D. Crans, Mark A. Brown, D. Roess
Aug 1, 2020
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Influential Citations
4
Citations
Journal
Catalysis Today
Abstract
Abstract Membrane receptors are a protein-based class of biocatalysts distinct from enzymes. The luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family (GPCR), the largest class of receptors with approximately 800 known examples in humans, is the topic of this manuscript. G proteins, upon activation by GPCRs, transduce signal from membrane receptor to signaling pathways that are activated by biocatalytic processes inside living cells and, as such, are responsible for many physiological responses related to metabolism, nervous system function and other physiologic processes. Activation of the LHR a GPCR resulting from binding of a ligand or, as discussed in this review, by vanadium compounds, and subsequent activation of G proteins, has a multiplicative effect to activate downstream biocatalysts participating in well-defined, often branching, signaling pathways. Several aspects of GPCR-mediated signaling are being targeted in the development of pharmacologically important compounds and, recently, we have shown that the plasma membrane functions as an additional target for modulation of receptor activity by vanadium compounds.