Francisco Bezanilla

The main interest in the lab is the search for the dynamics of the molecular correlates of the function in membrane transport proteins. This is being approached with physical techniques such as temperature effects and complex capacitance measurements in the frequency domain combined with mutations of the molecule and assessed by gating currents, macroscopic currents and single molecule recordings. The correlation with structural changes are being monitored with optical techniques using real time fluorescence spectroscopy including lifetimes, changes in intensity and fluorescence resonance energy transfer from probes attached to strategic sites in the molecule of interest while being functional in the membrane.

The main interest in the lab is the search for the dynamics of the molecular correlates of the function in membrane transport proteins. This is being approached with physical techniques such as temperature effects and complex capacitance measurements in the frequency domain combined with mutations of the molecule and assessed by gating currents, macroscopic currents and single molecule recordings. The correlation with structural changes are being monitored with optical techniques using real time fluorescence spectroscopy including lifetimes, changes in intensity and fluorescence resonance energy transfer from probes attached to strategic sites in the molecule of interest while being functional in the membrane.

Starace, D.M and F. Bezanilla (2004). A proton pore in a potassium channel voltage sensor reveals a focused electric field. Nature.427:548-552.  

Chanda, B., R. Blunck, L. C. Faria, F. E. Schweizer, I. Mody & F. Bezanilla (2005). A hybrid approach to measuring electrical activity in genetically specified neurons Nature Neuroscience 8, 1619 - 1626 

Bezanilla, F. (2000) The voltage sensor in voltage-dependent ion channels. Physiological Reviews. 80:555-592.  

Starace, D.M and F. Bezanilla (2004). A proton pore in a potassium channel voltage sensor reveals a focused electric field. Nature.427:548-552.  

Chanda, B., R. Blunck, L. C. Faria, F. E. Schweizer, I. Mody & F. Bezanilla (2005). A hybrid approach to measuring electrical activity in genetically specified neurons Nature Neuroscience 8, 1619 - 1626 

Bezanilla, F. (2000) The voltage sensor in voltage-dependent ion channels. Physiological Reviews. 80:555-592.