muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M2, member of the class A family of seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) regulate the activity of many fundamental central and peripheral functions. The mAChR family consists of 5 subtypes M1-M5, which can be further divided into two major groups according to their G-protein coupling preference. The M1, M3 and M5 receptors selectively interact with G proteins of the G(q/11) family, whereas the M2 and M4 receptors preferentially link to the G(i/o) types of G proteins. Activation of M2 receptor causes a decrease in cAMP production, generally leading to inhibitory-type effects. This causes an outward current of potassium in the heart, resulting in a decreased heart rate. All GPCRs have a common structural architecture comprising of seven-transmembrane (TM) alpha-helices interconnected by three extracellular and three intracellular loops. A general feature of GPCR signaling is agonist-induced conformational changes in the receptors, leading to activation of the heterotrimeric G proteins, which consist of the guanine nucleotide-binding G-alpha subunit and the dimeric G-beta-gamma subunits. The activated G proteins then bind to and activate numerous downstream effector proteins, which generate second messengers that mediate a broad range of cellular and physiological processes.
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