Editing G protein (section)

== History ==
G proteins were discovered in 1980 when [[Alfred G. Gilman]] and [[Martin Rodbell]] investigated stimulation of cells by [[adrenaline]]. They found that when adrenaline binds to a receptor, the receptor does not stimulate enzymes (inside the cell) directly. Instead, the receptor stimulates a G protein, which then stimulates an enzyme. An example is [[adenylate cyclase]], which produces the [[second messenger]] [[cyclic AMP]].<ref name="nobelprize.org">[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1994/illpres/signal.html The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1994], Illustrated Lecture.</ref> For this discovery, they won the 1994 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]].<ref>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1994/press.html Press Release:] The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute decided to award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 1994 jointly to Alfred G. Gilman and Martin Rodbell for their discovery of "G-proteins and the role of these proteins in signal transduction in cells". 10 October 1994</ref>

Nobel prizes have been awarded for many aspects of signaling by G proteins and GPCRs. These include [[receptor antagonist]]s, [[neurotransmitters]], neurotransmitter [[reuptake]], [[G protein-coupled receptor]]s, G proteins, [[second messenger]]s, the enzymes that trigger protein [[phosphorylation]] in response to [[Cyclic adenosine monophosphate|cAMP]], and consequent metabolic processes such as [[glycogenolysis]].

Prominent examples include (in chronological order of awarding):

* The 1947 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Carl Cori]], [[Gerty Cori]] and [[Bernardo Houssay]], for their discovery of how [[glycogen]] is broken down to [[glucose]] and resynthesized in the body, for use as a store and source of energy. [[Glycogenolysis]] is stimulated by numerous [[hormone]]s and [[neurotransmitter]]s including [[adrenaline]].
* The 1970 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Julius Axelrod]], [[Bernard Katz]] and [[Ulf von Euler]] for their work on the release and [[reuptake]] of [[neurotransmitter]]s.
* The 1971 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Earl Sutherland]] for discovering the key role of [[adenylate cyclase]], which produces the second messenger [[cyclic AMP]].<ref name="nobelprize.org"/>
* The 1988 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[George H. Hitchings]], [[Sir James Black]] and [[Gertrude Elion]] "for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment" targeting GPCRs.
* The 1992 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Edwin G. Krebs]] and [[Edmond H. Fischer]] for describing how reversible [[phosphorylation]] works as a switch to activate [[protein]]s, and to regulate various cellular processes including [[glycogenolysis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1992 Press Release|publisher=[[Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet]]|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1992/press.html|access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref>
* The 1994 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Alfred G. Gilman]] and [[Martin Rodbell]] for their discovery of "G-proteins and the role of these proteins in signal transduction in cells".<ref>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1994/press.html Press Release]</ref>
* The 2000 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Eric Kandel]], [[Arvid Carlsson]] and [[Paul Greengard]], for research on [[neurotransmitter]]s such as [[dopamine]], which act via GPCRs.
* The 2004 [[Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine]] to [[Richard Axel]] and [[Linda B. Buck]] for their work on G protein-coupled [[olfactory receptor]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release: The 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2004/press.html |publisher=Nobelprize.org |access-date=8 November 2012}}</ref>
* The 2012 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] to [[Brian Kobilka]] and [[Robert Lefkowitz]] for their work on GPCR function.<ref name="Nobel committee,2012">{{cite news|last=Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences|title=The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012 Robert J. Lefkowitz, Brian K. Kobilka|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/2012/press.html|access-date=10 October 2012|date=10 October 2012}}</ref>