Molecular characterization of adrenergic receptors

Abstract

This is an appropriate time to review progress in the area of adrenergic receptors, particularly in terms of research that aims at achieving an understanding of these proteins at the level of their molecular composition. The past decade has seen an explosion in the field of adrenergic receptor pharmacology, made possible to a large extent by the development of the radioligand-binding assay. Alterations in receptor number and affinity occurring under a variety of physiological conditions have now been documented.