G Protein-Coupled Receptors in cancer: biochemical interactions and drug design

Abstract

G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) share the same topology made of seven-transmembrane segments and represent the largest family of membrane receptors. Initially associated with signal transduction in differentiated cells, GPCRs and heterotrimeric G proteins were shown to behave as proto-oncogenes whose overexpression or activating mutations confer transforming properties. The first part of this review focuses on the link between biochemical interactions of a GPCR with other receptors, such as dimerization or multiprotein complexes, and their oncogenic properties. Alteration of these interactions or deregulation of transduction cascades can promote uncontrolled cell proliferation or cell transformation that leads to tumorigenicity and malignancy. The second part concerns the design of drugs specifically targeting these complex interactions and their promise in cancer therapy.