How much do we know about the coupling of G-proteins to serotonin receptors?

Mol Brain. 2014 Jul 10:7:49. doi: 10.1186/s13041-014-0049-y.

Abstract

Serotonin receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in a variety of psychiatric disorders. G-proteins, heterotrimeric complexes that couple to multiple receptors, are activated when their receptor is bound by the appropriate ligand. Activation triggers a cascade of further signalling events that ultimately result in cell function changes. Each of the several known G-protein types can activate multiple pathways. Interestingly, since several G-proteins can couple to the same serotonin receptor type, receptor activation can result in induction of different pathways. To reach a better understanding of the role, interactions and expression of G-proteins a literature search was performed in order to list all the known heterotrimeric combinations and serotonin receptor complexes. Public databases were analysed to collect transcript and protein expression data relating to G-proteins in neural tissues. Only a very small number of heterotrimeric combinations and G-protein-receptor complexes out of the possible thousands suggested by expression data analysis have been examined experimentally. In addition this has mostly been obtained using insect, hamster, rat and, to a lesser extent, human cell lines. Besides highlighting which interactions have not been explored, our findings suggest additional possible interactions that should be examined based on our expression data analysis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • Receptors, Serotonin
  • GTP-Binding Proteins