Dr. Ernest M Wright
Membrane Biology
53-159 CHS
310-825-6905
ewright@mednet.ucla.edu
Visit my Lab
Research Interests:
Our goal is to understand the structure and function of cotransporter proteins. These are responsible for the active transport of molecules and ions into cells. Specifically, we study sodium glucose cotransporters (SGLTs). We use a combination of biophysical, biochemical, molecular, and structural, techniques to unravel how these molecular machines convert the energy stored in sodium gradients to drive the uphill transport of solutes. We also study genetic diseases of SGLTs where our goal is to determine how mutations cause transport defects. The cotransporters are expressed either in Xenopus laevis oocytes and mammalian cells for biophysical and biochemical studies, and Escherichia coli for the isolation of protein for structural studies. We are now imaging SGLT function in human subjects.
Representative Publications:
Structure and function of Na(+)-symporters with inverted repeats.
Abramson J, Wright EM.
Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2009 Aug;19(4):425-32. Epub 2009 Jul 22
The crystal structure of a sodium galactose transporter reveals mechanistic insights into Na+/sugar symport.
Faham S, Watanabe A, Besserer GM, Cascio D, Specht A, Hirayama BA, Wright EM, Abramson J.
Science. 2008 Aug 8;321(5890):810-4. Epub 2008 Jul 3.
How drugs interact with transporters: SGLT1 as a model.
Loo DD, Hirayama BA, Sala-Rabanal M, Wright EM.
J Membr Biol. 2008 May;223(2):87-106. Epub 2008 Jul 1
Representative Publications:
Chen, B.M. and Grinnell, A.D. (1997) Kinetics, Ca++ dependence, and biophysical properties of integrin-mediated mechanical modulation of transmitter release from frog motor neerve terminals. J. Neurosci. 17:904-916
Yazejian, B.M., Sun, X.-P., and Grinnell, A.D. (2000) Tracking presynaptic Ca++ dynamics during neurotransmitter release with Ca++-activated K+ channels. Nature Neurosci. 3:566-571.
Sun, V.-P., Yazejian, B, and Grinnell, A.D. (2004) Electrophysiological properties of BK channels in Xenopus motor nerve terminals. J. Physiol. 557:207-228
Synapse in Xenopus
Nerve-muscle cell culture
Freeze-etch of frog nmj
