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Results found for "Stephen S G Ferguson"

  • Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Approaches to Anti-Fibrotic ...

    Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Hepatic Stellate Cells and Approaches to Anti-Fibrotic Treatment G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface receptors that mediate the function of a great variety

  • Accelerating GPCR Drug Discovery

    Why I Started GPCR Consulting You've got great data. You've got brilliant scientists. But your GPCR program still isn't moving at the pace it should. I've seen this pattern unfold across biotech, academia, and nonprofits. The assays are running, data is flowing in from your CROs or your internal labs , yet progress stalls. Decisions are slow, crucial data is siloed, and despite everyone working hard, programs drift. For over two decades, my work has centered on GPCR pharmacology . In every role and sector, I found myself drawn to the same critical challenges: missed opportunities, misaligned systems, and promising programs stalling despite strong science. I was always the one identifying what could be improved: The essential structure that was missing. The clarity that was desperately lacking. The unnecessary friction that slowed everything down. Traditional roles rarely gave me the freedom to implement these changes at the scale needed. So, I created a new path—one that allows me to embed, optimize, and accelerate GPCR programs from the inside out. The GPCR Data Dilemma: The Lego Bucket Problem I've seen promising GPCR programs generate massive volumes of high-quality data. But without structure, it's just a messy pile of colored blocks. I call this the Lego Bucket Problem . You have the data, but not the definitive direction. This disconnect frequently leads to: Underperforming assays. Internal data and CRO outputs  misaligned with strategic goals. Delays in critical go/no-go decisions. Frustrated teams and slipping timelines. It's not just a scientific issue—it's an operational one. You can't move fast without clarity, and you can't make confident decisions without robust structure. My Approach: Biology, Execution, Systems My consulting approach uniquely blends deep pharmacology expertise with the operational discipline required to make that expertise actionable. Here's how I bring a fresh perspective: Biology-First, Data-Driven Strategy:  I help you focus on the science that truly matters. We cut through the noise, elevate what's working, and strategically solve what's not, ensuring your GPCR program stays on target. Embedded Execution:  I work alongside your team—not above it. I'll help write CRO scopes, meticulously review assay data, flag risks early, and keep your programs relentlessly on track. Systems That Drive Progress:  From assay tracking to data workflows, I design simple, scalable tools that surface insights early and dramatically reduce delays, transforming your data into actionable intelligence. A Broader Lens: Dr. GPCR As the co-founder of Dr. GPCR, we've built a global hub connecting over 1,300 GPCR scientists dedicated to this field. These ongoing conversations keep me on the front lines, sharpening my understanding of the common bottlenecks and evolving needs across the entire GPCR community. My Consulting Philosophy This practice is built on three core values: Scientific Integrity:  Every recommendation is grounded in real-world evidence and extensive experience. Operational Discipline:  Robust systems and clear structure aren't "nice to have"—they are absolutely essential for efficient progress. Collaborative Partnership:  I embed, contribute, and build solutions hand-in-hand with your team. Ready to Move Your GPCR Program Forward? If you're navigating a stuck GPCR program, planning your next crucial milestone, or struggling to gain clarity from complex data, I'd love to help. 📌 Learn more about my services: Yamina.org 📅 Book a 30-minute strategy call: https://calendly.com/drgpcr/yamina-corner

  • Odorant G protein-coupled receptors as potential therapeutic targets for adult diffuse gliomas ...

    Odorant G protein-coupled receptors as potential therapeutic targets for adult diffuse gliomas: a systematic analysis and review Odorant receptors (ORs) account for about 60% of all human G protein-coupled receptors

  • A cryptic mode of GPCR regulation revealed

    October 2022 "Over three decades of research have provided thorough insights into G protein-coupled receptor Agonist activation of the β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR) causes its S-nitrosylation that is required for the Eliminating β2AR S-nitrosylation by mutation of C265 augments β2AR protein kinase A signaling, enables

  • Inversago Pharma appoints Glenn S. Vraniak as Chief Financial Officer

    biotech company with a unique portfolio of CB1 inverse agonists, today announces the appointment of Glenn S. Vraniak served as Chief Financial Officer of Evaxion Biotech A/S, an AI enabled immuno-oncology company

  • Constitutive, Basal, and β-Alanine-Mediated Activation of the Human Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled ..

