Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

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,...

GPCR Desensitization

GPCR Desensitization

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling plays a crucial role in cell functioning. GPCR desensitization is an equally essential process. It allows cells to respond to changing environments and regain sensitivity to new stimuli while preventing unnecessary stimulation when no longer needed. Prolonged exposure to stimuli leads to GPCR desensitization. It involves blocking the receptors from binding and activating additional G proteins. This inhibits activation of downstream effectors, thereby...

GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Conformational biosensors delineate endosomal G protein regulation by GPCRs.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Endocytosis drives active cAMP signal discrimination among natively co-expressed GPCRs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Conformational biosensors delineate endosomal G protein regulation by GPCRs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Opioid receptors reveal a discrete cellular mechanism of endosomal G protein activation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Intersection of GPCR trafficking and cAMP signaling at endomembranes.

The Journal of cell biology·2025

Same author

<b>Role of the GRK2/3 N-terminus in discriminating the endocytic effects of opioid agonist drugs</b>.

Molecular pharmacology·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

Temporal coding expands the bandwidth of GPCR-mediated neuromodulation.

Xinyi Jenny He^1,2, Mark von Zastrow^1,2,3

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|June 12, 2026

Summary

Neurons can distinguish rich neuromodulatory input despite limited G protein transducers. Different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) use temporal coding to send distinct signals, overcoming potential information bottlenecks.

More Related Videos

The Power of Interstimulus Interval for the Assessment of Temporal Processing in Rodents

The Power of Interstimulus Interval for the Assessment of Temporal Processing in Rodents

Published on: April 19, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

The Power of Interstimulus Interval for the Assessment of Temporal Processing in Rodents

The Power of Interstimulus Interval for the Assessment of Temporal Processing in Rodents

Published on: April 19, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Cellular Signaling

Background:

Modern transcriptomics reveal extensive co-expression of neuromodulatory G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
A limited number of G protein transducers raises questions about information processing capacity in neuromodulatory systems.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether a single transducer pathway can differentiate signals from co-expressed GPCRs.
To determine the information processing capacity of cellular neuromodulation.

Main Methods:

Focused on four co-expressed GPCRs in hippocampal pyramidal neurons signaling via the Gs-coupled cyclic AMP (cAMP) cascade.
Compared downstream effects of GPCR activation, including transcriptional response and functional responsiveness over time.

Main Results:

All tested GPCRs induced similar acute cAMP elevation but exhibited divergent downstream effects.
GPCRs differed significantly in their capacity to drive transcriptional responses.
Neuropeptide receptors maintained responsiveness for hours, while monoamine receptors showed rapid desensitization.

Conclusions:

The effective chemical bandwidth of GPCR-mediated neuromodulation is not limited by transducer availability.
Temporal coding allows individual neurons to distinguish richer neuromodulatory inputs, overcoming potential information bottlenecks.