Chaired by Kenton Swartz, NINDS

Balcony B, Natcher Conference Center

Ion channels and transporters regulate the passage of ions across membrane structures, and in doing so serve critical roles in electrical and chemical signaling, and in cellular homeostasis. Over the past few years there have been significant advances in our understanding of the molecular structures and mechanics of these important membrane proteins, owing much to the multidisciplinary contributions of biophysics, protein biochemistry, genomics,

X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. This session will feature talks on the structural basis of gating in chloride channels and transporters, glutamate receptor channels, and voltage-activated potassium channels, topics that are timely and central to the roles these proteins serve in molecular signaling.

Program:

Protein Toxins Interacting with Voltage-sensors in Voltage-activated Potassium Channels
Kenton Swartz, NINDS

Regulation of Gating Mechanisms in Potassium Channels by RNA Editing
Miguel Holmgren, NINDS

Peeking through the Gate: Probing Conformational Changes in ClC Anion Transporters
Joseph Mindell, NINDS

Structural Basis of Ligand Recognition and Gating in Glutamate Receptor Channels
Mark Mayer, NICHD