Biased Signaling in Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics is a unique and essential reference for the scientific community concerning how conformational-dependent activation is a common phenomenon across many classes of receptors or signaling molecules. It discusses the role of conformational dynamics in leading to signaling bias across different classes of receptors and signaling molecules. By providing a broader view of signaling bias, this resource helps to explain common mechanisms shared across receptor classes and how this can be utilized to elucidate their cellular activity and better understand their therapeutic potential. Written for both new and established scientists in pharmacology, cell biology, biochemistry, and signal transduction, as well as physicians, this book clearly illustrates how biased receptor signaling can be utilized to develop and understand complex pharmacology. Chapters are each focused on a specific class of receptor or other important topic and make use of real-world examples illustrating how the latest research in signal transduction has led to a better understanding of pharmacology and cell biology. This structure creates a basis for understanding that physiological signalling bias has been selected by nature in order to provide complex and tissue- specific biological responses in the face of limited receptors and signaling pathways. This book provides a framework to reveal that these physiological mechanisms are not restricted to one receptor type or family and thus presents receptor signaling from a newer, more global perspective. - Offers a unique and valuable resource on biased receptor signaling that provides a global view for better understanding pharmacology across many receptor families - Integrates biased receptor signaling, physiology, and pharmacology to place this emerging science within the context of treating disease - Includes important chapters on both the pharmaceutical and therapeutic implications of biased signaling

Alan V. Smrcka presents a collection of cutting-edge methods for investigating G protein signaling from a variety of perspectives ranging from in vitro biochemistry to whole animal studies. Among the readily reproducible techniques presented are those for the purification of G proteins and effectors enzymes, assays of these purified G proteins and effector enzymes, and for the study of G proteins interactions with effectors in intact cells. Additional methods are provided for assaying G protein coupled receptor structure, function, and localization, and for studying the physiological roles for endogenous G proteins.

This volume provides comprehensive coverage of the current knowledge of the physiology of the endocrine system and hormone synthesis and release, transport, and action at the molecular and cellular levels. It presents essential as well as in-depth information of value to both medical students and specialists in Endocrinology, Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine. Although it is well established that the endocrine system regulates essential functions involved in growth, reproduction, and homeostasis, it is increasingly being recognized that this complex regulatory system comprises not only hormones secreted by the classic endocrine glands but also hormones and regulatory factors produced by many organs, and involves extensive crosstalk with the neural and immune system. At the same time, our knowledge of the molecular basis of hormone action has greatly improved. Understanding this complexity of endocrine physiology is crucial to prevent endocrine disorders, to improve the sensitivity of our diagnostic tools, and to provide the rationale for pharmacological, immunological, or genetic interventions. It is such understanding that this book is designed to foster.

Functional selectivity refers to the ability of different ligands acting at one receptor subtype to activate multiple signaling pathways in unique combinations; that is, one drug can be an agonist at pathway A and an antagonist or partial agonist at pathway B, and another drug can have the reverse profile. Functional selectivity has profound implications for drug development, for chemical biology, and for the design of experiments to characterize receptor function. In Functional Selectivity of G Protein-Coupled Receptors expert neuroscientists and pharmacologists review the work that demonstrated the existence of functional selectivity, placed it within a theoretical framework, and provided a mechanistic basis for the phenomenon. This exciting, comprehensive, and future-oriented volume includes chapters that focus on theoretical and mechanistic aspects of functional selectivity and that cut across subfamilies of GPCRs. Additional chapters focus on subfamilies of therapeutically relevant receptors where there is considerable evidence of ligand functional selectivity. Accessible and authoritative, Functional Selectivity of G Protein-Coupled Receptors is a valuable educational tool and reference source for students and scientists interested in drug development, chemical biology, and GPCR function.

Allosteric Modulation of G Protein-Coupled Receptors reviews fundamental information on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and allosteric modulation, presenting original research in the area and collectively providing a comprehensive description of key issues in GPCR allosteric modulation. The book provides background on core concepts of molecular pharmacology while also introducing the most important advances and studies in the area. It also discusses key methodologies. This is an essential book for researchers and advanced students engaged in pharmacology, toxicology and pharmaceutical sciences training and research. Many of the GPCR-targeted drugs released in the past decade have specifically worked via allosteric mechanisms. Unlike direct orthosteric-acting compounds that occupy a similar receptor site to that of endogenous ligands, allosteric modulators alter GPCR-dependent signaling at a site apart from the endogenous ligand. Recent methodological and analytical advances have greatly improved our ability to understand the signaling mechanisms of GPCRs. We now know that allostery is a common regulatory mechanism for all GPCRs and not – as we once believed – unique to a few receptor subfamilies. - Introduces background on core concepts of molecular pharmacology, including statistical analyses, non-linear regression, complex models and GPCR-dependent signal transduction as they relate to allosteric modulation - Discusses critical advances and landmark studies, including discoveries in the area of GPCR allosteric modulation, which are reviewed for their importance in positive and negative regulation, protein-protein interactions, and small molecule drug discovery - Includes key methodologies used to study allosteric modulation at the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo levels of drug discovery and characterization

This detailed volume assembles comprehensive protocols to assist with the study of structural, molecular, cell biological, and in vivo facets of GPCRs, and to enable the development of experimental tools for screening novel GPCR drugs. Sections explore the tweaking of ligands, bioluminescence and FRET approaches, specific GPCR signaling properties, as well as visualization of subcellular compartmentalization. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling: Methods and Protocols serves as an ideal reference for life scientists working in a variety of research fields including molecular pharmacology, cell and developmental biology, brain behavior and physiology, drug development and screening. Chapter 4 is available open access under a CC BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com.