Details of the available projects

Life/Coordination-Complex Molecular Science

Project Title: Investigation of Molecular Mechanisms of Transporters and Receptors in Cell Membrane
Associate Professor: Yuji FURUTANI
https://www.ims.ac.jp/en/research/group/furutani/

Details of the project:

Our main goal is observing structural changes of protein relating to its function mainly by using stimulus-induced difference FT-IR spectroscopy and revealing the structure–function relationship of various types of membrane protein which function as transporter, channel or receptor.
1) Infrared spectroscopy for ion pump or channel proteins
2) Preparation of membrane protein (e.g. archaeal-type rhodopsin)
3) Constructing a rapid mixing device utilized for spectroscopic study

References:

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133, 2860, 2011; J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 3, 2964, 2012; J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 3, 3806, 2012; J. Phys. Chem. B 117, 3449, 2013; BIOPHYSICS 9, 123, 2013

Required skills:

Experience of preparation of chemical reagents, and basic knowledge on UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy is requested.