About a thousand human genes (5% of the genome) encode G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that relay vital information in the cells of almost all organs. GPCRs are involved in many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, respectively the 1st, 2nd and 6th cause of death in Canada.

This project focuses on the functional characterization of a protein co-expressed with the bradykinin B2 receptor (B2R), and its impact on the functional regulation of B2R. This novel protein encoded in an open reading frame overlapping the B2R open reading frame, is termed AltB2R. New knowledge on the potential role of AltB2R on the physiological and pathological functions of B2R is important because B2R is linked to several diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The characterization and functional connection between these two proteins expressed from the same gene, BDKRB2, is a very innovative research and will enable the development of new knowledge about the putative physiological roles of alternative proteins encoded by GPCRs genes in relation to the biology, signaling and pharmacology of GPCRs.