Adriano Marchese

A large number of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate signal transduction pathways essential for regulating metabolism. G protein signaling via several GPCRs regulates metabolism by acting on pancreatic beta cells and in other tissues, such a skeletal muscle or the CNS. Upon binding to their cognate ligands GPCRs transduce signals via heterotrimeric G proteins to several effector molecules to illicit a cellular or physiological response. To ensure signals are of the appropriate magnitude and duration, signaling is tightly regulated at multiple steps of the signaling cascade, including at the level of the G protein. Research in my lab addresses the molecular mechanisms that govern this regulation of GPCR signaling. We use mostly cellular model systems using integrated approaches comprising cell and molecular biology, biophysical, imaging and biochemical techniques.