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Techniques for the Study of GPCR Heteromerization in Living Cells and Animal Models

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Serotonin Receptor Technologies

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 95))

Abstract

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have traditionally been considered to exist and function as monomeric structural units—hypothesis that is further supported by recent findings based on both membrane protein reconstitution systems and X-ray crystal structures. Nevertheless, a vast body of experimental data obtained over the past decade provides plausible evidence to support a model whereby close molecular proximity between two or more GPCRs at the plasma membrane affects receptor pharmacology and its intracellular signaling properties. Most of these findings, however, have been achieved in cultured cells, and hence the capacity of GPCRs to form dimeric or oligomeric complexes in whole animal models remains largely unknown. This chapter describes experimental approaches in vitro and in vivo that can be used to study GPCR dimerization/oligomerization, with special emphasis on heteromeric receptor complexes.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (R01 MH084894), Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, and NARSAD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    José L. Moreno, Jeremy Seto & James B. Hanks

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, New York City College of Technology, 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, USA

    Jeremy Seto

  3. Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA

    Javier González-Maeso

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  1. José L. Moreno
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  2. Jeremy Seto
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  4. Javier González-Maeso
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Correspondence to Javier González-Maeso .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universität zu Köln, Köln, Germany

    Wolfgang Blenau

  2. Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

    Arnd Baumann

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Moreno, J.L., Seto, J., Hanks, J.B., González-Maeso, J. (2015). Techniques for the Study of GPCR Heteromerization in Living Cells and Animal Models. In: Blenau, W., Baumann, A. (eds) Serotonin Receptor Technologies. Neuromethods, vol 95. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2187-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2187-4_2

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