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Molecular BioSystems

Research at the interface between chemistry and the -omic sciences and systems biology.



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Review

Mol. BioSyst., 2007, 3, 849 - 854, DOI: 10.1039/b706343a

When a G protein-coupled receptor does not couple to a G protein

Yutong Sun, Deirdre McGarrigle and Xin-Yun Huang

Classically, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) relay signals by directly activating heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). Increasing evidence indicates that GPCRs may also signal through G protein-independent pathways. JAK/STATs, Src-family tyrosine kinases, GRKs/-arrestins, and PDZ domain-containing proteins have been suggested to directly relay signals from GPCRs independent of G proteins. In addition, our laboratory recently reported that the 2 adrenergic receptor (2AR) could switch from G protein-coupled to G protein-independent ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) activation in an agonist dosage-dependent manner. This finding provides a novel mechanism for G protein-independent GPCR signaling. This review focuses on recent progress in understanding the mechanisms by which G protein-independent GPCR signaling occurs.

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