Serotonin Receptor 5-HT₂C (5-HT2C)

The 5-HT₂C receptor is a subtype of serotonin receptor, part of the 5-HT2 family, and a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) primarily coupled to the Gq/G11 protein. It mediates excitatory neurotransmission and is widely distributed in the central nervous system and, to a lesser extent, in peripheral tissues. It plays significant roles in regulating mood, anxiety, feeding behavior, and reproductive behavior. Drugs targeting the 5-HT₂C receptor are used or investigated for obesity, schizophrenia, drug abuse, and migraine. Agonists include endogenous serotonin and ergotamine; ritanserin acts as an inverse agonist. Ligand binding induces characteristic shifts in transmembrane helices that underlie activation or inhibition of signaling pathways.

Other names

5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor 2CHTR2C

Agonist or antagonist binding to the 5-HT2C receptor modulates downstream signaling pathways via Gq/G11 protein coupling, influencing neurotransmitter release and neuronal excitability.