Membrane transport is a vital physiological process that maintains cellular homeostasis, converts different energy forms, and transduces signals. Based on the studies of representative channels, uniporters, and secondary active transporters, our group seeks to unveil the governing principles of membrane transport. The resolution revolution in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has propelled structural biology into a new era. We combine cryo-EM, biochemical, and biophysical approaches to investigate the physiological and cellular processes involving membrane transport, with a particular focus on the generation and propagation of action potentials, and cellular homeostasis of sterols. We aim to decipher the atomic choreography of these essential physiological processes and contribute to structure-based drug discovery.

We are funded by NIH, NJCCR, Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, and Princeton University.