Patrick Sexton  一键邀请

PatrickSexton,ProfessorofMonashUniversity,Melbourne,AustraliaInthelastfiveyearsProfessorPatrickSextonandcolleagueshavebegununravellingthecomplexitiesofdrugactionthatcouldrevolutionisepharmaceuticaldrugdesignTheirprofoundnewknowledgeofthecomplexinteractionsoccurringonthesurfaceofthebody'scellschallengestraditionalviewsofhowmedicineswork,andcouldleadtotreatmentssoprecisetheycanbetailoredtoindividualpatientsWorkingwithintheMonashInstituteofPharmaceuticalScience,Patrickisuncoveringthesecretsofthelargestfamilyofcellsurfacereceptors:Gprotein-coupledreceptors(GPCRs)Thesereceptorsallowcommunicationbetweenwhatmovesaroundthebodytoinsidecells,andarethelargestdrugtargetfamilyinthehumangenomeTheestablishedapproachtodrugdesignwasbasedonabeliefthatallpathwaysactivatedbyareceptorwouldbeaffectedequallybydrugs,withinvestigationsofdrugactionlimitedtoasinglesignallingpathwayHowever,Patrick'sresearchhasdiscoveredthereisfarmoregoingonatthecellsurfaceReceptoractivityisfarbroaderthanpreviouslyunderstoodMostreceptorsarenowknowntoactivatemultiplepathwaysFurthercomplicatingtheprocess,individualdrugsactingatthesamereceptorcausedifferentactivityThisunderstandingcreatesthepotentialtodevelopdrugsthatselectivelyactivatebeneficialpathwaysanddon'tactivatesignalsthatarelessbeneficialandleadtoside-effects