Research Topics

 

Structure of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptor Complexes.

We investigate the molecular architecture and function of glutamate receptors, which are essential mediators of synaptic transmission and play a central role in fundamental brain functions such as learning and memory.

Our research combines high-resolution structural biology with functional analysis to uncover how glutamate receptors and their co-factors work together. By examining structure of receptors alone and in complex with cofactors, we aim to elucidate function-dependent conformational changes that underlie receptor activation, modulation, and desensitization.

Through these efforts, we strive to deepen our understanding of brain signaling and lay the groundwork for developing novel therapeutics for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

 

Modulation Mechanism of Glutamate Receptors by Post-Translational Modifications, Lipids, and Interacting proteins. 

Neuroreceptors, including glutamate receptors, are finely tuned by a variety of modulatory factors such as post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation, glycosylation, palmitoylation, ubiquitylation), lipids and cholesterol, ions, pH, and interacting proteins. These modifications play critical roles in shaping synaptic function and signaling.

Our lab aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which these factors allosterically modulate receptor function, with the goal of understanding how dynamic regulation at the molecular level contributes to brain physiology and disease.