Proton transfer-mediated GPCR activation.
10.1007/s13238-014-0106-4
- Author:
Xuejun C ZHANG
1
;
Can CAO
;
Ye ZHOU
;
Yan ZHAO
Author Information
1. National Laboratory of Macromolecules, National Center of Protein Science-Beijing, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China, zhangc@ibp.ac.cn.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Amino Acid Motifs;
Humans;
Membrane Potentials;
Membrane Proteins;
chemistry;
metabolism;
Protons;
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled;
agonists;
metabolism;
Signal Transduction
- From:
Protein & Cell
2015;6(1):12-17
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) play essential roles in signal transduction from the environment into the cell. While many structural features have been elucidated in great detail, a common functional mechanism on how the ligand-binding signal is converted into a conformational change on the cytoplasmic face resulting in subsequent activation of downstream effectors remain to be established. Based on available structural and functional data of the activation process in class-A GPCRs, we propose here that a change in protonation status, together with proton transfer via conserved structural elements located in the transmembrane region, are the key elements essential for signal transduction across the membrane.
