Background of the antigen
G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs), also known as seven transmembrane receptors, heptahelical receptors or 7TM receptors, comprise a superfamily of proteins that play a role in many different stimulus-response pathways. GPR signaling is an evolutionarily ancient mechanism used by all eukaryotes to sense environmental stimuli and mediate cell-cell communication. G protein-coupled receptors translate extracellular signals into intracellular signals (G protein activation) and they respond to a variety of signaling molecules, such as hormones and neurotransmitters. GPR34 is a 381 amino acid protein belonging to the G-protein coupled receptor 1 family. Widely expressed, GPR34 is localized to the cell membrane.
