Layara Abiko
Associate Professor in Structural and Molecular Pharmacology
Based at UCL
G Protein-Coupled Receptors in Action
We investigate the molecular mechanisms of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling. GPCRs are the largest family of membrane receptors in humans, regulating essential physiological processes such as vision, immunity, metabolism, and neurotransmission. They are also major drug targets, accounting for more than 30% of marketed medicines, yet we still do not fully understand how they convert ligand binding into specific cellular responses.
To address this, we combine integrative structural biology, biochemistry, and cellular approaches. We are particularly interested in allosteric regulation, the discovery of new binding sites, and biased signalling. By linking molecular mechanisms to cellular outcomes, our work aims to support the development of next-generation therapeutics with improved specificity and reduced side effects.
Selected publications
- Petrovic, I., Tatli, M., Desai, S., Dongchun, N., Stahlberg, H., Spang, A., Grzesiek, S.*, Abiko, A.* Arrestin recognizes GPCRs independently of the receptor state. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (2025).
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2501487122
- Abiko, A.#*, Teixeira, R. D.#, Engilberge, S., Grahl, A., Grzesiek, S.* Filling of a water-free void explains the allosteric regulation of the β1-adrenergic receptor by cholesterol. Nature Chemistry, 14, 1133–1141 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-022-01009-9
- Abiko, L. A., Grahl, A., Grzesiek, S. High pressure shifts the β1-adrenergic receptor to the active conformation in the absence of G protein. Am. Chem. Soc. 141, 16663–16670 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b06042
List of publications in pubmed
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=abiko+layara