Glossary

  • 7-transmembrane receptor (or G protein-coupled receptor):
    The largest and most versatile family of membrane proteins that contain seven membrane-spanning domains.

 

  • Agonist:
    A molecule that binds to a receptor and initiates a response.

 

  • Functional implication:
    An agonist-induced changes in localization, signaling, internalization and expression of receptors.

 

  • Method:.
    Microscopic or biochemical approaches to detect colocalization of receptors with caveolin OR isolation of lipid raft /caveolae.

 

  • Detergent-dependent method :
    A method for isolation of lipid raft from cells using non-ionic detergents followed by density gradient centrifugation.

 

  • Detergent-free method:
    A method for purification of lipid raft without using detergents and just required density gradient centrifugation.

 

  • Organism:
    The original species of receptors.

 

  • Receptor expression:
    Type of receptor expression in cells (endogenous Vs transfection)