Dopamine D2 receptor; Dopamine D3 receptor; Dopamine D4 receptor (D2 receptor; D3 receptor; D4 receptor)

Dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors are members of the D2-like subfamily of dopamine receptors, which are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) predominantly found in the brain. They modulate neurotransmission through inhibitory G proteins and regulate multiple aspects of dopaminergic signaling including motor control, reward, and cognition. They are encoded by the genes DRD2, DRD3, and DRD4 respectively. These receptors are important therapeutic targets in neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, with drugs like bifeprunox acting as partial agonists to stabilize dopaminergic signaling, potentially reducing disease symptoms while lowering the risk of side effects like extrapyramidal symptoms and hyperprolactinemia compared to classical antagonists.

Other names

D2 receptor (DRD2)D3 receptor (DRD3)D4 receptor (DRD4)D2-like receptors (collective term for D2, D3, and D4)

Partial agonism (for bifeprunox at D2 and also D3/D4). Dopamine stabilization (partial agonists can decrease dopaminergic overactivity and increase activity where it's deficient). Modulation of neurotransmitter release (presynaptic D2 as autoreceptor).