Theoretical Investigations into Permeation Dynamics in Calcium- and Potassium-Selective Membrane Ion Channels

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/418017

Funding Status
Closed

Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the .

Funded Activity Summary

All electrical activities in the brain are regulated by opening and closing of ion channels. Thus, understanding their mechanisms at a molecular level is a fundamental problem in biology. There are many different types of ion channels, each type fulfilling a different role. We now know the exact atomic structures of several types of the proteins forming ion channels. Using this newly unveiled information, we propose to build exact physical models of two important classes of ion channels, namely, the calcium channels and potassium channels, using the technique known as 'homology' modelling. Then, making use of powerful supercomputers and the special computer programs we have devised, we propose to follow the motion of ions as they move through the channel and study how some chemical compounds or drugs interfere with the normal functioning of the channel. Specifically, we will attempt to understand how verapamil, which is used to treat irregular heart beats and high blood pressure, interact with the calcium channel. Once we fully understand how these channels work, we will be able to understand the causes of, and possibly find the cures for, many neurological and muscular disorders, such as cardiac arhythmia and hypertension.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2007

End Date: 01-01-2009

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $517,243.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Biological Physics

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Brownian and molecular dynamics simulations | Calcium and potassium channels | Cardiac arhythmia and hypertension | Drug-channel interactions | Membrane Ion Channels | Modelling of Biological Ion Channels | Muscular disorders, e.g., myotonia congenita | Neurological disoders, e.g., epilepsy | Other channel related disorders

Related Links