Hot Topics in Pharmacology

Coronavirus Information

We collate information related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 on a dedicated coronavirus information page. This contains details of ligands and targets relevant to COVID-19 and links to useful resources and publications.

Recent publications of interest recommended by NC-IUPHAR

2024: Apr | Mar | Jan
2023: Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | May

    April 2024


  • Shifting our perspective on orphan G protein-coupled receptors.
     Smith NJ, Murray F. Shifting our perspective on orphan G protein-coupled receptors. (2024)  Nat Struct Mol Biol, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38565695]
  • AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study.
     Atomwise AIMS Program. AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study. (2024)  Sci Rep, 14 (1): 7526. [PMID:38565852]

    • March 2024


  • MFSD7c functions as a transporter of choline at the blood-brain barrier.
     Nguyen XTA, Le TNU, Nguyen TQ, Thi Thuy Ha H, Artati A, Leong NCP, Nguyen DT, Lim PY, Susanto AV, Huang Q et al.. MFSD7c functions as a transporter of choline at the blood-brain barrier. (2024)  Cell Res, 34 (3): 245-257. [PMID:38302740]
  • Orphan lysosomal solute carrier MFSD1 facilitates highly selective dipeptide transport.
     Boytsov D, Madej GM, Horn G, Blaha N, Köcher T, Sitte HH, Siekhaus D, Ziegler C, Sandtner W, Roblek M. Orphan lysosomal solute carrier MFSD1 facilitates highly selective dipeptide transport. (2024)  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 121 (13): e2319686121. [PMID:38507452]
  • Activation of GPR81 by lactate drives tumour-induced cachexia.
     Liu X, Li S, Cui Q, Guo B, Ding W, Liu J, Quan L, Li X, Xie P, Jin L et al.. Activation of GPR81 by lactate drives tumour-induced cachexia. (2024)  Nat Metab, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38499763]
  • The kainate receptor GluK2 mediates cold sensing in mice.
     Cai W, Zhang W, Zheng Q, Hor CC, Pan T, Fatima M, Dong X, Duan B, Xu XZS. The kainate receptor GluK2 mediates cold sensing in mice. (2024)  Nat Neurosci, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38467901]
  • An evolutionarily conserved olfactory receptor is required for sex differences in blood pressure.
     Xu J, Choi R, Gupta K, Warren HR, Santhanam L, Pluznick JL. An evolutionarily conserved olfactory receptor is required for sex differences in blood pressure. (2024)  Sci Adv, 10 (12): eadk1487. [PMID:38507492]
  • Understanding the provenance and quality of methods is essential for responsible reuse of FAIR data.
     Weissgerber TL, Gazda MA, Nilsonne G, Ter Riet G, Cobey KD, Prieß-Buchheit J, Noro J, Schulz R, Tijdink JK, Bobrov E et al.. Understanding the provenance and quality of methods is essential for responsible reuse of FAIR data. (2024)  Nat Med, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38514869]
  • Promoting gender equity in the scientific and health workforce is essential to improve women's health.
     Vieira Machado C, Araripe Ferreira C, de Souza Mendes Gomes MA. Promoting gender equity in the scientific and health workforce is essential to improve women's health. (2024)  Nat Med, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38519768]

    • January 2024


  • Persistent complement dysregulation with signs of thromboinflammation in active Long Covid.
     Cervia-Hasler C, Brüningk SC, Hoch T, Fan B, Muzio G, Thompson RC, Ceglarek L, Meledin R, Westermann P, Emmenegger M et al.. Persistent complement dysregulation with signs of thromboinflammation in active Long Covid. (2024)  Science, 383 (6680): eadg7942. [PMID:38236961]
  • EPAC1 enhances brown fat growth and beige adipogenesis.
     Reverte-Salisa L, Siddig S, Hildebrand S, Yao X, Zurkovic J, Jaeckstein MY, Heeren J, Lezoualc'h F, Krahmer N, Pfeifer A. EPAC1 enhances brown fat growth and beige adipogenesis. (2024)  Nat Cell Biol, 26 (1): 113-123. [PMID:38195707]
  • Chemoproteomic development of SLC15A4 inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity.
     Chiu TY, Lazar DC, Wang WW, Wozniak JM, Jadhav AM, Li W, Gazaniga N, Theofilopoulos AN, Teijaro JR, Parker CG. Chemoproteomic development of SLC15A4 inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity. (2024)  Nat Chem Biol, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38191941]
  • Insights for precision oncology from the integration of genomic and clinical data of 13,880 tumors from the 100,000 Genomes Cancer Programme.
     Sosinsky A, Ambrose J, Cross W, Turnbull C, Henderson S, Jones L, Hamblin A, Arumugam P, Chan G, Chubb D et al.. Insights for precision oncology from the integration of genomic and clinical data of 13,880 tumors from the 100,000 Genomes Cancer Programme. (2024)  Nat Med, 30 (1): 279-289. [PMID:38200255]
  • Structural basis of prostaglandin efflux by MRP4.
     Pourmal S, Green E, Bajaj R, Chemmama IE, Knudsen GM, Gupta M, Sali A, Cheng Y, Craik CS, Kroetz DL et al.. Structural basis of prostaglandin efflux by MRP4. (2024)  Nat Struct Mol Biol, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38216659]
  • Biased agonists of GPR84 and insights into biological control.
     Luscombe VB, Wang P, Russell AJ, Greaves DR. Biased agonists of GPR84 and insights into biological control. (2023)  Br J Pharmacol, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:38148720]

