GPR gene family

Genes in the GPR family provide instructions for making proteins called G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are present in cells and tissues throughout the body. The receptors span the cell membrane, so that one end of the protein projects from the outer surface of the cell and the other end remains inside the cell. This structure allows the receptors to relay chemical signals from outside the cell to the interior of the cell.

G protein-coupled receptors interact with a wide variety of molecules on the outer surface of cells. Each receptor attaches (binds) to one or a few specific molecules, fitting together like a lock and its key. This binding activates the receptor, which changes its shape. The receptor can then activate proteins called G proteins within cells. In a process called signal transduction, active G proteins trigger a complex network of signaling pathways that ultimately influence many cell functions.

Researchers have identified more than a thousand G protein-coupled receptors in humans and other organisms. Many of these receptors are predicted to be olfactory receptors, which allow organisms to recognize different smells. Other G protein-coupled receptors are involved in vision, the immune system, and the autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary body functions such as heart rate and blood pressure). Additionally, several major brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) relay signals between nerve cells using G protein-coupled receptors. These neurotransmitters are critical for regulating behavior and mood.

G protein-coupled receptors are involved in many human diseases, including various forms of cancer. Researchers estimate that about half of all currently available medications have been designed to target these receptors.