Biophysics Seminar

Thursday, 20 November 2007 @ 12:30pm in P8445.2

Edgar Young
Biological Sciences, SFU

COMPLEX VOLTAGE-ACTIVATION OF PACEMAKER CHANNELS

Hyperpolarization-gated Cation (HCN, or "pacemaker") channels represent an especially 
complex example of dual allosteric modulation, since their opening is promoted by 
both membrane hyperpolarization and cAMP binding.  Traditionally, a simplifying 
approach has been taken, that assumes the cAMP- and voltage-modulation mechanisms can 
operate more or less independently.  However, this assumption, as well as some other 
traditional simplifying assumptions, has recently been shown to be incorrect by some 
workers (us included). I will outline some of the surprising and complex features of 
the mechanism of these channels, along with our recent findings that we foresee could 
open new lines of investigation.