Coordination Funds

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The DFG-Research Unit 2518 ‘Functional dynamics of ion channels and transporters - DynIon’ combines experimental and computational strategies to study the function of ion channels and transporters. Based on the work of the first funding period, DynIon will focus in the second funding period on key functional processes of these proteins, such as ion permeation, ligand/substrate binding and translocation as well as voltage- or ligand-dependent modification of function. DynIon will focus on four protein classes: (1) K+ channels (e.g. K2P channels, voltage-gated K+ channels, viral K+ channels), (2) cyclic-nucleotide regulated channels (CNG and HCN channels), (3) glutamate receptors, and (4) glutamate transporters (SCL1, SCL17). We will employ a variety of state-of-the-art experimental approaches, ranging from heterologous expression, patch-clamp recording, fluorometry to spectroscopy on purified proteins, reconstitution in artificial membranes or nanodiscs and cryo-electron microscopy. These techniques will be combined with computational techniques such as all-atom MD simulations, QM/MM simulations, free energy calculations, computational electrophysiology, rigidity analyses, Markov-state modeling, anisotropic network modeling, Kalman filtering, Boltzmann generators, and deep learning. DynIon will continue to develop a synergy between laboratory experiments and advanced computer analyses to study ion channels and transporters at atomic resolution.