Faculty expertise and interests - University of Santiago de Compostela

Castro, Marián

Biomedicine/Molecular Pharmacology

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Full name: CASTRO PEREZ, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES

Department: Farmacoloxía, Farmacia e Tecnoloxía Farmacéutica

Position: Titular Universidade - Total (A0504)(FC_NI)(C08)

Phone: +34 881815457 (office) +34881815458 (lab)

Personal URL: https://www.usc.es/cimus/en/staff/main-researchers

Email: Show Email

Research group: Bioloxía de membranas e mecanismos de transducción de sinais en farmacoloxía aplicada. (GI-1685)

Researcher IDs: ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4732-1966
WOK Researcher ID: K-5747-2014
Scopus Author ID: 13402994300
Research website ID: 58628

Description:

Description

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for more than 40% of all currently prescribed drugs, although only 10% of the non-olfactory GPCRs in the human genome are targeted by current drugs, and we still ignore the endogenous ligands and physiological functions of several GPCRs. Recent studies unveil certain molecular aspects of GPCR pharmacology such as agonist-directed signaling, GPCR oligomerization and allosterism or ligand residence time at the receptor binding site as determinants for the diversity, specificity, and spatio-temporal course of the GPCR cellular signaling. In our group, we are interested on these critical aspects of the functionality of particular GPCRs relevant in psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia or depression as well as the impact of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other genetic variants on GPCR function. We aim to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of these membrane receptors as well as their interest as biomarkers of altered receptor function in disease or therapeutic response. This research is carried out in close collaboration with other national and international research groups in the areas of genetics of psychiatric illnesses, medicinal chemistry and bioinformatics. Our group also has being participating to different extent in collaborative projects involving other academic research groups and pharmaceutical companies in the field of early Drug Discovery.

Research Expertise and Interest:

Research Expertise and Interest
- Molecular pharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) relevant in complex psychiatric illnesses.
- Advanced light microscopy and biomolecular imaging applied to the study of therapeutic targets and active molecules.
- Drug target validation and mechanisms of action of molecules active on therapeutic targets.
- New technologies applied to early phases of Drug Discovery.

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Faculty expertise and interests - University of Santiago de Compostela – Galicia

Castro, Marián