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Hamm Lab

Heterotrimeric G protein activation by G-protein-coupled receptors.

AUTHORS

Oldham WMWilliam M , Hamm HE Heidi E . Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology. 2008 1 ; 9(1). 60-71

ABSTRACT

Heterotrimeric G proteins have a crucial role as molecular switches in signal transduction pathways mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. Extracellular stimuli activate these receptors, which then catalyse GTP-GDP exchange on the G protein alpha-subunit. The complex series of interactions and conformational changes that connect agonist binding to G protein activation raise various interesting questions about the structure, biomechanics, kinetics and specificity of signal transduction across the plasma membrane.