Research Vision
Ion channels facilitate the diffusion of ions such as K+ across cell membranes. This simple process underlies electrical signaling in living cells, from the propagation of action potentials in neurons to the contraction of muscle cells.
These channels can be turned on and off by a variety of stimuli, including the membrane voltage, specific lipids, and interacting proteins. We study the molecular mechanisms by which these regulators open and close ion channels.
Many of these channels also interact with other proteins as part of signaling pathways. We are interested in the chemical nature of these interactions to understand how life assembles circuits using ion channels.
To answer these questions, we use a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging, and biochemical assays.
