Many extracellular signals are at the cell surface received by specific receptors, which upon activation transduce information to the appropriate cellular effector molecules via trimeric G proteins. The G protein-mediated cascades ultimately lead to the highly refined regulation of systems such as sensory perception, cell growth, and hormonal regulation. Transmembrane signaling may be seriously deranged in various pathophysiological conditions. Over the last two decades the major experimental effort of our group has been devoted to better understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying transmembrane signaling regulated by G proteins and to the closely related process of desensitization of hormone response. This review provides general information about the basic principles of G protein-regulated transmembrane signaling as well as about our contribution to the current progress in the field.

Department of Membrane Receptors Institute of Physiology Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic

Adrenergic receptors gene polymorphisms and autonomic nervous control of heart and vascular tone

Chronic intermittent hypoxia affects the cytosolic phospholipase A2α/cyclooxygenase 2 pathway via β2-adrenoceptor-mediated ERK/p38 stimulation