Topic: G protein-coupled receptors

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) are the largest family of membrane proteins in the human genome and represent targets of about 30% of the marketed drugs. Among GPCRs, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are interesting targets as they regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, and are involved in various brain diseases. Due to the lack of specific tools, their specific subunit composition in native tissues is still difficult to determine. Finding highly specific tools to target each mGluR subunit is still a challenge that single domain anti

Dopamine receptors (DRs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed in the central nervous system. When activated, DRs can trigger different downstream signal transduction cascades based on which they are divided into two major classes: D1-like, which includes excitatory D1 and D5 receptors, and D2-like, including inhibitory D2, D3 and D4 receptors. Drugs acting on DRs are used to treat several neurological disorders, like Parkinson´s disease (PD), schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorders. PD, for example, is caused by the early death of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pa