Access

Review

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 6, 689–701 (1 September 2005) | doi:10.1038/nrm1716

G proteins in development

Craig C. Malbon

The focus of developmental biologists has expanded from the analysis of gene expression to include the analysis of cell signalling. Heterotrimeric G proteins (G proteins) mediate signalling from a superfamily of heptahelical receptors (G-protein-coupled receptors) to a smaller number of effector units that include adenylyl cyclases, phospholipase C and various ion channels. The convergence of developmental biology with cell signalling has now revealed overlaps in which G proteins mediate complex pathways in embryonic development.