Biochemistry Commons^™

A Universal Mechanism Of G Protein Inhibition, Tyson Daniel Todd

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

G protein coupled receptors transduce a truly staggering number of diverse extracellular signals including chemical messengers, physical force, and even photons into specific cellular responses through their coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins. G proteins amplify the originating signal through their binding to downstream effectors, activating a complex network of overlapping responses that allow the cell to respond perfectly to that specific stimulus. It is critical to the cell that this process is carried out faithfully in order to respond to the myriad environmental cues and avoid injury, exhaustion, and death for the individual cell or the development of pathology if …