Galanin type 3 receptor (GALR3)

The galanin type 3 receptor (GALR3) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that binds the neuropeptide galanin as well as spexin-1. It modulates a variety of physiological processes including cognition and memory, sensory/pain processing, hormone secretion, and feeding behavior. In the nervous system, it plays roles in immune and inflammatory response modulation, particularly relevant to retinal health and disease. Inhibition or genetic ablation of GALR3 has been shown to protect against retinal degeneration in animal models. It is broadly expressed throughout the nervous system, including high expression in the retina, locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, and neuroblastoma tissues. It couples mainly to inhibitory G proteins (G\(_i\)/G\(_o\)), inhibiting adenylyl cyclase and decreasing cAMP.

G\(_i/o\)-mediated inhibition of adenylyl cyclase