What is the Difference Between Heteromeric G Protein and Monomeric G Protein?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between heteromeric G proteins and monomeric G proteins lies in their structure and composition.
Heteromeric G proteins, also known as heterotrimeric G proteins, are large membrane-associated proteins composed of three subunits: alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ). These proteins are activated by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and play a crucial role in transmitting signals from various stimuli outside a cell to the interior. When a ligand binds to a GPCR, the GPCR acquires GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) ability, which activates the G protein by exchanging the GDP on the alpha subunit to GTP.
On the other hand, monomeric G proteins are small membrane-associated proteins made up of only an alpha subunit. They function as monomeric small GTPases and belong to the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. Like heterotrimeric G proteins, monomeric G proteins also bind GTP and GDP and are involved in signal transduction.
In summary, the key differences between heteromeric G proteins and monomeric G proteins are:
- Heteromeric G proteins are large, membrane-associated proteins composed of three subunits (α, β, and γ), while monomeric G proteins are small, membrane-associated proteins composed of only an alpha subunit.
- Heteromeric G proteins are activated by G protein-coupled receptors, whereas monomeric G proteins function as monomeric small GTPases.
Comparative Table: Heteromeric G Protein vs Monomeric G Protein
Heteromeric G proteins and monomeric G proteins differ in size, structure, and composition. Here is a table summarizing their differences:
Feature | Heteromeric G Protein | Monomeric G Protein |
---|---|---|
Size | Large | Small |
Subunits | Comprised of α, β, and γ subunits | Comprised only of an α subunit |
Membrane-Association | Membrane-associated | Membrane-associated |
Signal Transduction | Involved in transmitting signals from various stimuli outside a cell to the interior | Involved in transmitting signals from various stimuli outside a cell to the interior |
Both heteromeric and monomeric G proteins are involved in signal transduction and play crucial roles in various cellular pathways. Heteromeric G proteins are large proteins made up of alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) subunits, while monomeric G proteins are small proteins made up of only an alpha subunit.
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