Editorial overview: Cell regulation: The ins and outs of G protein-coupled receptors.

摘要

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent nature's largest and most versatile family of signaling receptors, with over 800 members encoded in the human genome. GPCRs regulate essentially all physiological processes and comprise, in aggregate, the largest group of therapeutic drug targets. As such, cell biological research on GPCRs is remarkably broad, spanning essentially all areas of fundamental biology and translational science. GPCR research is also remarkably deep in its intellectual reach, addressing issues ranging from single molecule structure and biophysical analysis to integrated physiology, behavior and disease.