Gq alpha subunit
family of heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits
Gq protein alpha subunit is a family of heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. This family is also commonly called the Gq/11 (Gq/G11) family or Gq/11/14/15 family to include closely related family members. G alpha subunits may be referred to as Gq alpha, Gαq, or Gqα.
Gq proteins couple to G protein-coupled receptors to activate beta-type phospholipase C (PLC-β) enzymes. PLC-β in turn hydrolyzes phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to diacyl glycerol (DAG) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3). IP3 acts as a second messenger to release stored calcium into the cytoplasm, while DAG acts as a second messenger that activates protein kinase C (PKC).
Family members
In humans, there are four distinct proteins in the Gq alpha subunit family:
Gαq is encoded by the gene GNAQ.
Gα11 is encoded by the gene GNA11.
Gα14 is encoded by the gene GNA14.
Gα15 is encoded by the gene GNA15.
Function
The general function of Gq is to activate intracellular signaling pathways in response to activation of cell surface G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
“Gq alpha subunit” enters the record as family of heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what alpha, subunit and family can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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