biology

GHB receptor

GHB receptor is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand GHB receptor rather than just read about it. In short: The γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) receptor (GHBR), originally identified as GPR172A, is an excitatory G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds the neurotransmitter and psychoactive drug γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). As solute carrier family 52 member 2 (SLC52A2), it is also a transporter for riboflavin.

Key takeaways

GHB receptor belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect GHB receptor to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of GHB receptor from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) receptor (GHBR), originally identified as GPR172A, is an excitatory G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds the neurotransmitter and psychoactive drug γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). As solute carrier family 52 member 2 (SLC52A2), it is also a transporter for riboflavin.

History The existence of a specific GHB receptor was predicted by observing the action of GHB and related compounds that primarily act on the GABAB receptor, but also exhibit a range of effects which were found not to be produced by GABAB activity, and so were suspected of being produced by a novel and at the time unidentified receptor target. Following the discovery of the "orphan" G-protein coupled receptor GPR172A, it was subsequently found to be the GHB receptor whose existence had been previously predicted. The rat GHB receptor was first cloned and characterised in 2003, followed by the human receptor in 2007. Due to its many functions, this gene has a history of multiple discoveries. In 2002, data mining in the human genome found an incorrectly spliced form of this protein with eight transmembrane helices, and due to the presence of a G-protein binding site, it was correctly assumed to be a GPCR (as GCPR41). In 2003, it was first identified in its 11-transmembrane-helix full length, as a receptor for porcine endogenous retrovirus. The same protein was later identified as the GHB receptor in 2007. In 2009, it was identified as a riboflavin transporter, and sorted into SLC family 52 due to sequence similarity. The authors of the 2009 study were not aware of the 2007 study showing that it actually does function as a GPCR.

Function The function of the GHB receptor appears to be quite different from that of the GABAB receptor. It shares no sequence homology with GABAB, and administration of mixed GHB/GABAB receptor agonists, along with a selective GABAB antagonist or selective agonists for the GHB receptor which are not agonists at GABAB, do not produce a sedative effect, instead causing a stimulant effect, followed by convulsions at higher doses, thought to be mediated through increased Na+/K+ current, and increased release of dopamine and glutamate.

Ligands

Agonists 3-Hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid (HOCPCA) 4-(p-Chlorobenzyl)-GHB Aceburic acid γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) γ-Hydroxyvaleric acid (GHV; 4-methyl-GHB) NCS-356 (4-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-but-2-enoic acid, CAS# 430440-66-7) NCS-435 (4-(p-methoxybenzyl)-GHB) trans-Hydroxycrotonic acid (T-HCA) UMB66 UMB68 UMB72 UMB86

Antagonists Gabazine (SR-95531) NCS-382

Prodrugs 1,4-Butanediol - metabolised into GHB by ADH and ALDH γ-Butyrolactone (GBL) – metabolised into GHB by paraoxonase γ-Valerolactone (GVL) – metabolised to GHV

Unknown/unclear Amisulpride Levosulpiride Prochlorperazine (R)-4-[4′-(2-Iodobenzyloxy)phenyl]-GHB Sulpiride Sultopride

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with GHB receptor

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what GHB receptor claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to GHB receptor before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about GHB receptor ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of GHB receptor

In research: GHB receptor appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses GHB receptor in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: GHB receptor is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics G protein-coupled receptors, Genes on human chromosome 8, Γ-Hydroxybutyric acid, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for GHB receptor outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study GHB receptor in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what GHB receptor means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain GHB receptor out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is GHB receptor in simple terms?

Why does GHB receptor matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study GHB receptor?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on GHB receptor.