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Protein-Coupled Receptors

Meaning

Protein-Coupled Receptors, often abbreviated as GPCRs, are a large and diverse family of transmembrane receptors that sit on the surface of cells and play a critical role in relaying external signals into the cell’s interior. They are essential components of the endocrine system, serving as the primary docking sites for numerous hormones, neurotransmitters, and growth factors. Upon binding a ligand, GPCRs undergo a conformational change that activates an associated intracellular G-protein, initiating a complex signaling cascade that ultimately alters cellular function. Their ubiquity and central role in signaling make them major targets for pharmacological interventions.