Biomol Ther.  2017 Jan;25(1):4-11. 10.4062/biomolther.2016.169.

Recent Progress in Understanding the Conformational Mechanism of Heterotrimeric G Protein Activation

• Duc NM
• Kim HR
• Chung KY

• KMID: 2367615
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2016.169

Abstract

Heterotrimeric G proteins are key intracellular coordinators that receive signals from cells through activation of cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The details of their atomic interactions and structural mechanisms have been described by many biochemical and biophysical studies. Specifically, a framework for understanding conformational changes in the receptor upon ligand binding and associated G protein activation was provided by description of the crystal structure of the β2-adrenoceptor-Gs complex in 2011. This review focused on recent findings in the conformational dynamics of G proteins and GPCRs during activation processes.

Keyword

G protein; G protein-coupled receptor; Structure; Dynamics

MeSH Terms

GTP-Binding Proteins*
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins
GTP-Binding Proteins
Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins