Dr Gary Willars

G-protein-coupled receptor signalling and regulation – current interests are focussed on neuromedin U receptors and the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, where we are exploring aspects including ligand bias, novel ligands, interactions between allosteric and othosteric ligands and factors influencing receptor recycling and re-sensitisation.

Varadarajan, S., Tanaka, K., Smalley, J.L., Bampton, E.T.W., Pellecchia, M., Dinsdale, D., Willars, G.B. and Cohen, G.M. (2013) Endoplasmic reticulum membrane reorganization is regulated by ionic homeostasis. PLoS ONE 8(2): e56603. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056603

Tovey, S.C., Brighton, P.J., Bampton, E.T.W., Huang, Y. and Willars, G.B. (2013) Confocal microscopy: theory and applications for cellular signaling In: Methods in Molecular Biology Vol. 937: Calcium Signaling Protocols 3rd Ed. (Lambert D.G. and Rainbow R. eds.) Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ. pp. 51-93.

Li, N., Lu, J. and Willars, G.B. (2012) Allosteric modulation of the activity of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) metabolite GLP-1 9-36 amide at the GLP-1 receptor. PLoS ONE 7 e47936 1-10

Selway, J., Rigatti, R., Storey, N., Lu, J., Willars, G.B. and Herbert, T.P. (2011) Evidence that Ca2+ within the microdomain of the L-type voltage gated Ca2+ channel activates ERK in MIN6-cells in response to glucagon-like peptide-1. PLoS ONE 7 e330004 1-10

Coopman, K., Wallis, R., Robb, G., Brown, A., Wilkinson, G.F., Timms, D. and Willars, G.B. (2011) Residues within the transmembrane domain of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor involved in ligand binding and receptor activation: modelling the ligand-bound receptor. Molecular Endocrinology 25, 1804-1818.

Xie, J., Ponuwei, G.A., Moore, C.E., Willars, G.B., Tee, A.R. and Herbert T.P. (2011) cAMP inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin complex-1 and -2 (mTORC1 and 2) by promoting complex dissociation and inhibiting mTOR kinase activity. Cellular Signalling 23, 1927-1935

Moore, C.E., Omikorede, O., Gomez, E., Willars, G.B. and Herbert, T.P. (2011) PERK Activation at low glucose concentration is mediated by SERCA pump inhibition and confers preemptive cytoprotection to pancreatic ß-cells. Molecular Endocrinology 25, 315-326.

Huang, Y. and Willars, G.B. (2011) Generation of epitope-tagged GPCRs. In: Methods in Molecular Biology Vol 746: GPCR Signal Transduction Protocols 3rd Edition, (Willars, G.B. and Challiss, R.A.J. eds.) Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ. pp 53-84.

Coopman, K., Huang, Y., Johnston, N., Bradley, S.J., Wilkinson, G.F. and Willars, G.B. (2010) Comparative effects of the endogenous agonist GLP-1 7-36 amide and a small molecule ago-allosteric agent ‘compound 2’ at the GLP-1 receptor. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 334, 795-808.

Day, C.E., Guillen, C., Willars, G.B. and Wardlaw, A.J. (2010) Characterization of the migration of lung and blood T cells in response CXCL12 in a three-dimensional matrix. Immunology 130, 564-571.

Ligand binding and Ca2+ signalling. Confocal imaging of fluo-4-loaded HEK293 cells expressing human NMU2, showing Ca2+ responses (increased green fluorescence) in response to addition and binding of a Cy3B-tagged NmU (red fluorescence). Watch on YouTube.

• 1984 ‑ 1987: Research Fellow, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nottingham.
• 1988 - 1990: Lecturer in Neurotoxicology, Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, University of London.
• 1990 - 1992: Senior Scientist, William Harvey Research Institute; Honorary Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Queen Mary and Westfield College.
• 1992 - 1998: Research Fellow, Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester.
• 1998 – present: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester.