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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GALR1
galanin receptor 1
Chromosome 18 · 18q23
NCBI Gene: 2587Ensembl: ENSG00000166573.6HGNC: HGNC:4132UniProt: P47211
50PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Receptor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
peptide hormone bindingpositive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IIpositive regulation of cortisol secretionplasma membraneAbnormality of the skeletal systemalcohol drinkingatrial fibrillationiron metabolism disease
✦AI Summary

GALR1 is a G protein-coupled receptor for the neuropeptide galanin that mediates inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity 1. The receptor is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems, with expression in approximately 19% of norepinephrine neurons in the locus coeruleus, where GalR1 agonists directly inhibit neuronal activity 2. GALR1 plays protective roles in several pathophysiological conditions. Variants in GALR1 are associated with reduced nicotine dependence risk, suggesting the receptor mediates protective effects against drug addiction 3. In cardiac physiology, GALR1 is less critical than GALR2 for atrial fibrillation susceptibility, as GALR2 (not GALR1) knockout increases AF incidence through CREB-dependent upregulation of potassium channels and impaired calcium handling 4. In hepatic lipid metabolism, increased GALR1 expression promotes lipid accumulation through PI3K/AKT pathway activation and SREBP1 upregulation; conversely, GALR1 antagonism reduces dyslipidemia in circadian disruption models 5. Clinically, reduced GALR1 expression serves as a biomarker for invasive non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumors and correlates with enhanced tumor cell proliferation and invasiveness 6. In breast cancer cells, GALR1 upregulation promotes proliferation and migration through PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathway activation 7. Conversely, common genetic variants in GALR1 do not contribute significantly to early-onset obesity 8.

Sources cited
1
GALR1 belongs to G protein-coupled receptor superfamily with widespread CNS/PNS distribution
PMID: 15944002
2
GALR1 expressed in ~19% of locus coeruleus norepinephrine neurons; GalR1 agonists inhibit up to ~35% of NE neurons directly
PMID: 37487094
3
GALR1 variants associated with protective effect against nicotine dependence; galanin system modulates nicotine reward and withdrawal
PMID: 21796100
4
GALR2 (not GALR1) knockout increases atrial fibrillation susceptibility via CREB phosphorylation and KCNJ2/SLN upregulation
PMID: 38726666
5
Increased GALR1 promotes hepatic lipid accumulation through PI3K/AKT/SREBP1 pathway; GALR1 antagonism reduces dyslipidemia in circadian dysrhythmia
PMID: 37422471
6
Reduced GALR1 expression is a biomarker for invasive non-functional pituitary tumors and promotes tumor cell proliferation/invasiveness
PMID: 40024300
7
GALR1 upregulated in breast cancer cells; downregulation decreases proliferation and migration via PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways
PMID: 40032112
8
Common GALR1 genetic variants do not significantly contribute to early-onset obesity or dietary fat intake
PMID: 15930442
Disease Associationsⓘ20
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.53Moderate
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.40Weak
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.34Weak
iron metabolism diseaseOpen Targets
0.30Weak
secondary malignant neoplasmOpen Targets
0.28Weak
pericarditisOpen Targets
0.25Weak
nephritisOpen Targets
0.23Weak
NephropathyOpen Targets
0.23Weak
Abruptio PlacentaeOpen Targets
0.23Weak
DNA methylationOpen Targets
0.20Weak
cataractOpen Targets
0.19Weak
spontaneous coronary artery dissectionOpen Targets
0.19Weak
strictureOpen Targets
0.19Weak
exostosisOpen Targets
0.19Weak
KeloidOpen Targets
0.19Weak
metabolic syndrome XOpen Targets
0.19Weak
osteitis deformansOpen Targets
0.18Weak
hemolytic anemiaOpen Targets
0.17Weak
joint diseaseOpen Targets
0.15Weak
clavicle fractureOpen Targets
0.15Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
GNAI1Protein interaction99%OPRM1Protein interaction97%GALR3Protein interaction91%HTR1AProtein interaction91%GNB1Protein interaction83%GNG2Protein interaction82%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Heart
13%
Ovary
7%
Liver
4%
Lung
2%
Bone Marrow
2%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GALR1GNAI1OPRM1GALR3HTR1AGNB1GNG2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7WQ3 · 2.70 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.98LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.04Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.54 [0.32–0.98]
RankingsWhere GALR1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #8,811of 20,598
    Most Researched50
  • #9,390of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.98
Genes detectedGALR1
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Spexin Diminishes Atrial Fibrillation Vulnerability by Acting on Galanin Receptor 2.
PMID: 38726666
Circulation · 2024
1.00
2
Galanin receptor ligands.
PMID: 15944002
Neuropeptides · 2005
0.90
3
Neuronal diversity of neuropeptide signaling, including galanin, in the mouse locus coeruleus.
PMID: 37487094
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2023
0.80
4
The neuropeptide galanin and variants in the GalR1 gene are associated with nicotine dependence.
PMID: 21796100
Neuropsychopharmacology · 2011
0.70
5
Alleviation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri in polycystic ovary syndrome protects against circadian dysrhythmia-induced dyslipidemia via capric acid and GALR1 signaling.
PMID: 37422471
NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes · 2023
0.60