Activation of a G-Protein Coupled Receptor - Essay Example

The biological signals sent by the G proteins are received by the receptors. In addition, the G proteins forward the signals by a way of mediation of various numbers of intermediaries to those effectors that control genes in reaction to the signals. Following activation of the G protein-coupled receptors, the ligand attaches to the G protein-coupled receptors which causes a conformational transformation in the G protein-coupled receptors thus permitting it to function as a guanine nucleotide exchange element (Miller & Newton, 2010 p. 268).

When the G protein-coupled receptors are activated, the GEF sphere activates or energizes the G protein by aiding in the exchange of GTP. As such, the G proteins subunits delink from the main receptor in order to produce a Gβγ dimer and Gα-GTP monomer, which are permitted to regulate the function of other cellular and intracellular proteins. Read More