Structural basis of gating in hERG potassium ion channel proteins

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This project aims to use cryo-electron microscopy to determine atomic resolution structures of open, closed and inactivated states of an ion channel important for regulating activity in the heart and the brain. This work will provide fundamental insights into how ion channel proteins utilise electrochemical energy to mechanically open and close gates that regulate ion flow across cell membranes. Electrical signalling is ubiquitous in biology but is of particular importance in the brain and heart where ion channels are important therapeutic targets for cardiovascular and psychiatric diseases.