G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven transmembrane receptors, 7TM receptors, heptahelical receptors, and G protein linked receptors (GPLR), are a large
protein family of
transmembrane receptors that sense
molecules outside the
cell and activate inside
signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, cellular responses. G protein-coupled receptors are only found in
eukaryotes, including yeast, plants, choanoflagellates, and animals. The
ligands that bind and activate these receptors include light-sensitive compounds,
odors,
pheromones,
hormones, and
neurotransmitters, and vary in size from small molecules to
peptides to large
proteins. G protein-coupled receptors are involved in many diseases, but are also the target of around half of all modern medicinal drugs.
See more at Wikipedia.org...