DRD2

Source: NCBI Gene, accessed 2026-10-07.

Protein

Dopamine receptor D2

Function (excerpt)

G protein-coupled receptor for dopamine, a catecholamine neurotransmitter hormone that functions as the brain's 'reward chemical', driving motivation, reinforcement learning and pleasure. Dopamine binding causes a conformation change that triggers signaling via guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and modulates the activity of downstream effectors, such as adenylate cyclase. Dopamine receptors can be classified in two categories: (1) DRD2 (together with DRD3 and DRD4) is a D2-type receptor and is coupled to G(i)/G(o) G proteins, mediating inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, while D1-type receptors (DRD1 and DRD5) are coupled to G(s) G proteins and promote activation of adenylate cyclase activity. In the central nervous system, DRD2 is mainly coupled to G(o)/GNAO1 (By similarity).

Subcellular location

Postsynaptic cell membrane; Cell membrane; Golgi apparatus membrane.

Tissue specificity

Isoform 1: Expressed in the anterior pituitary gland. Isoform 2: Expressed in the anterior pituitary gland.

Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot P14416, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.

Written for the whole neurotransmission family, not for DRD2 specifically.