Characterizing the influence of receptor co-expression on incretin receptor function

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global epidemic affecting over 1.5 million people in Australia. Receptors for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are attractive therapeutic targets for T2D management, as their activation increases glucose-dependent insulin secretion and beta cell proliferation. The GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and GIP receptor (GIPR) are co-expressed in pancreas performing complementary functions. The outcome of this thesis revealed functional crosstalk between the GLP-1R and GIPR that alter the signalling and trafficking profiles of each receptor, and provides novel insights into co-targeting of these receptors for future drug development for T2DM and obesity.