The goal of our research is to understand the functional characteristics of ion channels and transporters in terms of their molecular structure. Transmembrane electrochemical gradients underpin a wide variety of essential physiological processes, including photosynthesis and respiration, muscle contraction and nerve signalling. Highly specialized ion transporters are responsible for establishing and maintaining these gradients, while ion channels are designed to exploit the gradients by selectively and/or temporarily permeabilizing the membrane in response to external stimuli.
We study two different ion channels in the lab: the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the glutamate receptor ion channel.