Using the Patch-Clamp technique to shed light on ion channels structure, function and pharmacology / / Roberta Gualdani.

• Superior document: Premio Tesi di Dottorato
• VerfasserIn: Gualdani, Roberta,
• Place / Publishing House: Firenze, Italy : : Firenze University Press,, [2013]; ©2013
• Year of Publication: 2013
• Language: English
• Series: Premio Firenze University Press tesi di dottorato (Series)
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (64 pages).

Ion channels are membrane proteins that selectively allow ions to flow down their electrochemical gradient across the cellular membrane. They localize in both plasma and intracellular membranes and regulate a variety of functions such as neuronal excitability, heartbeat, muscle contraction and hormones release. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanism of ion channels function and regulation is one of the key goals of modern Biophysics. During my PhD thesis, by combining patch-clamp measurements with site-direct mutagenesis, fluorophore labeling experiments and pharmacological assays, I explored some functional and structural properties of different ion transporters: the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX); the large conductance Ca2+-voltage activated K+ channel (BK) channel; the human Transient receptor potential, member A1 (TRPA1) channel.

Table of Contents

Abstract -- Introduction -- Structural rearrangements of the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger (NCX1) revealed by Cut-Open Voltage Clamp Fluorometry -- Calcium Sensitivity of the human BKCa channel: the Role of Loop αG - βG in the RCK1 domain -- Blockade of hERG K+ channel by two novel quinazoline antimalarial drugs -- The antimigraine compound Parthenolide, contained in the Tanacetum Parthenium, activates and desensitizes the TRPA1 channel -- Acknowledgements.