We focus to expand our understanding of the function of membrane transport proteins based on their structure.
Specially, we try to know how they use their architecture to take advantage of ion or their substrate transport selectively or non-selectively.
Also, we will use these understandings for therapeutic potential in humans.
Membrane proteins are located in not only plasma membrane, but also in membrane of each organelle, for example ER and mitochondria.
They can recognize a variety of substrates including ion, metabolites and synthesized chamical, for example, drugs.
Therefore, they are responsible for the movement of key molecules and the transfer of information across cell membranes—events central to many important physiological
processes.
Mainly, we use X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM for a membrane protein structure determination.
Also, to figure out their function and mechanism, we set ion and ligand flux assay, ITC and a various method based on the character of target membrane protein.
Using these skills, we will do researches of membrane proteina associated with cancer, sensing, pain, microorganism infection including bacteria, fungi, parasite and virus.
Ion channel
Ion channel belongs to a superfamily of integral membrane protein. Because ion itself cannot across to cell membrane, ion channels are essential to regulatea necessay ion's level for cells.
So, we eluciate their mechanism to transport a ion 'selectively' through their protein structure and a various biophysical assay.
Also, we will figure out how this channel related with human disease, specially pain sensing and suggests how to overcome these disease.
Solute carrier (SLC) transporters
SLC transporter is one of a superfamily of a integral membrane protein. Over 300 SLC transporters in human have a role to transport necessary substrate across cell membrane.
From nutritions to neurotransmitter, they transports a various substrate and its known well that genetic mutation on SLC transporter is related with severe hunan disease.
So, we figure out how these transporter transport their substrate and associated with human metabolic disorder by a genetic mutations based on their structure and biochamical
assay.
Viroporin
Virus also own their ion cahnnel called as 'viroporin', but their function is different from human and other organisms.
Basically, their size is small usually and their selectivity of target ion is lower than human's one. but we don't have enough information about viroporin.
We focus to uncover their basal ion permeable activity how their ion channel activity assoicated with viral pathogenesis with their structure and functional study.
