Prof. Brian Kobilka M.D

“G-Protein-Coupled-Receptors”

In this lecture, the Nobel prize winner Prof. Kobilka gives us an insight into the family of G -Protein-Coupled-Receptors (GPCR), the largest family of cell surface receptors. Given the role in regulation of all aspects of human physiology GPCR are the main target of today’s pharmaceuticals. He will discuss approaches to characterize the structure and mechanistic activation of GPCR at molecular level.

Research in the Kobilka Lab is focused on G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of membrane bound receptors that mediate the majority of physiologic responses to hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as the senses of sight, smell and taste. They apply a range of structural and biophysical methods to study the mechanism of  transmembrane signaling by GPCRs. High resolution structures obtained by crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy have captured several GPCRs in inactive and active states, while fluorescence, EPR and NMR spectroscopy reveal the dynamic behavior of receptors as they transition between these states. The lab is interested in developing structure-based approaches to facilitate drug discovery.