Membrane Transport

[Click on image to enlarge]
A chimeric CFTR protein (green) is trafficked to the apical membrane of intestinal epithelial cells in a /C. elegans/ model of Cystic Fibrosis. Introduction of the most common human disease mutation, ?F508, destabilizes the protein and prevents its trafficking to the plasma membrane in this system. The Lamitina Lab is using the power of C. elegans genetics, as well as in vivo genome-wide RNAi-based screens, to identify modulators of CFTR processing. Such targets may represent new therapeutic targets for the treatment of this disease. lius quod ii legunt saepius claritas.

Numerous laboratories at Penn are actively engaged in investigations regarding thetranslocation of ions and other solutes across cell membranes. Ion channels, transporters, and pumps are studied using a range of technical approaches, including crystallography, single molecule real-time electrical recording and high-resolution real-time optical imaging, biochemistry and molecular biology. Ongoing projects address ion channel and pump structure, single channel kinetics and their regulation, ion channel biogenesis and trafficking, and pharmacological discovery, using normal as well as disease models. In addition to many collaborations and informal interactions, the membrane transport community sponsor seminars and lectures, and an ion channel journal club. Penn offers an opportunity to conduct high quality, high impact research related to membrane transport, as well as education and training for students and postdoctoral fellows.