G protein coupled receptors (GPCR) regulate a diverse array of intracellular signaling

cascades in response to hormones, neurotransmitters, ions, photons, odorants and other stimuli. As such, they play an essential role in physiology and disease and represent attractive drug targets. Currently, approximately 30-50% of drugs on the market target GPCRs, making them one of the most attractive membrane receptors.

Activation of GPCRs initiates signaling through heterotrimeric G proteins, as well as through G-protein independent pathways. The main goal of our lab is to understand molecular mechanism of GPCR signalling transduction. Now, we are using protein engineering, X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM and NMR to study the structure and pharmacology of molecules involved in central nervous system (CNS) disease.