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G Protein Coupled Receptors definitions

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  • G Protein Coupled Receptor
    Largest family of cell surface receptors, composed of a single polypeptide chain that crosses the membrane seven times.
  • G Protein
    Trimeric molecular switch activated by GTP and inactivated by GDP, mediating downstream signaling.
  • Ligand
    Signaling molecule that binds to extracellular loops, triggering receptor activation.
  • Adenyl Cyclase
    Enzyme regulated by G proteins, responsible for synthesizing cAMP from ATP.
  • Cyclic AMP
    Universal second messenger whose intracellular concentration is tightly controlled by G protein signaling.
  • Phosphodiesterase
    Enzyme that degrades cAMP, thus regulating its cellular levels.
  • Desensitization
    Process that blocks active receptors from activating G proteins, reducing cellular response.
  • G Protein Coupled Receptor Kinase 2
    Protein that competes with G proteins for receptor binding, inhibiting further signaling.
  • Calcium
    Signaling ion kept at low cytosolic levels, whose increase triggers diverse cellular responses.
  • CaM Kinase
    Protein kinase regulated by calcium, modulating gene transcription through phosphorylation.
  • Calmodulin
    Calcium-binding protein that mediates cellular responses by interacting with various targets.
  • Gq Protein
    Specialized G protein that activates phospholipase C, initiating inositol phospholipid signaling.
  • Phospholipase C
    Enzyme that cleaves PIP2 into IP3 and DAG, triggering further signaling events.
  • PIP2
    Membrane lipid substrate cleaved to generate IP3 and DAG during signaling.
  • IP3
    Molecule produced from PIP2 cleavage that opens calcium channels in the endoplasmic reticulum.
  • DAG
    Lipid-derived signaling molecule that activates various downstream pathways after PIP2 cleavage.