The ‘magic tail’ of G protein‐coupled receptors: an anchorage for functional protein networks

Abstract

All cell types express a great variety of G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are coupled to only a limited set of G proteins. This disposition favors cross‐talk between transduction pathways. However, GPCRs are organized into functional units. They promote specificity and thus avoid unsuitable cross‐talk. New methodologies (mostly yeast two‐hybrid screens and proteomics) have been used to discover more than 50 GPCR‐associated proteins that are involved in building these units. In addition, these protein networks participate in the trafficking, targeting, signaling, fine‐tuning and allosteric regulation of GPCRs. To date, proteins that interact with the GPCR C‐terminus are the most abundant and are the focus of this review.