SMBp Group Meeting: Dr. Hiro Furukawa

Tuesday Sep 12, 2023, 2:00 PM → 3:00 PM America/New_York

3rd Floor Classroom/3-Flatiron Institute (162 5th Avenue)

Speaker: Dr. Hiro Furukawa

Topic: Dissecting functions and pharmacology of molecular machines mediating neurotransmission and neuromodulation


Abstract: Neurotransmission and cellular signaling are critical for brain development, function, and diseases. These processes rely heavily on ligand-gated ion channels that allow for the passage of ions across the cell membrane upon neurotransmitter binding. One example is N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a ligand-gated ion channel that opens its ion channels upon glycine and glutamate binding and membrane depolarization. NMDAR subunits, such as GluN1, GluN2(A-D), and GluN3(A-B), form heterotetrameric ion channels with distinct properties and spatiotemporal expression patterns. In this seminar, I will present mechanistic insights into functional transition, channel inhibition by therapeutic channel blockers (e.g., ketamine) and engineered antibodies, gained through single-particle cryo-EM, electrophysiology, and MD simulations. Additionally, I will present our recent progress in understanding the structures and functions of a large-pore channel called calcium homeostasis modulator (CALHM), which mediates ion and ATP flux in the brain and taste buds and modulates neuronal activities.