Cheng Zhang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine
Date: Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Time: 12:30pm
Location: Laufer Center Lecture Hall 101
Title: “Toward precise control of GPCR signaling: Structural mechanisms and ligand discovery”
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate diverse physiological processes and are major therapeutic targets. My lab combines cryo-EM, cell-based pharmacology, and computational modeling to define the molecular mechanisms of ligand recognition and receptor signaling. In this talk, I will discuss diverse modes of orthosteric ligand recognition and conserved features of receptor activation, with particular emphasis on allosteric regulation. Our recent studies reveal distinct cytoplasmic allosteric sites and provide insight into how modulators influence receptor conformations and signaling selectivity. I will also present our efforts to translate structural insights into new GPCR ligands. Together, these studies connect receptor mechanisms with ligand discovery to develop chemical probes and potential therapeutic leads for more selective control of GPCR signaling.
Co-hosted by : Ivet Bahar, Director, Laufer Center for Physical & Quantitative Biology, and Diego Restrepo, Professor and Chair, Physiology & Biophysics Department
