Award
National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R35GM134896-07
Structure and Function of Pentameric Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Recipient
Case Western Reserve University
Award Amount
$684,250.00
Ceiling
$684,250.00
Awarded
January 15, 2026
Identifier
5R35GM134896-07
NIH grant awarded to Case Western Reserve University to study the structure and function of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels using advanced molecular and biophysical techniques to aid therapeutic development.
Description
The project aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing channel function and modulation of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). These channels are critical for synaptic transmission in the nervous system and are implicated in various neurological and gastrointestinal disorders. The research will utilize advanced techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, protein dynamics measurements, mass spectrometry, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrophysiology to develop molecular blueprints of these channels in physiologically relevant conformations, facilitating the design of safer and more effective therapeutic agents.