The Pless lab focuses on developing and establishing cutting edge approaches to study the molecular function and pharmacology of membrane proteins such as P2X receptors. In particular, we aim to provide novel insights into 1) how drugs/ligands bind to ion channels, 2) how conformational changes in protein structure relate to its function and 3) how intra- and intermolecular interactions can fine-tune protein function. To this end, we use synthetic amino acids and fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with electrophysiological recordings to study a variety of aspects of the molecular function and pharmacology of P2X receptors. Visit www.theplesslab.com for more information.
Key publications
Kim, RY, Yau, MC, Galpin, JD, Seebohm, G, Ahern, CA, Pless, SA, Kurata, HT (2015) Atomic basis for therapeutic activation of neuronal potassium channels, Nat. Commun. 6:8116.
Pless SA, Galpin JD, Frankel A, and Ahern CA (2011) Molecular basis for class Ib antiarrhythmic inhibition of cardiac sodium channels. Nat.Commun. 2, 351.
Pless SA, Galpin JD, Niciforovic AP, and Ahern CA (2011) Contributions of counter-charge in a potassium channel voltage-sensor domain. Nat.Chem.Biol. 7, 617-623.