
Conclusions:
- GPR6 is predominantly located in intracellular compartments rather than the cell surface.
- GPR6 retains its signaling capacity from within intracellular compartments.
- These findings suggest novel mechanisms for GPR6-mediated cellular signaling.
More Related Videos
07:41A Kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ Mobilization Assay to Identify G Protein-coupled Receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and Allosteric Modulators
Published on: February 20, 2018
09:40Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
Published on: September 20, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins
G-protein Coupled Receptors
G-protein Coupled Receptors
G Protein-coupled Receptors
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 Receptors
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...
Transducer Mechanism: G Protein–Coupled Receptors
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or...