Brian Kobilka

Brian Kobilka is an American physician-scientist who studies G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). His work on their structure and function earned him the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Robert Lefkowitz: An American physician-scientist whose research established key principles of G protein-coupled receptor biology. Lefkowitz and Kobilka shared the 2012 Nobel Prize for discoveries about GPCRs.
G protein-coupled receptor: A cell-surface protein that detects signals and activates intracellular G proteins. These receptors are the central objects of Kobilka’s research.
University of Minnesota Medical School: The medical school of the University of Minnesota, based in Minneapolis. Kobilka earned his medical degree there before pursuing biomedical research.
G protein-coupled receptor structure: The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a GPCR, including its membrane-spanning helices and signaling interfaces. Kobilka’s structural work made these arrangements directly visible.
Lefkowitz laboratory: The Duke University research group led by Robert Lefkowitz, known for pioneering studies of adrenergic receptors and GPCRs. Kobilka trained in Lefkowitz’s laboratory, where he began studying adrenergic receptors.
Beta-2 adrenergic receptor: A GPCR activated by adrenaline and noradrenaline that regulates responses such as airway relaxation and heart activity. Kobilka’s laboratory determined its structure, a landmark in GPCR biology.
Clinical medicine: The branch of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating individual patients. Kobilka trained as a physician before specializing in laboratory research.
Membrane protein: A protein associated with or embedded in a biological membrane. GPCR structures advanced study of a protein class once difficult to crystallize.
Stanford University: A private research university in Stanford, California. Kobilka built his independent research program at Stanford.
G protein: A guanine-nucleotide-binding protein that relays signals from activated receptors to intracellular targets. Kobilka studied how activated receptors engage G proteins.

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