Dr. Sorin Tunaru, Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany

GPCR-mediated biological effects of hydroxylated arachidonic acid (HETE) metabolites

Coffee and cookies at 11.45

Host: Jukka Kero (jukka.kero@utu.fi)

Sorin Tunaru obtained his PhD in molecular pharmacology at the University of Heidelberg, Germany. His research was devoted to understanding the contribution of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in physiology and pathology. In 2009 he was recruited to Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research (Bad Nauheim, Germany) to expand the research on the identification of receptors for novel lipid metabolites.

Since 2018, he is working at the Romanian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry where he is building his own molecular pharmacology research team. The aims of his research is to understand the biological roles of GPCRs for which no endogenous ligands have been so far discovered, termed orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs).

Selected Publications

Tunaru S, Bonnavion R, Brandenburger I, Preussner J, Thomas D, Scholich K, Offermanns S. 20-HETE promotes glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in an autocrine manner through FFAR1 (GPR40). Nat Commun. 2018 Jan 12; 9(1):177.

Tunaru S Strategies for G-protein coupled receptor deorphanization. Mol Life, 2017, Vol 1, No. 1, 71-79. doi: 10.26600/MolLife.1.1.8.2017

Tunaru S, Chennupati R, Nüsing RM, Offermanns S.Arachidonic acid metabolite 19(S)-HETE induces vasorelaxation and platelet inhibition byactivating prostacyclin (IP) receptor. PLoS One 2016 Sep 23; 11(9)

Tang C, Ahmed K, Gille A, Lu S, Gröne HJ, Tunaru S, Offermanns S. Loss of FFA2 and FFA3 increases insulin secretion and improves glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes. Nat Med. 2015 Feb; 21(2):173-7. doi: 10.1038/nm.3779.

Tunaru S, Althoff TF, Nüsing RM, Diener M, Offermanns S. Castor oil induces laxation and uterus contraction via ricinoleic acid activating prostaglandin EP3 receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jun 5; 109(23):9179-84

Tunaru S, Kero J, Schaub A, Wufka C, Blaukat A, Pfeffer K, Offermanns S.PUMA-G and HM74 are receptors for nicotinic acid and mediate its anti-lipolytic effect. Nat Med. 2003 Mar; 9(3):352-5.