Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs) at University of Leeds on FindAPhD.com

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Dr D Donnelly Applications accepted all year round Self-Funded PhD Students Only

About the Project

The laboratory studies the structure & function of G protein-coupled receptors - one of the most diverse and ubiquitous families of integral membrane proteins. GPCRs play a pivotal role in many cellular signalling pathways and are prime targets for the development of therapeutic agents designed to either block or activate the receptors.

The aim of this laboratory is to elucidate the mechanism by which these receptors bind their ligands and transduce the signal across the plasma membrane. The research in my lab concentrates primarily on the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and the parathyroid hormone.

Techniques include all general recombinant DNA work (subcloning, DNA preps, site-directed mutagenesis), transfection of mammalian cells, cell culture & stable cell line generation, radioligand binding assays, 384-well plate-based cell signalling assays.

Funding Notes

Candidates need to be able to fund their fees, living expenses and also their bench fees (£6K pa)

References

Donnelly D The structure and function of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and its ligands. Br J Pharmacol 166 27-41, 2012
DOI:10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01687.x

Weaver RE; Wigglesworth MJ; Donnelly D A salt bridge between Arg-20 on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Asp-137 on the PTH1receptor is essential for full affinity Peptides 61 83-87, 2014
DOI:10.1016/j.peptides.2014.09.004

Ravichandran S; Singh N; Donnelly D; Migliore M; Johnson P; Fishwick C; Luke BT; Martin B; Maudsley S; Fugmann SD; Moaddel R Pharmacophore model of the quercetin binding site of the SIRT6 protein. J Mol Graph Model 49 38-46, 2014
DOI:10.1016/j.jmgm.2014.01.004

Al-Sabah S; Al-Fulaij M; Shaaban G; Ahmed HA; Mann RJ; Donnelly D; Bünemann M; Krasel C The GIP receptor displays higher basal activity than the GLP-1 receptor but does not recruit GRK2 or arrestin3 effectively. PLoS One 9 e106890-, 2014
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0106890

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University of Leeds

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Molecular Pharmacology of G Protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs)

University of Leeds Faculty of Biological Sciences