This text provides a comprehensive overview of recent discoveries and current understandings of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recent advances include the first mammalian non-rhodopsin GPCR structures and reconstitution of purified GPCRs into membrane discs for defined studies, novel signaling features including oligomerization, and advances in understanding the complex ligand pharmacology and physiology of GPCRs, in new assay technologies and drug targeting. The first chapters of this book illustrate the history of GPCRs based on distinct species and genomic information. This is...

This book highlights the important role free fatty acids (FFA) play as potential drug targets. While FFA have long been considered byproducts of cell metabolism, they are now recognized as ligands that regulate cell and tissue function via G-protein-coupled receptors. At least three receptors have been identified for which FFA appear to be the endogenous ligands.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are believed to be the largest family of membrane proteins involved in signal transduction and cellular responses.