The dopamine D(4) receptor, the ultimate disordered protein

J Recept Signal Transduct Res. 2010 Oct;30(5):331-6. doi: 10.3109/10799893.2010.513842.

Abstract

The human D4 dopamine receptor is a synaptic neurotransmitter receptor responsible for neuronal signaling in the mesolimbic system of the brain, an area of the brain that regulates emotion and complex behavior. Its structure makes it a very unusual and interesting G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) as it has several polymorphic variants of its gene in the region encoding the third intracellular loop (IL3). This region contains from two to seven or more similar 48 base pair repeats. These repeats cause this protein to have a very high disorder index and this, in turn, makes it very interactive with other proteins. Among GPCRs in general, the unusually proline-rich IL3 is unique to the D4 receptor (D4R). We believe that, as in the D2R, this region of the receptor plays a role in it's interaction with other receptors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / chemistry
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / genetics
  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / chemistry*
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / genetics
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • A Kinase Anchor Proteins
  • Receptors, Dopamine D4