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G-protein coupled receptor

(Science: cell biology) cell surface receptors that are coupled to G-proteins (GTP-binding protein).

g-protein coupled receptors are thought to have seven membrane spanning domains and have been divided into 2 subclasses: those in which the binding Site is in the extracellular domain for example receptors for glycoprotein hormones, such as thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and those in which the ligand binding Site is likely to be in the plane of the 7 transmembrane domains for example rhodopsin and receptors for small neurotransmitters and hormones for example muscarinic acetylcholine receptor.