High-Throughput Ion Channel Screening Facility

离子通道蛋白形成钾离子和钠离子通过不渗透细胞膜的被动运动途径。离子通道以受控的方式打开，调节细胞膜上的电压，并在这个电压中产生快速变化，从而触发神经放电、肌肉收缩或心脏跳动等事件。我们的研究小组旨在了解不同种类的离子通道蛋白的功能，并研究潜在的治疗化合物对离子通道蛋白的影响。我们正在开发一种机器人离子通道筛选设备，以实现在多种离子通道中对化合物、调节蛋白和突变的高通量筛选。所要求的设备已由制造商通过慷慨的学术折扣提供给我们。我们将是加拿大大学中第一个安装这种设备的大学，也是北美大学中为数不多的几个之一。该装置将迅速加快我们对离子通道功能的评估，也将加快我们筛选调节离子通道功能和表达的潜在有效化合物或遗传因素的能力。

Ion channel proteins form pathways for passive movement of ions like potassium and sodium through otherwise impermeable cell membranes. Ion channels open in a controlled fashion, regulating the voltage across cell membranes, and generating rapid changes in this voltage to trigger events like nerve firing, muscle contraction, or beating of the heart. Our research groups aim to understand the function of diverse classes of ion channel proteins, and also to examine the effects of potential therapeutic compounds on ion channel proteins. We are developing a robotic ion channel screening facility to enable high throughput screening of compounds, regulatory proteins, and mutations, in multiple classes of ion channels. The requested device has been made available to us through a generous academic discount by the manufacturer. Ours will be the first installation of this device at a Canadian university, and one of only a few at universities in North America. This device will rapidly accelerate our assessment of ion channel function, and will also accelerate our ability to screen potentially effective compounds or genetic factors that modulate ion channel function and expression.