Nutrients and drugs move across membranes through different methods. A important goal of our research is to understand how these methods work at a molecular level. With this knowledge, we can better see how changes in cell function affect nutrient absorption, drug movement, and signaling within cells.
Remarkably, only 456 SLC proteins regulate the transport and distribution of >150,000 metabolites in the human body, so many important questions remain concerning the interplay between ligand selection and the ion gradients that regulate these systems.
As protons are a vital characteristic of organelle identity, addressing how the proton electrochemical gradient influences SLC function is fundamental to understanding cellular transport and physiology.
Ultimately, a focused understanding of SLC dynamics under different membrane environments will enable us to explore the fundamental connection between the membranes, nutrient transport and intracellular signalling.
