X-ray laser brings cellular messengers into focus
Friday, May 10, 2013 - 08:00
in Health & Medicine
Last year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry – shared by Stanford School of Medicine Professor Brian Kobilka and Robert Lefkowitz of Duke University – recognized groundbreaking research in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are embedded in cell membranes. They interact with signaling molecules outside of cells and trigger responses within cells. Because of their key role in the body's chemical messaging network, they are also a prime target for developing drugs to treat many diseases; hypertension, asthma, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease are among the afflictions associated with GPCR disorders.