Dopamine receptor D2

Dopamine receptor D₂, also known as D2R, is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the DRD2 gene.The dopamine D2 receptor was discovered in 1975 by Philip Seeman who had named it as the antipsychotic dopamine receptor The dopamine D2 receptor is the main receptor for all antipsychotic drugs. Any drug that does not interfere with dopamine action at the D2 receptor does not have an antipsychotic action.

Function

This gene encodes the D₂ subtype of the dopamine receptor, which is coupled to G_i subtype of G protein-coupled receptor. This G protein-coupled receptor inhibits adenylyl cyclase activity.

In mice, regulation of D2R surface expression by the calcium sensor NCS-1 in the dentate gyrus is involved in exploration, synaptic plasticity and memory formation.

In flies, activation of the D2 autoreceptor protected dopamine neurons from cell death induced by a toxin mimicking Parkinson's disease pathology.

Isoforms

Alternative splicing of this gene results in three transcript variants encoding different isoforms.