Ion channels generate electrical current signals in the nervous system and are central to our perception of “Who We Are!”. Anomalies in their function often lead to deleterious consequences in living organisms. In humans, more than 60 channelopathies, including, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, congenital myasthenia gravis, lethal pterygium syndrome and cardiac arrhythmia etc., have been described which are due to mutations in ion channels and synaptic receptors that change their function. Not surprisingly, therefore, a whopping ~20% drugs in the pharmaceutical industries target ion channels.
The 'ion channel and receptor biology' lab has been largely focused on the structure-function of ion channels and their implications in human pathophysiological conditions. The lab employs a number of niche experimental and computational tools including, single channel and whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, stochastic data analyses, kinetic modelling, strategic protein engineering tools, molecular dynamics simulations, realistic neuronal simulation, microscopy and transcriptomic tools in mammalian cells and primary chick embryo neurons to understand the role of ion channels and synaptic receptors in various pathophysiological conditions.