RESEARCH: CANCER
FOLDING PROJECT #17772 PROFILE

This project studies how proteins use ion gradients to move molecules across cell membranes. These proteins are found everywhere and are important for health. Simulations will help us understand how they work, which could lead to new treatments for diseases like cancer and diabetes.

Projects 17745-17750 Molecular basis of secondary active transporters. Secondary active membrane transporters are proteins that utilize ions to transport an assortment of molecules across cell membranes.

These proteins are found in all domains in life and surprisingly, despite vastly different structures, operate under the same mechanism by using an ion gradient to assist in small molecule transport.

Furthermore, many of these secondary active transporters are drug targets to treat diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders.

The simulations in this project will allow us to understand a universal role of ion-coupling across different families of proteins.

Secondary active transporters

Proteins that use ions to transport molecules across cell membranes.

Secondary active transporters are essential proteins found in all living organisms. They utilize an existing ion gradient to power the movement of other molecules across cell membranes. These transporters play a crucial role in various biological processes, including nutrient absorption, waste removal, and signal transduction. Many secondary active transporters are also drug targets for treating diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders.

Ion gradient

A difference in ion concentration across a cell membrane.

An ion gradient refers to an unequal distribution of ions (electrically charged atoms) between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference in ion concentration creates an electrochemical potential that drives various cellular processes, including nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and nutrient uptake.

Drug targets

Molecules or cellular pathways that can be modified to treat diseases.

Drug targets are biological molecules or processes that play a role in the development or progression of a disease. By inhibiting or activating these targets, drugs can aim to modulate disease-causing pathways and restore normal cellular function.

Simulations

Computer models that mimic biological processes.

Simulations are powerful tools used in computational biology to study complex biological systems. By creating virtual models of cells, tissues, or entire organisms, researchers can investigate how different factors influence biological phenomena and test hypotheses without performing physical experiments.