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Dissecting signaling and functions of adhesion G protein–coupled receptors
Author(s) -
Araç Demet,
Aust Gabriela,
Calebiro Davide,
Engel Felix B.,
Formstone Caroline,
Goffinet André,
Hamann Jörg,
Kittel Robert J.,
Liebscher Ines,
Lin HsiHsien,
Monk Kelly R.,
Petrenko Alexander,
Piao Xianhua,
Prömel Simone,
Schiöth Helgi B.,
Schwartz Thue W.,
Stacey Martin,
Ushkaryov Yuri A.,
Wobus Manja,
Wolfrum Uwe,
Xu Lei,
Langenhan Tobias
Publication year - 2012
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.1749-6632.2012.06820.x
Subject(s) - g protein coupled receptor , adhesion , cell adhesion , rhodopsin like receptors , biology , computational biology , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , chemistry , biochemistry , glutamate receptor , organic chemistry , metabotropic receptor
G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise an expanded superfamily of receptors in the human genome. Adhesion class G protein–coupled receptors (adhesion‐GPCRs) form the second largest class of GPCRs. Despite the abundance, size, molecular structure, and functions in facilitating cell and matrix contacts in a variety of organ systems, adhesion‐GPCRs are by far the most poorly understood GPCR class. Adhesion‐GPCRs possess a unique molecular structure, with extended N‐termini containing various adhesion domains. In addition, many adhesion‐GPCRs are autoproteolytically cleaved into an N‐terminal fragment (NTF, NT, α‐subunit) and C‐terminal fragment (CTF, CT, β‐subunit) at a conserved GPCR autoproteolysis–inducing (GAIN) domain that contains a GPCR proteolysis site (GPS). These two features distinguish adhesion‐GPCRs from other GPCR classes. Though active research on adhesion‐GPCRs in diverse areas, such as immunity, neuroscience, and development and tumor biology has been intensified in the recent years, the general biological and pharmacological properties of adhesion‐GPCRs are not well known, and they have not yet been used for biomedical purposes. The “6th International Adhesion‐GPCR Workshop,” held at the Institute of Physiology of the University of Würzburg on September 6–8, 2012, assembled a majority of the investigators currently actively pursuing research on adhesion‐GPCRs, including scientists from laboratories in Europe, the United States, and Asia. The meeting featured the nascent mechanistic understanding of the molecular events driving the signal transduction of adhesion‐GPCRs, novel models to evaluate their functions, and evidence for their involvement in human disease.