G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)

Group leaders:

Jarmo T. Laitinen, PhD, Docent, Senior research associate (Physiology) and
Juha R. Savinainen, PhD, Senior research associate (Physiology)

GPCRs represent the largest group of integral membrane proteins involved in signal transduction and are an important family of established drug targets. In addition to their well-established role in neuronal, hormonal and sensory transduction, GPCR signaling is being increasingly implicated in the migration and invasiveness of cancer cells. Intriguingly, many GPCRs remain currently orphans, i.e. the endogenous ligands acting through these receptors have not been identified. In the postgenomic era, pairing of orphan receptors with their cognate ligands remains a challenging task, and in addition to the reverse pharmacological approach, novel innovative strategies are needed to facilitate these efforts.

Major Research Topics:

By the use of powerful functional approach of [35S]GTPγS autoradiography in combination with sophisticated and sensitive analytical techniques, our research aims at disclosing novel membrane-derived GPCR activating lipid mediators, such as endocannabinoids and lysophospholipids. The recently discovered endocannabinoid system consists of at least two GPCRs, their endogenous ligands (the endocannabinoids) and several metabolic enzymes. Our current research is focussing on the enzymatic machinery involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the lipid mediators both in native tissues and mammalian cell lines.

Selected publications: