Research Vision

The plasma membrane of a living cell not only isolates its interior from the environment but also hosts signaling pathways to sense external stimuli and to communicate with other cells. Composed of its constituent proteins and lipids, the plasma membrane thus serves as a hub for many different biological processes that work in concert to ensure normal cellular function. Cells must precisely assemble different components that cooperate, without interference from other pieces that function independently. How do cells assemble these diffusing pieces together in a fluid membrane to achieve their function? To what extent do stable macromolecular assemblies and transient interactions between proteins and lipids play a role in the formation and dynamics of these pathways?

Our research sits at the interface of biophysics and biochemistry to address these questions, with an initial focus on studying electrical signaling in the native membrane context. To dissect this physiological process, we need to understand both how individual components work and how they are functionally organized. Thus, we study the function and organization of voltage-gated ion channels, which are the molecular underpinnings of electrical signaling in living cells. One project seeks to understand molecular mechanisms of voltage sensing in voltage-dependent ion channels, while another aims to determine the ultrastructure of ion channel complexes in native excitable membranes. To answer these questions, we use a variety of techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging, and biochemical assays.