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Regulator of G protein–signaling proteins and addictive drugs
Author(s) -
Traynor John
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05150.x
Subject(s) - addiction , regulator of g protein signaling , gtpase activating protein , g protein , intracellular , regulator , receptor , signal transduction , g protein coupled receptor , protein family , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , pharmacology , neuroscience , biochemistry , gene
Regulator of G protein–signaling (RGS) proteins are a family of more than 30 intracellular proteins that negatively modulate intracellular signaling of receptors in the G protein‐coupled receptor family. This family includes receptors for opioids, cannabinoids, and dopamine that mediate the acute effects of addictive drugs or behaviors and chronic effects leading to the development of addictive disease. Members of the RGS protein family, by negatively modulating receptor signaling, influence the intracellular processes that lead to addiction. In turn, addictive drugs control the expression levels of several RGS proteins. This review will consider the distribution and mechanisms of action of RGS proteins, particularly the R4 and R7 families that have been implicated in the actions of addictive drugs, how knowledge of these proteins is contributing to an understanding of addictive processes, and whether specific RGS proteins could provide targets for the development of medications to manage and/or treat addiction.