• United Kingdom

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Personal profile

Personal Statement

Gwyn did his undergraduate Biochemistry degree at the University of Southampton. He followed this with a PhD at the same institution with Professor Tony Lee on the biophysics of membrane protein/lipid interactions, graduating in 1986. He then moved to Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire, working with Professor Gustav E. Lienhard, where he began his interest in glucose transport. He moved to the University of Glasgow in 1989 developing his interest in the structure and function of glucose transporters and the cell biology of membrane trafficking. He and his laboratory moved to SIPBS in October 2019.

Studies in Gwyn’s group seek to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms which regulate glucose transport in adipocytes, cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle. Studies focus upon identifying the molecular machinery that control GLUT4 function, defining how this machinery interacts with the insulin signalling system, and defining how these processes are impaired in disease.

In particular we are interested in using cutting edge imaging approaches to study the behaviour of gluocse transporters in health and disease.

Lab web site: https://gwyngould.wixsite.com/strathclydelab 

Research Interests

A major consequence of insulin action is a dramatic increase in the rate of glucose transport into fat and muscle. This is achieved by the delivery of the facilitative glucose transporter GLUT4 from insulin-sensitive intracellular stores to the cell surface. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport is impaired in Type-2 diabetes; this is underpinned by reduced delivery of GLUT4 to the cell surface. Metabolic disorders such as Type-2 diabetes are linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Our lab uses cellular, genetic and systems biology approaches to understand insulin regulated GLUT4 trafficking in different cells.

Studies in our group use a range of experimental systems and approaches. These include genome editing of cultured adipocytes to probe the regulatory pathways controlling GLUT4 trafficking and activity, cutting-edge imaging techniques including STED-FCS and dSTORM, analysis of signalling and trafficking in subcellular fractions and analysis of transport kinetics in intact cells. We also employ Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a tool to study membrane trafficking.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Education/Academic qualification

Doctor of Philosophy, Calcium fluxes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, University of Southampton

1 Oct 198331 Oct 1986

Award Date: 31 Oct 1986

Bachelor of Science, University of Southampton

1 Oct 19801 Jun 1983

Award Date: 1 Jun 1983

Doctor of Philosophy, Calcium fluxes in the sarcoplasmic retirculum

Keywords

  • Insulin
  • Glucose Transport
  • Membrane Trafficking
  • Diabetes
  • super-resolution imaging

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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  • Cells (Journal)

    Gould, G. (Editorial board member)

    201928 Feb 2021

    Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work typesEditorial board member

  • PeerJ (Journal)

    Gould, G. (Editorial board member)

    20172022

    Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work typesEditorial board member