中枢神経系に発現するGタンパク質共役型受容体(GPCR)のヘテロオリゴマー形成とシグナル伝達制御の解析

抄録

G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) form the largest family of cell surface receptor proteins and play key roles in eukaryotic cells, including in neuron. Recently, advance of research about GPCR led to the idea that some GPCRs form complex with other GPCRs to constitute a hetero-oligomer and control their function. Such interaction of GPCRs is thought to be involved in various physiological and pathological phenomena of cells. In this report, we focused on several GPCRs expressed in neuron and examined the possibility of their hetero-oligomer formation and functional interaction. We evaluated hetero-oligomeric complex formation of GPCRs by biochemical assay and microscopic imaging. Moreover, We analyzed mutual modulation of their GPCR signalings by live cell imaging and second messenger quantification assay. Our findings give new respects to the mechanism of regulation of GPCR signaling related to neuronal function.