Skip to main content

G-Protein Coupled Receptor Activation

Meaning

G-Protein Coupled Receptor Activation is the crucial initial step in a major cellular signaling pathway, where an extracellular signal, such as a peptide hormone or neurotransmitter, binds to a G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) on the cell surface. This binding event causes a conformational change in the receptor’s structure, which subsequently enables it to activate an associated intracellular G-protein. This activation is fundamental to the body’s ability to respond to a vast array of endocrine and neuroendocrine signals, governing diverse functions from metabolism to sensory perception.