The spilt personality of glutamate transporters: the structural basis and physiological role of a dual function transporter/channel

膜蛋白是控制营养物质、废物和化学信使进出细胞的泵。这些泵在包括神经障碍和癌症在内的各种疾病中都会崩溃。这个项目的重点是一种独特的转运蛋白/通道杂交蛋白，它使用了一种“扭曲升降机”机制。我们将揭开它们是如何工作的，以及疾病中哪里出了问题。这些信息可以用来开发新药来改善转运蛋白的功能。

Membrane proteins are pumps that control the movement of nutrients, waste products and chemical messengers in and out of cells. These pumps break down in a wide range of diseases including neurological disorders and cancer. This project is focused on a unique type of transporter/channel hybrid protein that uses a ‘twisting elevator’ mechanism. We will uncover how they work and what goes wrong in disease. This information can then be used to develop new drugs to improve transporter function.