G protein involvement in receptor-effector coupling

The recent plethora of information on G proteins has suggested that they play a major role in signaling processes. The use of bacterial toxins, GTP analogs, specific antisera, and oligonucleotide probes has revealed that members or close relatives of the family exist in such primitive organisms as Saccharomyces and Dictyostelium, speaking to a high degree of conservation of these proteins during evolution. The tools of the molecular biologist and structural biochemist will soon allow a more detailed examination of the crucial protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions required for G protein action. The alliance of all of these disciplines will facilitate investigation of G protein-linked signaling processes and of possible pathological disturbances therein.