Two researchers from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have established a theoretical framework and practical protocol to translate the ligand-binding ability of ion channels into a holistic understanding of ion-channel function by...

Many researchers have postulated that the lipid composition of the membrane containing ion channels is critical for function. However, there are limited data about the structure and function of natively bound lipids. Some molecular simulation experiments have provided some insight; but, data from...

Cells communicate with each other by sending, receiving, and decoding signals. Signals that cannot cross the cell membrane directly – such as ions, water-soluble small molecules, and peptides – need to be detected by receptor proteins on the cell’s outer surface.