Adhesion class receptors

Adhesion class receptors, also known as adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (AGPCRs), are the second largest class of the GPCR superfamily, with 33 human AGPCRs being known, existing as 8 groups and 2 independent receptors.  Adhesion class receptors are among the largest proteins in nature and consist of a long extracellular domain, a seven-transmembrane domain, and an intracellular C-terminal tail.  A feature of these receptors is an autoproteolytic cleavage event that occurs at the GPCR proteolytic site, located within the GPCR autoproteolysis inducing (GAIN) domain, which cleaves AGPCRs into an N-terminal fragment and a C-terminal fragment.  Adhesion class receptors have a broad distribution in embryonic and larval cells, and in the reproductive tract, neurons, leukocytes, and a variety of tumours, where they control an array of physiological processes.  Adhesion receptors are important for immune responses, neuronal and organ development, synaptic function, cellular communication, proliferation, homeostasis and as mechanosensors.

Further reading

Scholz (2018) Cancer Cell Mechanics: Adhesion G Protein-coupled Receptors in Action? Front Oncol. 8 59 PMID: 29594040

Vizurraga et al (2020) Mechanisms of adhesion G protein-coupled receptor activation. J Biol Chem. 295(41) 14065 PMID: 32763969 

Liebscher et al (2022) A guide to adhesion GPCR research. FEBS J. 289(24) 7610 PMID: 34729908