G protein coupled receptors receive this name since they act basically associating to a family of heterotrimeric proteins, the so called G proteins which are composed of alpha, beta and gamma subunits and which have the ability to join and hydrolyze GTP 3.
Los receptores acoplados a proteínas G son denominados así porque ejercen su acción fundamentalmente asociándose a una familia de proteínas heterotriméricas formadas por subunidades alfa, beta y gama que tienen la capacidad de unir e hidrolizar GTP 3.