Prof. Alexander Shpakov

Brief Biography:

Alexander O. Shpakov is a Professor of Biochemistry at the I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry (IEPB), Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint-Petersburg, Russia. He was born in 1963 in Saint-Petersburg (former Leningrad), Russia. Obtained the degree of Master of Science in Organic Chemistry at the Leningrad State University (1987), and PhD degree in Biochemistry at the I.M. Sechenov IEPB (1996). Currently is the Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, the I.M. Sechenov IEPB. The author of over 170 papers and reviews in reputed international and Russian journals and 6 chapters in books. The areas of his interest are the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction via G protein-coupled receptors, the development of the peptide strategy based on receptor and G protein-derived peptides, the functional state of hormonal signaling systems in endocrine diseases, and the structural-functional organization and evolution of the chemosignaling systems of lower eukaryotes and bacteria.

Academic positions:

Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, the I.M. Sechenov IEPB (from 2009)

Head of Department of Biochemistry, the I.M. Sechenov IEPB (from 2011)

Research interests:

Hormonal signaling systems (adenylyl cyclase signaling system, guanylyl cyclase signaling systems, phosphoinositide-specific phospholipases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases)

G protein-coupled receptors (5-hydroxytryptamine receptors, adrenergic receptors, dopamine receptors, the receptor of peptide and glycoprotein hormones)

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (structure, function, role in signal transduction)

The functioning of hormonal signaling systems in diabetes mellitus

Peptide strategy (the study and development of synthetic peptides, derivatives of functionally impoortant regions of signal proteins)

The evolution of chemosignaling systems

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:

I fully support the idea and I think she has a great future. The most important task is to provide objective and comprehensive review of scientific papers to be submitted for consideration to the WebmedCentral(plus).