The emerging role of promiscuous 7TM receptors as chemosensors for food intake

    24 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In recent years, several highly promiscuous seven transmembrane (7TM) receptors have been cloned and characterized of which many are activated broadly by amino acids, proteolytic degradation products, carbohydrates, or free fatty acids (FFAs) and are expressed in taste tissue, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, endocrine glands, adipose tissue, and/or kidney. This has led to the hypothesis that these receptors may act as sensors of food intake modulating, for example, release of incretin hormones from the gut, insulin/glucagon from the pancreas, and leptin from adipose tissue. In the present review, we describe the molecular mechanisms of nutrient-sensing of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), the G protein-coupled receptor family C, group 6, subtype A (GPRC6A), and the taste1 receptor T1R1/T1R3-sensing l-α-amino acids; the carbohydrate-sensing T1R2/T1R3 receptor; the proteolytic degradation product sensor GPR93 (also termed GPR92); and the FFA sensing receptors FFA1, FFA2, FFA3, GPR84, and GPR120. Due to their omnipresent nature, the natural ligands have had limited usability in pharmacological/physiological studies which has hampered the elucidation of the physiological function and therapeutic prospect of their receptors. However, an increasing number of subtype-selective ligands and/or receptor knockout mice are being developed which at least for some of the receptors have validated them as promising drug targets in, for example, type II diabetes.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationIncretins and insulin secretion
    EditorsGerald Litwack
    Volume84
    Place of PublicationAmsterdam
    PublisherElsevier Editora
    Publication date1 Jan 2010
    Pages151-184
    Chapter5
    ISBN (Print)978-0-12-381517-0
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010
    SeriesVitamins & hormones
    Volume84
    ISSN0083-6729

    Keywords

    • Former Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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