    • November 2023


  • Open science discovery of potent noncovalent SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors.
     Boby ML, Fearon D, Ferla M, Filep M, Koekemoer L, Robinson MC, COVID Moonshot Consortium‡, Chodera JD, Lee AA, London N et al.. Open science discovery of potent noncovalent SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors. (2023)  Science, 382 (6671): eabo7201. [PMID:37943932]

    • October 2023


  • The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY in 2024.
     Harding SD, Armstrong JF, Faccenda E, Southan C, Alexander SPH, Davenport AP, Spedding M, Davies JA. The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY in 2024. (2024)  Nucleic Acids Res, 52 (D1): D1438-D1449. [PMID:37897341]
  • ADCdb: the database of antibody-drug conjugates.
     Shen L, Sun X, Chen Z, Guo Y, Shen Z, Song Y, Xin W, Ding H, Ma X, Xu W et al.. ADCdb: the database of antibody-drug conjugates. (2024)  Nucleic Acids Res, 52 (D1): D1097-D1109. [PMID:37831118]
  • TTD: Therapeutic Target Database describing target druggability information.
     Zhou Y, Zhang Y, Zhao D, Yu X, Shen X, Zhou Y, Wang S, Qiu Y, Chen Y, Zhu F. TTD: Therapeutic Target Database describing target druggability information. (2024)  Nucleic Acids Res, 52 (D1): D1465-D1477. [PMID:37713619]
  • Functional screening and rational design of compounds targeting GPR132 to treat diabetes.
     Wang JL, Dou XD, Cheng J, Gao MX, Xu GF, Ding W, Ding JH, Li Y, Wang SH, Ji ZW et al.. Functional screening and rational design of compounds targeting GPR132 to treat diabetes. (2023)  Nat Metab, 5 (10): 1726-1746. [PMID:37770763]
  • Genome-wide association analysis reveals insights into the molecular etiology underlying dilated cardiomyopathy.
     Zheng SL, Henry A, Cannie D, Lee M, Miller D, McGurk KA, Bond I, Xu X, Issa H, Francis Cet al.. Genome-wide association analysis reveals insights into the molecular etiology underlying dilated cardiomyopathy. (2023)  medRxiv, Preprint. DOI: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.09.28.23295408v1
  • An inverse agonist of orphan receptor GPR61 acts by a G protein-competitive allosteric mechanism.
     Lees JA, Dias JM, Rajamohan F, Fortin JP, O'Connor R, Kong JX, Hughes EAG, Fisher EL, Tuttle JB, Lovett G et al.. An inverse agonist of orphan receptor GPR61 acts by a G protein-competitive allosteric mechanism. (2023)  Nat Commun, 14 (1): 5938. [PMID:37741852]
  • Cryo-EM structures of human GPR34 enable the identification of selective antagonists.
     Xia A, Yong X, Zhang C, Lin G, Jia G, Zhao C, Wang X, Hao Y, Wang Y, Zhou P et al.. Cryo-EM structures of human GPR34 enable the identification of selective antagonists. (2023)  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 120 (39): e2308435120. [PMID:37733739]

