Receptor Dimers And Homodimers

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Receptor Dimers: Heterodimers and Homodimers.
Receptor dimers are receptor complexes formed by two covalently or non-covalently bound receptor subunits. Receptor dimerisation regulates signal transduction in various receptors or alter pharmacology. The Enzyme linked transmembrane receptors (they dimerise only when bound by a ligand to cause activation via autophosphorylation), The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) (they form constitutive dimers to mask the E.R retention motif on the C- terminal) and The intracellular receptors (They form dimers after binding with the ligand).
History:
Receptor dimers are classified according to the subunits they are composed of.

Homodimers:
Homodimers are receptor complexes formed by the association of the same receptor subunits. Homodimerisation plays an important role in the activation and signal transduction in many receptor families, especially the intracellular enzyme linked transmembrane receptors. These receptors are divided into two main groups the tyrosine kinase receptors and the tyrosine kinase linked receptors with no intrinsic activ...

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