Seven-helix transmembrane domain

G-Protein coupled receptors (GPCR) represent the start element in secondary messenger producing systems. They comprise a family of over 1000 structurally-related members. These membrane proteins are also called serpentine or seven-helix receptors due to their seven transmembrane domains with an a-helical conformation. Receptors belonging to this class respond to a variety of hormones and neurotransmitters, and they detect odorant molecules or light [3,4]. 

Integral membrane proteins. Membrane proteins are hard to crystallize178 and precise structures are known for only a few of them.179-181 A large fraction of all of the integral membrane proteins contain one or more membrane-spanning helices with loops of peptide chain between them. Folded domains in the cytoplasm or on the external membrane surface may also be present. The best-known structure of a transmembrane protein is that of the 248-residue bacteriorhodopsin. It consists of seven helical segments that span the plasma membrane (Fig. 23-45) and serves as a light-activated proton pump. Other proteins with similar structures act as hormone receptors in eukaryotic membranes. A seven-helix protein embedded in a membrane is depicted in Fig. 8-5 and also, in more detail, in Fig. 11-6. 

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