The G Protein Coupled Receptors Handbook

A comprehensive survey of the many recent advances in the field of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The authors describe the current knowledge of GPCR receptor structure and function, the different mechanisms involved in the regulation of GPCR function, and the role of pharmacological chaperones in GPCR folding and maturation. They also present new findings about how GPCR dimerization/oligomerization modifies the properties of individual receptors and show how recent developments are leading to significant advances in drug discovery, such as the detection of ligands for orphan GPCRs. Also discussed are the most recent developments that could lead to new drug discoveries: the role of GPCRs in mediating pain, the development of receptor-type selective drugs based on the structural plasticity of receptor activation, and the identification of natural ligands of orphan GPCRs (deorphanization) as possible drug targets.

The cloning, sequencing, and expression of a variety of membrane receptors and channels indicate the existence of at least four "superfamilies" of molecular structures that mediate signal transduction. Presently, more than 400 receptors have been cloned and sequenced. The Handbook of Receptors and Channels is the first handbook series to present the enormous amount of new molecular biological receptor data in a practical and useful format. Each volume in this remarkable series will focus on a specific molecular superfamily of receptors. Complete amino acid sequence information on all cloned receptors, as well as relevant pharmacological information, will be included. Furthermore, the format for each of the volumes will be consistent to allow for easy comparisons of different molecular subtypes for a given transmitter. G Protein-Coupled Receptors is the first volume in this new handbook series. Topics covered in future volumes include:

This detailed volume provides an overview of recent techniques employed in the field of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to screen for new drugs and to derive information about their receptor structure, dynamics, and function for the purpose of developing improved therapeutics. Owing to remarkable recent advances in the structural, biophysical, and biochemical analyses of these receptors, as well as a growing body of evidence hinting at the possible relevance of allosteric modulators, biased agonists, and oligomer-selective ligands as improved therapeutic agents, drug discovery for GPCRs has recently taken a completely new direction. For this book, expert contributors have shared their protocols and views on the impact of these methodologies on modern drug discovery. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and fully updated, G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Drug Discovery: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition serves as an ideal guide for a diverse audience from structural and molecular biologists to pharmacologists and drug designers who wish to explore this extensive class of key drug targets.--

The broad range of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) encompasses all areas of modern medicine and have an enormous impact on the process of drug development. Using disease-oriented methods to cover everything from screening to expression and crystallization, G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Drug Discovery describes the physiological roles of GPCRs

Latest research on Adhesion GPCRs has unearthed surprising revelations about the events that govern the signal transduction of these receptor molecules and the cellular and organ requirements for these signals. Unexpected and unprecedented findings suggest that Adhesion GPCRs constitute a group of receptors that sense mechanical stimuli and transcode them into metabotropic signals through the action of a novel activation paradigm. Interdisciplinary efforts transcending many areas of biomedical research including pharmacology, physiology, genetics, cell biology, structural biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics were necessary to unveil these fundamental properties. The scientific leaders in the field that carried this research effort have teamed up here to provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding, how Adhesion GPCRs signal and how these receptors shape organ structure and function.

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise an important protein family, which is involved in signal transduction in the cell. Besides that a large number of drugs, available on market, address GPCRs. For an efficient and improved development of appropriate drugs, molecular modelling of GPCRs is – in order to understand the ligand-receptor interactions and functionality of GPCRs on molecular level - an important tool. The book “Modelling of GPCRs – a practical handbook” is focussed onto a practical introduction into molecular modelling of GPCRs. This book is very useful for beginners in GPCR modelling, but also addresses the advanced GPCR modeller: On the one hand, the book introduces principles of GPCR modelling, including extensive examples. On the other hand, detailed outlooks onto advanced GPCR modelling techniques are presented. Furthermore, the book includes important data, like information about crystal structures in a summarized manner or amino acid sequences, which are essential for GPCR modelling in general. Due to an increase in efficacy and data handling most modellers use LINUX as operating system. To address this, a summary of most important LINUX commands with examples is presented within the book.

G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are not only the largest protein family in the human genome but are also the single biggest target for therapeutic agents. Research into GPCRs is therefore growing at a fast pace and the range of techniques that can be applied to GPCRs is vast and continues to grow. This book provides an invaluable bench-side guide into the best and most up-to-date techniques for current and future research on GPCRs. With contributions from leading international authorities, this book equips readers with clear and detailed protocols for both well-known and up-and-coming techniques along with hints and tips for success. All the methods have been tried and tested by leading international research labs and are presented in easy-to-follow stages along with a useful overview of each technique. This book is an essential resource for all researchers in molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology and for graduate students.