Functional linkage as a direction for studies in oxidative stress: -adrenergic receptorsThis review is one of a selection of papers published in a Special Issue on Oxidative Stress in Health and Disease.

The alpha-adrenergic receptors (adrenoceptors) are activated by the endogenous agonists epinephrine and norepinephrine. They are G protein-coupled receptors that may be broadly classified into alpha1 (subclasses alpha1A, alpha1B, alpha1D) and alpha2 (subclasses alpha2A, alpha2B, alpha2C). The alpha1-adrenoceptors act by binding to G(alpha)q subunits of the G proteins, causing activation of phospholipase C (PLC). PLC converts …