Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
The discovery of a ‘negative regulator’ in the brain alters understanding of brain function and potential treatment of cognitive disorders
Jul. 21, 2020—Terunaga Nakagawa and the Vanderbilt Brain Institute discover new qualities of GSG1L, responsible for activity in the anterior thalamus.
Single mutation causes seizure disorder
Jun. 22, 2020—A single mutation in one gene can impair inhibitory signaling in the brain and cause multiple types of seizures and behavioral abnormalities.
New research reveals environmental pollutant in drinking water is more dangerous than previously understood
May. 26, 2020—Nancy Carrasco has found that the environmental pollutant perchlorate, found in drinking water in 49 states, is more dangerous than we knew.
Transporter’s role in gut barrier
Apr. 21, 2020—A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein impairs gut barrier function, leading to gastrointestinal disease and chronic infections.
Blocking stress-induced relapse
Apr. 8, 2020—Danny Winder and colleagues are teasing apart the actions of neurotransmitter receptors in a brain region linked to anxiety and addiction, with a goal of finding treatments for substance use disorders.
Protein interactions and brain function
Feb. 20, 2020—Roger Colbran and colleagues have discovered new molecular details about the function of an enzyme with a key role in shaping learning and memory.
Transporter mutation alters cell energy
Feb. 20, 2020—A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein causes cells to increase energy production, as if they are starving, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
A key to calcium signaling
Feb. 11, 2020—Erkan Karakas and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to determine structural details of a calcium channel protein that has numerous cell signaling roles.
Protein dynamics in the beating heart
Dec. 16, 2019—To study the dynamics of structural proteins in the heart, Vanderbilt investigators generated a cellular tool they expect will be useful for screening drugs that affect heart muscle contraction.
Blueprint for treating epilepsy
Nov. 14, 2019—Structural details of a protein that is essential to normal brain function could improve treatments for epilepsy and other seizure disorders.
How salt increases blood pressure
Sep. 5, 2019—Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that a protein called SGK1 in immune cells is activated by sodium, leading to the development of salt-sensitive hypertension.
New window on fibrosis
Aug. 8, 2019—A previously unrecognized role for a cell surface receptor may open new therapeutic options for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.