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Type I Cannabinoid Receptor Trafficking: All Roads Lead to Lysosome
Author(s) -
Rozenfeld Raphael
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
traffic
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.677
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1600-0854
pISSN - 1398-9219
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2010.01130.x
Subject(s) - g protein coupled receptor , intracellular , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , cannabinoid , extracellular , cannabinoid receptor , lysosome , function (biology) , transport protein , signal transduction , biochemistry , enzyme , agonist
The majority of G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) function at the cell surface, where they are activated by their ligands present in the extracellular milieu. Interestingly, type I cannabinoid receptor (CB 1 R), one of the most abundant GPCRs in the central nervous system, is predominantly intracellular. The important physiological roles of CB 1 R have sparked interest in the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the trafficking of this receptor and the role of intracellular CB 1 Rs. Thus far, results from different groups have been, at least in part, contradictory and the basis of CB 1 R intracellular localization remains controversial. In this commentary, by comparing the studies examining CB 1 R trafficking and localization, we identify technical or experimental ground responsible for the conflicting results. Finally, we propose a possible mechanism of CB 1 R trafficking that may reconcile the different models.