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Related Concept Videos

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 Receptors01:15

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,...
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...
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:22

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
The direct-acting...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Quantifying Agonist Activity at G Protein-coupled Receptors
11:45

Quantifying Agonist Activity at G Protein-coupled Receptors

Published on: December 26, 2011

Agrin acts via a MuSK receptor complex

David J Glass1, David C Bowen, Trevor N Stitt

  • 1Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York 10591, USA.

Cell
|May 17, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Agrin, a nerve-derived factor, signals through a receptor complex including MuSK (muscle receptor tyrosine kinase) and a myotube-specific component to organize the neuromuscular junction. This clarifies how agrin functions in nerve-muscle communication.

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Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Quantifying Agonist Activity at G Protein-coupled Receptors
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Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay
09:11

Live-cell Measurement of Odorant Receptor Activation Using a Real-time cAMP Assay

Published on: October 2, 2017

Cholinergic Ligand–dependent Modulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation Coupling in Digitonin-permeabilized BE(2)-C Neuroblastoma Cells
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Neuromuscular junction formation requires nerve-muscle interactions.
  • Agrin is a nerve-derived factor involved in motor endplate organization.
  • The mechanism of agrin action and its receptor are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of action of agrin.
  • To identify the components of the agrin receptor complex.
  • To understand the role of MuSK in neuromuscular junction development.

Main Methods:

  • Generation and analysis of mice lacking agrin or MuSK.
  • Investigating the molecular interactions at the motor endplate.

Main Results:

  • Mice lacking agrin or MuSK show similar severe defects in neuromuscular junctions.
  • Agrin's action is mediated by a receptor complex.
  • This complex includes MuSK and a myotube-specific accessory protein.

Conclusions:

  • Agrin signals through a multi-component receptor complex.
  • MuSK is a key component of the agrin receptor.
  • A myotube-specific factor is essential for agrin signaling.