Award
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 5R35NS116850-08
Biophysical mechanisms of gating and modulation in voltage-gated ion channel superfamily
Recipient
Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
Award Amount
$985,337.00
Ceiling
$985,337.00
Awarded
May 05, 2026
Identifier
5R35NS116850-08
This award funds research to understand the biophysical mechanisms of voltage gating and modulation in ion channels, focusing on their role in electrical excitability and related disorders, using multidisciplinary approaches.
Description
The project aims to provide critical insights into the mechanisms of modulation of voltage gating in voltage-dependent ion channels, which are involved in electrical excitability in the brain, heart, and muscles. Dysfunction of these channels causes disorders such as arrhythmias and epilepsies. The research will explore the molecular forces underlying voltage gating and its regulation by temperature and ligands, using approaches including structural studies, voltage clamp fluorometry, ancestral protein reconstruction, and single-molecule force spectroscopy.