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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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 Receptors01:15

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 Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory organs,...
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.

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Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors
16:16

Genetically-encoded Molecular Probes to Study G Protein-coupled Receptors

Published on: September 13, 2013

The fifth element in animal Galpha protein evolution.

Yuichiro Oka1, Sigrun I Korsching

  • 1Institut für Genetik der Universität zu Köln; Köln, Germany.

Communicative & Integrative Biology
|July 31, 2009
PubMed
Summary

A novel fifth class of G protein alpha subunits, named Gv, has been discovered. This ancient Gv protein is widespread across the animal kingdom, revealing new insights into G protein evolution.

Keywords:
GPCRbirth-and-death modeheterotrimeric G proteinmetazoan evolutionnegative selection

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Heterotrimeric G proteins regulate cellular responses to extracellular stimuli.
  • G protein alpha subunits are classified into four major classes: Gs, Gi, Gq, and G12.
  • These classes are conserved across the animal kingdom.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the discovery of a novel, fifth class of G protein alpha subunit, designated Gv.
  • To investigate the evolutionary history and distribution of the Gv protein class.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of genomic and protein sequence data.
  • Phylogenetic reconstruction to trace the evolutionary history of G protein alpha subunits.
  • Comparative genomics to assess the distribution of Gv across diverse animal phyla.

Main Results:

  • A fifth class of G protein alpha subunit, Gv, has been identified and is conserved across the animal kingdom, including vertebrates, arthropods, mollusks, annelids, and sponges.
  • The Gv class has been lost in several major model organisms, such as mammals and fruit flies, explaining its previous omission.
  • Evidence of independent gene duplications of Gv in sponges and teleosts suggests a birth-and-death evolutionary model.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of the Gv class expands the known diversity of G protein alpha subunits.
  • The unique evolutionary trajectory of Gv, characterized by frequent gene gains and losses, offers new perspectives on the evolution of ancient gene families.
  • This finding opens new avenues for research into G protein signaling pathways and their evolutionary history.