User:Jon Sack: Difference between revisions
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== | ==Research interests== | ||
Electrical signaling in living cells controls a wide variety of arguably important physiological processes such as feeling, thinking, and heartbeat. Electrophysiological signals are created by proteins known as ion channels, and modulating the behavior of ion channels will alter the processes they control. The goal of my research program is to develop modulators selective for ion channel subtypes, to more precisely alter electrophysiological signals and identify channel subunits that generate native currents. Establishing the molecular identity of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels has been a particularly challenging problem: mammalian channels arise from a family of more than 40 genes, and pore-forming subunits can assemble as heterotetramers. Despite substantial and enduring efforts, few modulators of Kv channel activity have been discovered that are highly selective between channel subtypes. This is perhaps due to a high degree of sequence conservation between subfamily members in functionally important transmembrane segments. Our research efforts seek to enhance the selectivity of channel modulators by covalent attachment to benign, yet well-targeted, biologics. | |||
==Education== | ==Education== | ||
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* 2003 PhD, Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences | * 2003 PhD, Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences | ||
* 1997, BA, Reed College, Major in Biochemistry | * 1997, BA, Reed College, Major in Biochemistry | ||
==Institutional Affiliations== | ==Institutional Affiliations== | ||
Revision as of 16:35, 15 May 2010
Research interests
Electrical signaling in living cells controls a wide variety of arguably important physiological processes such as feeling, thinking, and heartbeat. Electrophysiological signals are created by proteins known as ion channels, and modulating the behavior of ion channels will alter the processes they control. The goal of my research program is to develop modulators selective for ion channel subtypes, to more precisely alter electrophysiological signals and identify channel subunits that generate native currents. Establishing the molecular identity of voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels has been a particularly challenging problem: mammalian channels arise from a family of more than 40 genes, and pore-forming subunits can assemble as heterotetramers. Despite substantial and enduring efforts, few modulators of Kv channel activity have been discovered that are highly selective between channel subtypes. This is perhaps due to a high degree of sequence conservation between subfamily members in functionally important transmembrane segments. Our research efforts seek to enhance the selectivity of channel modulators by covalent attachment to benign, yet well-targeted, biologics.
Education
- 2003 PhD, Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences
- 1997, BA, Reed College, Major in Biochemistry
Institutional Affiliations
Founder
Institute for Design of Intelligent Drugs
Protean Research
941 Roble Ridge
Palo Alto, California 94306
650.384.5792 tel
650.716.5222 fax
jon (at) sack (at) ididrugs (dot) org
Assistant Professional Researcher
Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior
College of Biological Sciences
University of California
196 Briggs Hall
One Shields Avenue
Davis, California 95616
530.752.4131 tel
530.754.6079 fax
jsack (at) ucdavid (dot) edu
