Trafficking of G protein–coupled receptors

MT Drake, SK Shenoy, RJ Lefkowitz - Circulation research, 2006 - Am Heart Assoc
MT Drake, SK Shenoy, RJ Lefkowitz
Circulation research, 2006Am Heart Assoc
G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) play an integral role in the signal transduction of an
enormous array of biological phenomena, thereby serving to modulate at a molecular level
almost all components of human biology. This role is nowhere more evident than in
cardiovascular biology, where GPCRs regulate such core measures of cardiovascular
function as heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone. GPCR/ligand interaction initiates
signal transduction cascades, and requires the presence of the receptor at the plasma …
G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) play an integral role in the signal transduction of an enormous array of biological phenomena, thereby serving to modulate at a molecular level almost all components of human biology. This role is nowhere more evident than in cardiovascular biology, where GPCRs regulate such core measures of cardiovascular function as heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone. GPCR/ligand interaction initiates signal transduction cascades, and requires the presence of the receptor at the plasma membrane. Plasma membrane localization is in turn a function of the delivery of a receptor to and removal from the cell surface, a concept defined most broadly as receptor trafficking. This review illuminates our current view of GPCR trafficking, particularly within the cardiovascular system, as well as highlights the recent and provocative finding that components of the GPCR trafficking machinery can facilitate GPCR signaling independent of G protein activation.
Am Heart Assoc