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Complexes Of Ghrelin Ghs-R1a, Ghs-R1b, And Dopamine D1 Receptors Localized In The Ventral Tegmental Area As Main Mediators Of The Dopaminergic Effects Of Ghrelin, Gemma Navarro, William Rea, César Quiroz, Estefanía Moreno, Devan Gomez, Cody J. Wenthur, Vicent Casadó, Lorenzo Leggio, Matthew C. Hearing, Sergi Ferré

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Ghrelin receptor, also known as growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a), is coexpressed with its truncated isoform GHS-R1b, which does not bind ghrelin or signal, but oligomerizes with GHS-R1a, exerting a complex modulatory role that depends on its relative expression. D₁ dopamine receptor (D1R) and D5R constitute the two D₁-like receptor subtypes. Previous studies showed that GHS-R1b also facilitates oligomerization of GHS-R1a with D1R, conferring GHS-R1a distinctive pharmacological properties. Those include a switch in the preferred coupling of GHS-R1a from Gq to Gs and the ability of D1R/D5R agonists and antagonists to counteract GHS-R1a signaling. Activation of ghrelin …