Novel Insights into G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Biology: From Structure to Signaling Regulation
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 9
Special Issue Editors
Interests: GPCRs; virtual screening; molecular dynamics; nuclear receptor; docking; metadynamics; computational biology; computational chemistry
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are one of the largest and most versatile membrane receptor families, playing fundamental roles in cellular communication and homeostasis across multiple physiological systems. Despite extensive investigation, GPCR biology continues to reveal new levels of complexity, including biased agonism, allosteric modulation, receptor dimerization, cross-talk with other pathways, spatial and temporal signaling, and regulation via trafficking, compartmentalization, and post-transcriptional or post-translational mechanisms.
Structural studies have progressed through cryo-EM and crystallography; however, many GPCR structures remain unresolved. Consequently, homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, and AI-based prediction tools—such as AlphaFold—have become essential to explore receptor conformations, ligand binding, and regulatory mechanisms. In parallel, innovative experimental technologies (biosensors, advanced imaging, optogenetics, “omics”) allow deeper investigation of GPCR function in native cellular environments.
This Special Issue aims to collect cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on the molecular, structural, and cellular mechanisms of GPCR signaling and regulation. We welcome original research articles, reviews, communications, methodological papers, and perspectives that provide novel insights into GPCR biology, with strong emphasis on mechanistic understanding, signaling networks, structure–function relationships, computational advances, and emerging technologies.
Dr. Bianca Fiorillo
Dr. Bruno Catalanotti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- GPCR signaling
- structure–function
- allosteric modulation
- receptor
- homology modeling
- computational chemistry
- AI-based prediction
- signal transduction
- cellular regulation
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