Professor Rachelle Gaudet
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

Monday, November 17, 2014
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

My lab is broadly interested in the mechanisms of signaling and transport across cellular membranes.  Much of our research centers on TRP channels and their role in sensory perception.  We focus on temperature-sensitive ion channels, particularly TRPV1, TRPV4 and TRPA1. TRP channels are challenging structural biology targets because they are large multidomain eukaryotic membrane proteins and are not naturally abundant. We take complementary approaches to obtain structural and functional information on TRP channels, including crystallography, biochemistry and cell-based functional assays. The results can then combined to advance our understanding of TRP channel function. TRPV channels play key roles in pain, thermo- and mechanosensation, and calcium homeostasis, and mutations in the TRPV4 channel have been implicated in both neuronal degeneration diseases and skeletal dysplasias. Our studies on TRPV1 and TRPV4, the topic of this seminar, therefore have significant biomedical implications.