Background |
Heterotrimeric G proteinsfunction to relay information from cell surface receptors to intracellular effectors. Each of a very broad range of receptors specifically detects an extracellular stimulus(a photon, pheromone, odorant, hormone or neuro transmitter) while the effectors(e.g., adenylcyclase), which act to generate one ormore intracellula rmessengers, are less numerous. In mammals, G protein alpha, beta and gamma polypeptides are encoded by at least 16, 4 and 7 genes, respectively. Most interest in G proteins has been focused on their alpha subunits, since these proteins bind and hydrolyze GTP andmost obvously regulate the activity of the beststudied effectors. Evidence, however, has established an important regulatory role for the betagamma subunits. It is becoming increasingly clear that different G protein complexes expressed in diffeent tissues carry structurally distinct members of the gamma aswell asthealphaand beta subunits and that preferential associations between members of subunit families increase G protein functional diversity. |