A novel G-protein-coupled receptor-signaling platform and its targeted translation in human disease

novel G-protein-coupled receptor-signaling platform and its targeted translation in human disease Review (940) Total Article Views Authors: Abdulkhalek S, Hrynyk M, Szewczuk MR Video abstract presented by Professor Szewczuk Views: 92 Published Date January 2013 Volume 2013:3 Pages 17 - 30 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RRBC.S28430 Received: 03 October 2012 Accepted: 24 October 2012 Published: 07 January 2013 Samar Abdulkhalek,1 Michael Hrynyk,2 Myron R Szewczuk1 1Departments of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, 2Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada Abstract: Molecular-targeted G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling in human disease has become an important area of scientific and medical research. The interactions between GPCRs with their large number of different G-protein subunits and the large number of glycosylated receptors involved in human diseases are quite diverse. One GPCR is capable of interacting with more than one G protein to initiate multifunctional signaling. However, the activation of a number of GPCRs does not always lead to a direct effect alone on a particular signaling pathway, but rather to an amplification of the response produced by a separate circumstantial signal within the cell. This cross talk among different GPCR transduction signals is a focus of intense research. In this review, evidence exposing the invisible link connecting ligand-binding and receptor activation to a novel GPCR-signaling platform will be reviewed in relation to human disease.