BMI/PRISM Combined Seminar Series

Thursday December 4th

Room: GB06/ZOOM

Time: 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Presenter: Dr. Christopher Tate, Ph.D 

 "G protein coupled receptors: a billion years of diversification"

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are found throughout the animal kingdom where they play pivotal roles in sensing the environment and in intercellular signalling. In fungi, GPCRs evolved to sense chemicals in the environment and this has evolved into the complex sensing systems in mammals. In humans there are about 800 GPCRs, with about half being odorant receptors and the other half sensing signalling molecules such as hormones and neurotransmitters. The prevalence of GPCRs on the surface of our cells and the pivotal roles they play in intercellular communication has led to GPCRs being the most successful of all drug targets, with 36% of all FDA-approved drugs targeting GPCRs and many more undergoing clinical trials.

 Structural biology has played a key role in understanding the molecular mechanisms of GPCR activation, a process initiated upon the binding of an agonist such as adrenaline and leading through a series of conformational changes until ultimately G proteins and/or arrestin become activated. In my talk I will describe the structures we have determined by X-ray crystallography and electron cryomicroscpy (cryo-EM) and the molecular insights into the pharmacology and biochemistry of receptors from yeast to mammals.

 

 

Next BMI/PRISM Combined Seminar

Thrusday January 8th

 Presenter: Dr. Michael Wozny, Ph.D - Assistant Professor U of S

 

 

 

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