In Silico Approaches Towards the Understanding of the Structure- Function Relationships in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRs) and other Family C GPRCs

Title: In Silico Approaches Towards the Understanding of the Structure- Function Relationships in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRs) and other Family C GPRCs

Volume: 12 Issue: 17

Author(s): Gabriele Costantino

Affiliation:

Keywords: GPCRs, Metabotropic glutamate receptors, Venus flytrap, homology modeling, Extracellular domain

Abstract: Family C of the superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors is a growing family of heptahelical receptors, which includes, among others, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and GABA(B) receptors. A common feature of all the members of family C is a structural architecture much more complex than any other GPCRs. Computational studies, including homology modeling, pharmacophore definitions and molecular dynamics simulations have constantly flanked experimental approaches in the understanding of the receptor functioning. The present review will discuss the evolution of our perception in family C GPCRs structure and function as emerged from the critical comparison of in silico methods with molecular biology and crystallographic experiments.

Cite this article as:

Costantino Gabriele, In Silico Approaches Towards the Understanding of the Structure- Function Relationships in Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRs) and other Family C GPRCs, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2006; 12 (17) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206777585210