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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Apr 15.
Published in final edited form as: Traffic. 2010 Oct 15;12(2):137–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2010.01121.x

Figure 1. Major GPCR signaling responses and regulation by endocytosis.

Figure 1

A. Simplified schematic depicting the range of signaling responses mediated by GPCRs in mammals. B. Major trafficking itineraries of GPCRs that have been linked to functional regulation of cellular signaling. Endocytosis of receptors can produce functional desensitization of cellular responsiveness by physically removing receptors from access to extracellular ligands, and preventing access to plasma membrane-delimited signaling mediators. Recycling of internalized receptors can function, conversely, to resensitize cellular responsiveness. Trafficking of internalized receptors via the MVB/lysosome pathway causes a prolonged attenuation of cellular responsiveness by promoting proteolytic downregulation of receptors.