Our research interests are in cell signalling and reproductive endocrinology. Most of our work focuses on the hypothalamic decapeptide GnRH, that acts via G-protein coupled receptors on pituitary gonadotrophs to mediate control of reproduction by the CNS. Type I mammalian GnRH receptors are unique in that they lack the C-terminal tails found in other G-protein coupled receptors, and much of our work has addressed the functional relevance of this distinction, placing emphasis on receptor desensitisation and internalisation as well as MAPK activation and receptor compartmentalisation (figure 1).

Most recent work exploits image-based readouts (e.g. fluorescent reporters) for activity of signalling proteins using semi-automated fluorescence microscopy (high content analysis, figure 2). Using this approach we have been exploring the control of GnRH receptor trafficking and the spatial and temporal control of ERK signalling. Since GnRH is secreted in pulses and gonadotrophs and its effects on these cells are dependent upon pulse frequency, we are currently exploring the molecular mechansism by which gonadotrophs decode pulse frequency. This has led to the development of a sophisticated mathematical model for pulsatile GnRH signalling, that we are testing and developing.