    Constitutive, Basal, and β-Alanine-Mediated Activation of the Human Mas-Related G Protein-Coupled Receptor D Induces Release of the Inflammatory Cytokine IL-6 and Is Dependent on NF-κB Signaling G protein-coupled Members of the Mas-related G protein coupled receptors (MRGPRs), a subfamily of GPCRs, are largely expressed However, involvement of the human Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor D (MRGPRD) in the regulation

  • Single-molecule counting applied to the study of GPCR oligomerization

    Consider G-protein-coupled receptors-an expansive class of transmembrane signaling proteins that participate on the potential for these techniques to advance our understanding of the role of oligomerization in G-protein-coupled

  • Structural basis of GPCR coupling to distinct signal transducers: implications for biased signaling

    August 2022 "Three classes of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) partners - G proteins, GPCR kinases,

  • Orthosteric Binding Experiments: How to Avoid the Most Common Data Pitfalls

    After a ligand binds, the receptor may transition further—often via G protein coupling. When G proteins are abundant, curves look clean because every receptor–ligand complex can couple. When receptor levels rise or G proteins become limiting, the system becomes stoichiometrically constrained Clues that point to true multiple-site binding rather than two-stage GPCR biology: Disrupting G protein Changing receptor expression or G protein levels does not  remove curve heterogeneity.

  • Interacting binding insights and conformational consequences of the differential activity of...

    conformational consequences of the differential activity of cannabidiol with two endocannabinoid-activated G-protein-coupled to modulate different receptors in the endocannabinoid system, some of which belong to the family of G-protein-coupled investigate the interacting determinants of CBD in two closely related endocannabinoid-activated GPCRs, the G-protein-coupled

  • Structure-Based Discovery of Negative Allosteric Modulators of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5

    October 2022 "Recently determined structures of class C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) revealed

  • Activation of GPR183 by 7 α,25-Dihydroxycholesterol Induces Behavioral Hypersensitivity through...

    through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Nuclear Factor- κ B "Emerging evidence implicates the G-protein

  • Successful prednisolone or calcimimetic treatment of acquired hypocalciuric hypercalcemia caused...

    This emphasizes the importance of the Gi/o (pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins, whose βγ subunits activate (f) the presence of CaSR autoantibodies that operated as biased allosteric modulators of CaSR, and (g)

  • Comparative studies of AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold and Modeller: a case study involving the use of...

    2022 Comparative studies of AlphaFold, RoseTTAFold and Modeller: a case study involving the use of G-protein-coupled G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) proteins are particularly interesting since they are involved in numerous

  • New structural perspectives in G protein-coupled receptor-mediated Src family kinase activation

    Excited to hear Dr. Sandra Berndt talk about new structural perspectives in GPCR-mediated Src family kinase activation. Register here (FREE) https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/dr-gpcr-virtual-cafe #drgpcr #gpcr #virtualcafe

  • Structural basis for receptor selectivity and inverse agonism in S1P5 receptors

    September 2022 "The bioactive lysophospholipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) acts via five different subtypes of S1P receptors (S1PRs) - S1P1-5. S1P5 is predominantly expressed in nervous and immune systems, regulating the egress of natural killer cells from lymph nodes and playing a role in immune and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as carcinogenesis. Several S1PR therapeutic drugs have been developed to treat these diseases; however, they lack receptor subtype selectivity, which leads to side effects. In this article, we describe a 2.2 Å resolution room temperature crystal structure of the human S1P5 receptor in complex with a selective inverse agonist determined by serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-Ray Free Electron Laser (PAL-XFEL) and analyze its structure-activity relationship data. The structure demonstrates a unique ligand-binding mode, involving an allosteric sub-pocket, which clarifies the receptor subtype selectivity and provides a template for structure-based drug design. Together with previously published S1PR structures in complex with antagonists and agonists, our structure with S1P5-inverse agonist sheds light on the activation mechanism and reveals structural determinants of the inverse agonism in the S1PR family." Read more at the source #DrGPCR #GPCR #IndustryNews

  • Dr. Alexander S. Hauser receives the Bachem award for peptide science

    November 2021 Read more at the source #DrGPCR #GPCR #IndustryNews

  • The regulation of PKA signaling in obesity and in the maintenance of metabolic health

    PKA facilitates the actions of hormones, neurotransmitters and other signaling molecules that bind G-protein

  • Isoforms of GPR35 have distinct extracellular N-termini that allosterically modify...

    receptor-transducer coupling and mediate intracellular pathway bias "Within the intestine, the human G isoforms for constitutive and ligand-induced activation and signaling of 10 different heterotrimeric G Our results reveal that the extended N-terminus of the long isoform limits G protein activation yet elevates

  • Function and structure of bradykinin receptor 2 for drug discovery

    October 2022 "Type 2 bradykinin receptor (B2R) is an essential G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that

  • Mechanistic Understanding of the Palmitoylation of Go Protein in the Allosteric Regulation of...

    the Palmitoylation of Go Protein in the Allosteric Regulation of Adhesion Receptor GPR97 "Adhesion G-protein-coupled