    • September 2023


  • The Batten disease gene product CLN5 is the lysosomal bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate synthase.
     Medoh UN, Hims A, Chen JY, Ghoochani A, Nyame K, Dong W, Abu-Remaileh M. The Batten disease gene product CLN5 is the lysosomal bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate synthase. (2023)  Science, 381 (6663): 1182-1189. [PMID:37708259]
  • Neuromedin U programs eosinophils to promote mucosal immunity of the small intestine.
     Li Y, Liu S, Zhou K, Wang Y, Chen Y, Hu W, Li S, Li H, Wang Y, Wang Q et al.. Neuromedin U programs eosinophils to promote mucosal immunity of the small intestine. (2023)  Science, 381 (6663): 1189-1196. [PMID:37708282]
  • Exploring DrugCentral: from molecular structures to clinical effects.
     Halip L, Avram S, Curpan R, Borota A, Bora A, Bologa C, Oprea TI. Exploring DrugCentral: from molecular structures to clinical effects. (2023)  J Comput Aided Mol Des, 37 (12): 681-694. [PMID:37707619]
  • Role of sphingolipids in the host-pathogen interaction.
     Matos GS, Fernandes CM, Del Poeta M. Role of sphingolipids in the host-pathogen interaction. (2023)  Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids, 1868 (11): 159384. [PMID:37673393]
  • Dynamic lipidome alterations associated with human health, disease and ageing.
     Hornburg D, Wu S, Moqri M, Zhou X, Contrepois K, Bararpour N, Traber GM, Su B, Metwally AA, Avina M et al.. Dynamic lipidome alterations associated with human health, disease and ageing. (2023)  Nat Metab, 5 (9): 1578-1594. [PMID:37697054]
  • Global analysis of aging-related protein structural changes uncovers enzyme-polymerization-based control of longevity.
     Paukštytė J, López Cabezas RM, Feng Y, Tong K, Schnyder D, Elomaa E, Gregorova P, Doudin M, Särkkä M, Sarameri J et al.. Global analysis of aging-related protein structural changes uncovers enzyme-polymerization-based control of longevity. (2023)  Mol Cell, 83 (18): 3360-3376.e11. [PMID:37699397]
  • Mitochondrial degradation: Mitophagy and beyond.
     Uoselis L, Nguyen TN, Lazarou M. Mitochondrial degradation: Mitophagy and beyond. (2023)  Mol Cell, 83 (19): 3404-3420. [PMID:37708893]
  • How many kinases are druggable? A review of our current understanding.
     Anderson B, Rosston P, Ong HW, Hossain MA, Davis-Gilbert ZW, Drewry DH. How many kinases are druggable? A review of our current understanding. (2023)  Biochem J, 480 (16): 1331-1363. [PMID:37642371]
  • AI-powered therapeutic target discovery.
     Pun FW, Ozerov IV, Zhavoronkov A. AI-powered therapeutic target discovery. (2023)  Trends Pharmacol Sci, 44 (9): 561-572. [PMID:37479540]

    • August 2023


  • What is a cell type?.
     Fleck JS, Camp JG, Treutlein B. What is a cell type?. (2023)  Science, 381 (6659): 733-734. [PMID:37590360]
  • Create a culture of experiments in environmental programs.
     Ferraro PJ, Cherry TL, Shogren JF, Vossler CA, Cason TN, Flint HB, Hochard JP, Johansson-Stenman O, Martinsson P, Murphy JJ et al.. Create a culture of experiments in environmental programs. (2023)  Science, 381 (6659): 735-737. [PMID:37590363]
  • International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology CXIII: Nuclear Receptor Superfamily-Update 2023.
     Burris TP, de Vera IMS, Cote I, Flaveny CA, Wanninayake US, Chatterjee A, Walker JK, Steinauer N, Zhang J, Coons LA et al.. International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology CXIII: Nuclear Receptor Superfamily-Update 2023. (2023)  Pharmacol Rev, 75 (6): 1233-1318. [PMID:37586884]
  • A method for structure determination of GPCRs in various states.
     Guo Q, He B, Zhong Y, Jiao H, Ren Y, Wang Q, Ge Q, Gao Y, Liu X, Du Y et al.. A method for structure determination of GPCRs in various states. (2024)  Nat Chem Biol, 20 (1): 74-82. [PMID:37580554]
  • A preclinical secondary pharmacology resource illuminates target-adverse drug reaction associations of marketed drugs.
     Sutherland JJ, Yonchev D, Fekete A, Urban L. A preclinical secondary pharmacology resource illuminates target-adverse drug reaction associations of marketed drugs. (2023)  Nat Commun, 14 (1): 4323. [PMID:37468498]

