Visualizing G protein-coupled receptors in action through confocal microscopy techniques. 2014

Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F., Mexico.

G protein-coupled receptors constitute one of the most abundant entities in cellular communication. Elucidation of their structure and function as well as of their regulation began 30-40 years ago and the advance has markedly increased during the last 15 years. They participate in a plethora of cell functions such as regulation of metabolic fluxes, contraction, secretion, differentiation, or proliferation, and in essentially all activities of our organism; these receptors are targets of a large proportion of prescribed and illegal drugs. Fluorescence techniques have been used to study receptors for many years. The experimental result was usually a two-dimensional (2D) micrograph. Today, the result can be a spatiotemporal (four-dimensional, 4D) movie. Advances in microscopy, fluorescent protein design, and computer-assisted analysis have been of great importance to increase our knowledge on receptor regulation and function and create opportunities for future research. In this review we briefly depict the state of the art of the G protein-coupled receptor field and the methodologies used to study G protein-coupled receptor location, trafficking, dimerization, and other types of receptor-protein interaction. Fluorescence techniques now permit the capture of receptor images with high resolution and, together with a variety of fluorescent dyes that color organelles (such as the plasma membrane or the nucleus) or the cytoskeleton, allow researchers to obtain a much clearer idea of what is taking place at the cellular level. These developments are changing the way we explore cell communication and signal transduction, permitting deeper understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological processes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008856 Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy of specimens stained with fluorescent dye (usually fluorescein isothiocyanate) or of naturally fluorescent materials, which emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or blue light. Immunofluorescence microscopy utilizes antibodies that are labeled with fluorescent dye. Fluorescence Microscopy,Immunofluorescence Microscopy,Microscopy, Immunofluorescence,Fluorescence Microscopies,Immunofluorescence Microscopies,Microscopies, Fluorescence,Microscopies, Immunofluorescence
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015398 Signal Transduction The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway. Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal
D043562 Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled The largest family of cell surface receptors involved in SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION. They share a common structure and signal through HETEROTRIMERIC G-PROTEINS. G Protein Coupled Receptor,G-Protein-Coupled Receptor,G-Protein-Coupled Receptors,G Protein Coupled Receptors,Receptor, G-Protein-Coupled,Receptors, G Protein Coupled
D018613 Microscopy, Confocal A light microscopic technique in which only a small spot is illuminated and observed at a time. An image is constructed through point-by-point scanning of the field in this manner. Light sources may be conventional or laser, and fluorescence or transmitted observations are possible. Confocal Microscopy,Confocal Microscopy, Scanning Laser,Laser Microscopy,Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy,Laser Scanning Microscopy,Microscopy, Confocal, Laser Scanning,Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy,Confocal Microscopies,Laser Microscopies,Laser Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Confocal,Microscopies, Laser,Microscopies, Laser Scanning,Microscopy, Laser,Microscopy, Laser Scanning,Scanning Microscopies, Laser,Scanning Microscopy, Laser

Related Publications

Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2011, Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.),
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2005, Current medicinal chemistry,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
October 2009, Plant signaling & behavior,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
October 2014, Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2022, Methods in cell biology,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2005, Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.),
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2022, Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
October 2004, Current opinion in pharmacology,
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
January 2004, Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.),
Jean A Castillo-Badillo, and Alejandro Cabrera-Wrooman, and J Adolfo García-Sáinz
October 2016, Current opinion in pharmacology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!