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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...
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...
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
GTPases and their Regulation02:14

GTPases and their Regulation

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), also known as GTPases, are a superfamily of proteins that regulate many cellular processes, such as cell signaling, vesicular transport, and the regulation of cell shape and motility. Mutation or dysfunction of these proteins can lead to disease. There are around 40,000 known G-proteins that can broadly be classified into two groups ‒  small G-proteins consisting of a single domain and large multi-domain G-proteins.
Large G-proteins, also known...
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.

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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
09:40

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum

Published on: September 20, 2011

Spatial cycles in G-protein crowd control.

Nachiket Vartak1, Philippe Bastiaens

  • 1Department of Systemic Cell Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.

The EMBO Journal
|August 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Living cells maintain order by expending energy, exemplified by G-proteins that regulate cellular asymmetry. Manipulating these protein spatial cycles offers new ways to control cell signaling.

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Imaging G-protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-mediated Signaling Events that Control Chemotaxis of Dictyostelium Discoideum
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Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells
10:27

Spatio-Temporal Manipulation of Small GTPase Activity at Subcellular Level and on Timescale of Seconds in Living Cells

Published on: March 9, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Living systems exhibit resilience to thermodynamic equilibrium, maintaining order through energy expenditure.
  • Cellular processes involve significant energetic costs to establish and maintain molecular patterns, separations, and gradients.
  • Protein compartmentalization is a key strategy for departing from equilibrium conditions in biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the role of protein compartmentalization in cellular organization and resilience.
  • To investigate how G-proteins contribute to cellular asymmetries and signaling.
  • To explore the potential of modulating cellular signaling through chemical manipulation of spatial protein cycles.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cellular processes involving energy expenditure for pattern maintenance.
  • Investigation of G-protein reaction cycles coupled to signaling activities.
  • Examination of small G-protein dynamics, including acylation and activity-dependent localization.
  • Study of protein mobility modes beyond diffusion and their impact on membrane partitioning.

Main Results:

  • G-proteins are crucial for generating cellular asymmetries through their signaling activities.
  • Small G-proteins undergo dynamic modifications (e.g., acylation) that alter membrane affinity and localization.
  • Activity-dependent localization and modified mobility lead to finely tuned steady-state partitioning of proteins in cellular membranes.
  • Exchange rates and steady-state distributions of small G-proteins across compartments diversify GTPase signaling networks.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular asymmetry and resilience are maintained through energy-dependent protein organization and compartmentalization.
  • G-protein dynamics, particularly small G-proteins, play a vital role in regulating cellular structure and signaling.
  • Chemical manipulation of spatial protein cycles presents a novel therapeutic strategy for modulating cellular signaling pathways.