Dopamine receptor D3


Dopamine receptor D3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DRD3 gene.
This gene encodes the D3 subtype of the dopamine receptor. The D3 subtype inhibits adenylyl cyclase through inhibitory G-proteins. This receptor is expressed in phylogenetically older regions of the brain, suggesting that this receptor plays a role in cognitive and emotional functions. It is a target for drugs which treat schizophrenia, drug addiction, and Parkinson's disease. Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants that would encode different isoforms, although some variants may be subject to nonsense-mediated decay.

Function

D3 agonists like 7-OH-DPAT, pramipexole, and rotigotine, among others, display antidepressant effects in rodent models of depression

Animal studies

D3 agonists have been shown to disrupt prepulse inhibition of startle, a cross-species measure that recapitulates deficits in sensorimotor gating in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. In contrast, D3-preferring antagonists have antipsychotic-like profiles in measures of PPI in rats.

Ligands

Agonists

Dopamine receptor D3 has been shown to interact with CLIC6 and EPB41L1.