    • July 2023


  • Metal-ion transporter SLC39A8 is required for brain manganese uptake and accumulation.
     Liu Q, Jenkitkasemwong S, Prami TA, McCabe SM, Zhao N, Hojyo S, Fukada T, Knutson MD. Metal-ion transporter SLC39A8 is required for brain manganese uptake and accumulation. (2023)  J Biol Chem, 299 (8): 105078. [PMID:37482277]
  • Cross-talk between zinc and calcium regulates ion transport: A role for the zinc receptor, ZnR/GPR39.
     Hershfinkel M. Cross-talk between zinc and calcium regulates ion transport: A role for the zinc receptor, ZnR/GPR39. (2023)  J Physiol, [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:37462604]
  • Identification of ligand-receptor pairs that drive human astrocyte development.
     Voss AJ, Lanjewar SN, Sampson MM, King A, Hill EJ, Sing A, Sojka C, Bhatia TN, Spangle JM, Sloan SA. Identification of ligand-receptor pairs that drive human astrocyte development. (2023)  Nat Neurosci, 26 (8): 1339-1351. [PMID:37460808]
  • Jeffrey Clifton Watkins FRS - The father of the glutamate receptor.
     Collingridge GL, Evans RH, Jane DE, Lodge D. Jeffrey Clifton Watkins FRS - The father of the glutamate receptor. (2023)  Neuropharmacology,: 109650 [Epub ahead of print]. [PMID:37474350]
  • The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science.
     Amano T, Ramírez-Castañeda V, Berdejo-Espinola V, Borokini I, Chowdhury S, Golivets M, González-Trujillo JD, Montaño-Centellas F, Paudel K, White RL et al.. The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science. (2023)  PLoS Biol, 21 (7): e3002184. [PMID:37463136]
  • Spartin is a receptor for the autophagy of lipid droplets.
     Spartin is a receptor for the autophagy of lipid droplets. (2023)  Nat Cell Biol, 25 (8): 1085-1086. [PMID:37474818]
  • Profiling of basal and ligand-dependent GPCR activities by means of a polyvalent cell-based high-throughput platform.
     Zeghal M, Laroche G, Freitas JD, Wang R, Giguère PM. Profiling of basal and ligand-dependent GPCR activities by means of a polyvalent cell-based high-throughput platform. (2023)  Nat Commun, 14 (1): 3684. [PMID:37407564]
  • Mammalian type opsin 5 preferentially activates G14 in Gq-type G proteins triggering intracellular calcium response.
     Sato K, Yamashita T, Ohuchi H. Mammalian type opsin 5 preferentially activates G14 in Gq-type G proteins triggering intracellular calcium response. (2023)  J Biol Chem, 299 (8): 105020. [PMID:37423300]
  • Cryo-EM structure of GABA transporter 1 reveals substrate recognition and transport mechanism.
     Nayak SR, Joseph D, Höfner G, Dakua A, Athreya A, Wanner KT, Kanner BI, Penmatsa A. Cryo-EM structure of GABA transporter 1 reveals substrate recognition and transport mechanism. (2023)  Nat Struct Mol Biol, 30 (7): 1023-1032. [PMID:37400654]
  • Molecular basis for substrate recognition and transport of human GABA transporter GAT1.
     Zhu A, Huang J, Kong F, Tan J, Lei J, Yuan Y, Yan C. Molecular basis for substrate recognition and transport of human GABA transporter GAT1. (2023)  Nat Struct Mol Biol, 30 (7): 1012-1022. [PMID:37400655]

    • May 2023


  • Advances in malaria pharmacology and the online guide to MALARIA PHARMACOLOGY: IUPHAR review 38.
     Armstrong JF, Campo B, Alexander SPH, Arendse LB, Cheng X, Davenport AP, Faccenda E, Fidock DA, Godinez-Macias KP, Harding SD et al.. Advances in malaria pharmacology and the online guide to MALARIA PHARMACOLOGY: IUPHAR review 38. (2023)  Br J Pharmacol, 180 (15): 1899-1929. [PMID:37197802]
  • The VGNC: expanding standardized vertebrate gene nomenclature.
     Jones TEM, Yates B, Braschi B, Gray K, Tweedie S, Seal RL, Bruford EA. The VGNC: expanding standardized vertebrate gene nomenclature. (2023)  Genome Biol, 24 (1): 115. [PMID:37173739]
  • A small-molecule PI3Kα activator for cardioprotection and neuroregeneration.
     Gong GQ, Bilanges B, Allsop B, Masson GR, Roberton V, Askwith T, Oxenford S, Madsen RR, Conduit SE, Bellini D et al.. A small-molecule PI3Kα activator for cardioprotection and neuroregeneration. (2023)  Nature, 618 (7963): 159-168. [PMID:37225977]
  • Bilirubin gates the TRPM2 channel as a direct agonist to exacerbate ischemic brain damage.
     Liu HW, Gong LN, Lai K, Yu XF, Liu ZQ, Li MX, Yin XL, Liang M, Shi HS, Jiang LH et al.. Bilirubin gates the TRPM2 channel as a direct agonist to exacerbate ischemic brain damage. (2023)  Neuron, 111 (10): 1609-1625.e6. [PMID:36921602]
  • FDA approves first-in-class NK3 receptor antagonist for hot flushes.
     Mullard A. FDA approves first-in-class NK3 receptor antagonist for hot flushes. (2023)  Nat Rev Drug Discov, 22 (7): 526. [PMID:37208488]
  • Identification and classification of papain-like cysteine proteinases.
     Ozhelvaci F, Steczkiewicz K. Identification and classification of papain-like cysteine proteinases. (2023)  J Biol Chem, 299 (6): 104801. [PMID:37164157]