Horn F, van der Wenden E M, Oliveira L, IJzerman A P, Vriend G
BIOcomputing, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
Proteins. 2000 Dec 1;41(4):448-59. doi: 10.1002/1097-0134(20001201)41:4<448::aid-prot30>3.0.co;2-c.
Upon the binding of their ligands, G protein-coupled receptors couple to the heterotrimeric G proteins to transduce a signal. One receptor family may couple to a single G protein subtype and another family to several ones. Is there a signal in the receptor sequence that can give an indication of the G protein subtype selectivity? We used a sequence analysis method on biogenic amine and adenosine receptors and concluded that a weak signal can be detected in receptor families where specialization for coupling to a given G protein occurred during a recent divergent evolutionary process. Proteins 2000;41:448-459.