Gsfehérje

Gsfehérje is the Hungarian term for G protein. G proteins are a family of signal-transducing proteins that are involved in cellular communication. They are composed of three subunits: alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ). When a ligand binds to a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) on the cell surface, it causes a conformational change in the receptor. This change activates the associated G protein.

Upon activation, the alpha subunit of the G protein exchanges GDP for GTP. This exchange leads to the dissociation of the alpha subunit from the beta-gamma dimer. Both the activated alpha subunit and the beta-gamma dimer can then interact with and modulate the activity of downstream effector proteins, such as enzymes or ion channels. These effector proteins, in turn, trigger a cascade of biochemical events within the cell, ultimately leading to a specific cellular response.

G proteins play crucial roles in a wide variety of physiological processes, including vision, olfaction, neurotransmission, and hormone signaling. There are many different types of G proteins, each with specific functions and target receptors. Their involvement in numerous cellular pathways makes them important targets for drug development, with many medications designed to modulate G protein activity for therapeutic purposes. The complexity of G protein signaling allows for fine-tuning of cellular responses to external stimuli.