Title: Computational modeling approaches in gonadotropin signaling,
Abstract: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) play
essential roles in animal reproduction. They exert their function through
binding to their cognate receptors, which belong to the large family of G
protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). This recognition at the plasma membrane
triggers a plethora of cellular events, whose processing and integration
ultimately lead to an adapted biological response. Understanding the nature and
the kinetics of these events is essential for innovative approaches in drug
discovery. The study and manipulation of such complex systems requires the use
of computational modeling approaches combined with robust in vitro functional
assays for calibration and validation. Modeling brings a detailed understanding
of the system and can also be used to understand why existing drugs do not work
as well as expected, and how to design more efficient ones.