Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 60-71 (January 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2299
Heterotrimeric G protein activation by G-protein-coupled receptors
William M. Oldham1 & Heidi E. Hamm1 About the authors
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G proteins have a crucial role as molecular switches in signal transduction pathways mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. Extracellular stimuli activate these receptors, which then catalyse GTP–GDP exchange on the G protein 
-subunit. The complex series of interactions and conformational changes that connect agonist binding to G protein activation raise various interesting questions about the structure, biomechanics, kinetics and specificity of signal transduction across the plasma membrane.
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Author affiliations
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 442 Robinson Research Building, 2222 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-6600
Correspondence to: Heidi E. Hamm1 Email: heidi.hamm@vanderbilt.edu
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