  • GPR108 is required for gambogic acid inhibiting NF-κB signaling in cancer

    September 2022 "GPCRs are the most potential targets for drug discovery, however, their role in oncology is underappreciated and GPCR-based anti-cancer drug is not fully investigated. Herein, we identified GPR108, a GPCR protein described in innate immune system, is a potential therapeutic target of cancer. Depletion of GPR108 dramatically inhibited the survival of various cancers. Notably, TNFα activation of NF-κB was totally impaired after GPR108 knockout. We identified gambogic acid (GA), a natural prenylated xanthone, selectively targeting GPR108. Importantly, GA engaged with GPR108 and promoted its degradation, knockout of GPR108 remarkably blocked GA inhibition of NF-κB signaling. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that GA was dependent on GPR108 to exert anti-cancer activity. Overall, our findings supported GPR108 as a promising therapeutic target of cancer, and provided a small molecule inhibitor GA directly and selectively targeting GPR108 for cancer therapy." Read more at the source #DrGPCR #GPCR #IndustryNews

  • Case Report of a Juvenile Patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder with a Novel Combination of Copy...

    One of the CNVs is located on chromosome 4q13.1 in the region of the gene encoding for adhesion G protein-coupled

  • Mechanistic basis of GPCR activation explored by ensemble refinement of crystallographic structures

    October 2022 "G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important drug targets characterized by a canonical

  • Coordinated transcriptomics and peptidomics of central nervous system identify neuropeptides and ...

    Coordinated transcriptomics and peptidomics of central nervous system identify neuropeptides and their G Neuropeptides and their specific receptors (primarily G protein-coupled receptors, GPCRs) regulate multiple Here, we generated a transcriptome of the central nervous system (CNS) of G. molesta. Using peptidomic analysis of CNS of G. molesta, we identified total of 28 mature peptides and precursor-related determine physiological functions and pharmacological characterization of neuropeptides and their GPCRs in G.

  • Allosteric modulation of GPCRs: From structural insights to in silico drug discovery

    October 2022 "G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play critical roles in human physiology and are one

  • Coincident Regulation of PLCβ Signaling by Gq-Coupled and μOpioid Receptors Opposes Opioid- Mediated

    October 2022 Coincident Regulation of PLCβ Signaling by Gq-Coupled and μOpioid Receptors Opposes Opioid- Mediated Antinociception "Pain management is a significant problem worldwide. The current frontline approach for pain-management is the use of opioid analgesics. The primary analgesic target of opioids is the μ-opioid receptor (MOR). Deletion of phospholipase Cβ3 (PLCβ3), or selective inhibition of Gβγ regulation of PLCβ3, enhances the potency of the antinociceptive effects of morphine suggesting a novel strategy for achieving opioid sparing effects. Here we investigated a potential mechanism for regulation of PLC signaling downstream of MOR in HEK293 cells and found that MOR alone could not stimulate PLC, but rather required a coincident signal from a Gq coupled receptor. Knockout of PLCβ3, or pharmacological inhibition of its upstream regulators, Gβγ or Gq, ex vivo in periaqueductal gray (PAG) slices increased the potency of the selective MOR agonist DAMGO in inhibiting presynaptic GABA release. Finally, inhibition of Gq-GPCR coupling in mice enhanced the antinociceptive effects of morphine. These data support a model where Gq and Gβγ-dependent signaling cooperatively regulate PLC activation to decrease MOR-dependent antinociceptive potency. Ultimately this could lead to identification of new non-MOR targets that would allow for lower dose utilization of opioid analgesics. " Read more at the source #DrGPCR #GPCR #IndustryNews Subscribe to the Newsletter HERE

  • Rescue of Cell Surface Expression and Signaling of Mutant Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptors

    Mutations in G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) underlie numerous diseases.

  • Use of CRISPR/Cas9-edited HEK293 cells reveals that both conventional and novel protein kinase C...

    novel protein kinase C isozymes are involved in mGlu5a receptor internalization "The internalization of G

  • Structural perspectives on the mechanism of signal activation, ligand selectivity and allosteric...

    October 2022 Structural perspectives on the mechanism of signal activation, ligand selectivity and allosteric modulation in angiotensin receptors: IUPHAR Review 34 "Functional advances have guided our knowledge of physiological and fatal pathological mechanisms of the hormone angiotensin II (AngII) and its antagonists. Such studies revealed that tissue response to a given dose of the hormone or its antagonist depends on receptors that engage the ligand. Thus, we need to know much more about the structures of receptor-ligand complexes at high resolution. Recently, X-ray structures of both AngII receptors (AT1 and AT2 receptors) bound to peptide and non-peptide ligands have been elucidated, providing new opportunities to examine the dynamic fluxes in the 3D architecture of the receptors, as the basis of ligand selectivity, efficacy, and regulation of the molecular functions of the receptors. Constituent structural motifs cooperatively transform ligand selectivity into specific functions, thus conceptualizing the primacy of the 3D structure over individual motifs of receptors. This review covers the new data elucidating the structural dynamics of AngII receptors and how structural knowledge can be transformative in understanding the mechanisms underlying the physiology of AngII." Read more at the source #DrGPCR #GPCR #IndustryNews

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