Research

We are pursuing a number of projects designed to understand the key pathways that regulate glucagon receptor family signal compartmentalisation at the molecular level. 

Some of our current projects include:

• Identification of the main endocytic trafficking pathways that control subcellular GLP-1 receptor signalling in pancreatic beta cells
• Control of GLP-1 receptor trafficking and signalling by modified (including biased) agonists
• The role of β arrestin-2 in the spatiotemporal control of incretin receptor signalling in vivo
• Mechanisms of GLP-1 receptor plasma membrane diffusion, clustering and segregation to lipid nanodomains
• Study of GLP-1 receptor post-translational modifications, including agonist-induced receptor palmitoylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation
• Regulation of beta cell GLP-1 receptor responses by the lipid microenvironment, including identification of cholesterol and other lipid binding sites  
• Differences in spatiotemporal regulation of signalling of GLP-1 receptor versus GIP receptor
• GLP-1 receptor signalling at ER-mitochondria membrane contact sites
• Tissue selectivity of GLP-1 receptor agonist responses in neurons versus pancreas
• Analysis of changes in spatiotemporal signalling and agonist responses associated with the GLP-1 receptor genetic variant rs10305492
• Mass spectrometry-based analysis of the GLP-1R interactome
• Analysis of GIPR genetic variants in pancreatic islets
• Mechanisms of lipid handling by the GLP-1 receptor in beta cells and the glucagon receptor in hepatocytes