Endocrine Abstracts

The D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) known to have key roles in neurotransmission, hypothalamic-pituitary hormone release and glucose homeostasis. Thus, this receptor is a therapeutic target in schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders, endocrine tumours and even diabetes. As for many GPCRs, D2R can associate with itself as homodimers or heterodimers with distinct receptors. The balance between monomers, homodimers and heterodimers of D2R has ...

The spatial organisation of receptors at the macro and micro-scale is critical for the tight regulation of cell signalling, including signalling activated by the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). To study these processes, a range of imaging techniques have been employed including an increasing application of super-resolution microscopy to image receptor activity beyond the diffraction limit of light. In this session, I will highlight the experimental and imag...

An archetypal view of GPCR signalling depicts cell surface localized receptors activating specific heterotrimeric G-protein signal pathways, which in turn converge on to common downstream pathways. How such signals are translated into the highly diverse cellular and physiological responses that are controlled by this superfamily of receptors has been a long-standing biological question. This question has driven our more current understanding of the complexity of these receptor...

Many PhD graduates will pursue a postdoctoral training position, most commonly in an academic laboratory. What can you expect from this period in your career? Do you need to go abroad to do a postdoc? What could/should you do to benefit the most of this time? And how can you use your time as a postdoc to help you with your career path once you leave?I recall being very excited about beginning my postdoc and leaving the ‘PhD nest’. I trained and...

The anorectic gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and Peptide YY (PYY) are secreted by enteroendocrine L cells in response to short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota following dietary fibre consumption. SCFAs, acetate, propionate and butyrate, activate the G protein-coupled receptors Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 and 3 (FFAR2, FFAR3). Increasing intestinal levels of propionate can prevent weight gain in overweight adults. In rodents, FFAR2-mediated gut...

The LH receptor (LHR) is essential for mediating multiple functions in reproduction and pregnancy. LHR belongs to the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that impacts nearly every aspect of human physiology and pathophysiology. Membrane trafficking is a critical mechanism for cells to decode complex signalling networks into specific downstream responses, including the signalling pathways activated by GPCRs. A detailed molecular description of GPCR trafficking is...

Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by progressive external ophthalmoplegia, pigmentary retinopathy, together with cardiac conduction defects, muscle abnormalities and endocrinopathies such as growth hormone deficiency (GHD), diabetes and hypoparathyroidism.We present a 2 years 9 months-old boy with clinical and biochemical diagnosis of KSS and GHD. He was referred with failure-to-thrive. He was born at term from healthy...

Prokineticin receptors (PKR1 and PKR2) are GPCRs that belong to neuropeptide Y receptor class. They exert their biological functions binding two structurally related peptides (Bv8 or PK2 and EG-VEGF orr PK1). Intensive research over the past few years has shown that PKs/PKRs signalling modulates neuronal survival and neurogenesis, hypothalamic hormone secretion, nociception, circadian rhythm and complex behaviours, such as feeding and drinking. It also promotes angiogenesis in...

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of signaling receptors in nature. Their diversity means they play key physiological roles and their dysfunction underlies many pathological conditions, thus they are the focus of many drug design programs due to their primary biological and clinical importance. Our objective is to understand the fundamental mechanisms regulating hormone signaling via GPCRs. Disruption of GPCRs regulation in humans underlies many ...

Lactate is a metabolite that activates the G-protein coupled receptor, Hydroxycarboxylic acid Receptor 1 (HCAR1) to regulate physiological processes such as lipolysis, cancer cell survival, and neuroprotection. Lactate exists in two forms, L+ and D-, with the L isoform predominant in the human body. Interestingly, both isoforms are only found together in the gastrointestinal tract. L-lactate is synthesised as a by-product of anaerobic respiration, whereas D-lactate, is a produ...