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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 Receptors01:15

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.
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,...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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

Published on: June 9, 2017

Sensing G protein-coupled receptor activation.

Manuela Ambrosio1, Alexander Zürn, Martin J Lohse

  • 1Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Strasse 9, 97078 Würzburg, Germany.

Neuropharmacology
|August 24, 2010
PubMed
Summary

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) exhibit complex activation mechanisms beyond simple ON/OFF states. Different agonists induce distinct conformational states, leading to specific signaling outcomes, as revealed by advanced spectroscopic and crystallographic studies.

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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

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Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay
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Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

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Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

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
07:41

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

Published on: February 20, 2018

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay
11:49

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay

Published on: July 28, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are crucial for cellular signal transduction.
  • Traditionally, GPCR activation was viewed as a binary OFF/ON switch.
  • Emerging evidence suggests a more nuanced activation process involving distinct receptor conformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding GPCR activation mechanisms.
  • To highlight how different agonists induce specific GPCR conformational states.
  • To correlate these states with distinct signaling outputs.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing fluorescent labeling strategies in purified and cellular systems.
  • Employing modern spectroscopic techniques to monitor receptor dynamics.
  • Applying crystallographic methods to determine receptor structures.

Main Results:

  • GPCRs can adopt multiple active conformational states.
  • Ligand-specific activation leads to distinguishable receptor conformations.
  • These distinct states correlate with specific downstream signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • GPCR activation is more complex than a simple binary switch.
  • Agonist-induced conformational changes are key to diverse signaling outcomes.
  • Spectroscopic and crystallographic studies provide critical insights into GPCR function.