G protein-coupled receptors take Nobel Prize

Brian K. Kobilka and Robert J. Lefkowitz have won this year’s chemistry Nobel for their work "crucial for understanding how G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) function". GPCRs are membrane proteins that are involved in a broad range of biological processes, and a large number of clinically used drugs elicit their biological effect(s) via a GPCR. Structural information about GPCRs was very limited until 2007, and papers describing new GPCR structures and previously unseen conformational states have dramatically increased in the past few years. In this online special, we present a selection of recently published Nature papers that involve the structures of various GPCRs.

11 October 2012

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Nature Outlook: Physics Masterclass

From subatomic particles to cosmic-scale phenomena, Nature Outlook: Physics Masterclass uses The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting 2012 to launch an examination of some of the biggest breakthroughs in physics — including conversations between physics laureates and the young researchers who hope to emulate them.

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11 October 2012

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