Roland Seifert & Thomas Wieland 
G Protein-coupled Receptors as Drug Targets 
Analysis of Activation and Constitutive Activity

With its particular emphasis on the constitutive activity of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)s, this book comprehensively discusses an important biological process that has not yet been covered in such depth in any other existing books on GPCRs. The international team of highly distinguished authors addresses in detail current models and concepts, to introduce medicinal chemists, physiologists, pharmacologists, and medical researchers into the advances in the understanding of GPCR activation and constitutive activity. In addition, the book provides an overview on methods of investigating constitutive GPCR activity. The text is well illustrated by selected experimental data and schemes._The chaptes are all cross-referenced with each other and cover general mechnisms, methodological approaches and cover selected important GPCR sysstems, the consequences for drug action, including, side effects, and rational drug design for GPCR targets. A highly recommended reference for researchers in academia and industry.

authors addresses in detail current models and concepts, so as to introduce pharmaceutical chemists, physiologists and medical researchers to the advances in the understanding of GPCR activation and constitutive activity, and provides an overview of the methods of investigating GPCR activity. The text is backed by abundant case studies and methodological advice for analyzing GPCRs, covering selected pharmacologically relevant GPCR systems, the consequences for drug action, including unwanted side effects, and rational drug design for GPCR targets.
A highly practical reference for researchers in academia and industry.

Table of Content

GENERAL CONCEPTS
Historical Background and Introduction.
The Nature of Constitutive Activity and Inverse Agonism.
Molecular Mechanisms of GPCR Activation.
Molecular and Cellular Determinants of GPCR Splice Variant Constitutive Activity.
Naturally Occurring Constitutively Active Receptors: Physiologic and Pharmacologic Implications.
The Impact of G-Proteins on Constitutive GPCR Activity.
(Patho)physiological and Therapeutic Relevance of Constitutive GPCR Activity.
Methodological Approaches.

CONSTITUTIVE ACITVITY OF SELECTED GPCR SYSTEMS
Constitutive Activity of -Adrenoceptors: Analysis in Membrane Systems.
Constitutive Activity of -Adrenoceptors: Analysis by Physiological Methods.
Constitutive Activity at the 1-Adrenoceptors: Past and Future Implications.
Constitutive Activity of Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors: Implications for Receptor Activation and Physiological Relevance.
Constitutively Active Histamine Receptors.
Constitutively Active Serotonin Receptors.
Virally Encoded Constitutively Active Chemokine Receptors.

About the author

Roland Seifert was born in 1960 in Berlin, Germany. He was fellow of the Merit Scholar Foundation of Germany and earned his MD degree at the Free University of Berlin in 1986. From 1986-1995 he worked in the group of Professor Günter Schultz in the Department of Pharmacology of the Free University of Berlin. From 1995-1998, he worked with Dr. Brian Kobilka at Stanford University, CA, USA. From 1998-2004 he was Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA before taking over the Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology at The University of Regensburg, Germany. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of GPCR-activation, G-protein function and adenylyl cyclase regulation.

Thomas Wieland was born in 1960 in Karlsruhe, Germany. He studied Pharmacy at the University of Heidelberg where he obtained his Ph D in Pharmacology in 1989. From 1990-1996 he worked in the group of Professor Karl H. Jakobs in the Department of Pharmacology of the Universities of Heidelberg and Essen, Germany. From 1996 -1997, he was a research fellow with Dr. Melvin I. Simon at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA. From 1997 – 2002 he was Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Hamburg, Germany. Since July 2002 he is Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. His research focuses on the GPCR induced activation of heterotrimeric G-proteins and monomeric GTPases and the regulation of these processes by accessory proteins.