RAMPs: 5 years on, where to now?

It is now approximately 5 years since the identification of the family of receptor activity modifying proteins (RAMPs). This finding revolutionized concepts of the pharmacology of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and revealed that GPCR accessory proteins not only assist trafficking and folding but also define receptor type. Since the identification of RAMPs as modulators of the trafficking and properties of the calcitonin-receptor-like receptor, much work has focused on improving our understanding of the nature of RAMP-GPCR dimers, the extent to which they occur, and the consequence of this association. In this article, we review recent developments, including the identification of new receptor partners and novel roles for RAMPs.