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Updated: May 22, 2026

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice
Published on: July 9, 2016
G protein-coupled receptor oligomerization and brain integration: focus on adenosinergic transmission
Francisco Ciruela1, Víctor Fernández-Dueñas, Javier Llorente
1Unitat de Farmacologia, Departament Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain. fciruela@ub.edu
Abstract:
The control of glutamatergic corticostriatal transmission is essential for the induction and expression of plasticity mechanisms in the striatum, a phenomenon thickly regulated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Interestingly, in addition to dopamine receptors, adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors also play a key role in striatal functioning. The existence of a supramolecular organization (i.e. oligomer) containing dopamine, adenosine and metabotropic glutamate receptors in the striatal neurons is now being widely accepted by the scientific community. Indeed, these oligomers may enhance the diversity and performance by which extracellular striatal signals are transferred to the G-proteins in the process of receptor transduction, and also may allow unpredictable receptor-receptor allosteric regulations. Overall, here we want to review how formations of adenosine, dopamine and metabotropic glutamate receptors-containing oligomers impinge into striatal functioning in both normal and pathological conditions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Brain Integration.
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