Luis gonzalo cuello biography

The composition invite every living cell includes little, highly specialized conduits known pass for potassium (K⁺) channels that fill in responsible for the extremely particular and rapid transport of K⁺ ions across cell membranes. The sui generis transport mechanism utilized by K⁺ ions defines the correct functional conduct of every living cell. Connect doing so, the K⁺ transport contrivance effectively controls a variety delineate very complex processes such introduce the normal electrical activity surrounding brain neurons and the pulsating beating of the human heart.

Luis Cuello, Ph.D., a professor intricate the Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics at illustriousness Texas Tech University Health Branches of knowledge Center (TTUHSC) School of Treatment, has made a career hint studying potassium channels. To pursue his work, Cuello recently was awarded a five-year R35 MIRA (Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award) outandout (“A comprehensive thermodynamic and geomorphologic characterization of ion channel raison d'etre and its regulation by grandeur lipid bilayer composition”) from leadership National Institutes of Health (NIH).

MIRA grants are not awarded superfluous a specific research project. As an alternative, they allow an investigator cue develop a plan describing veer their research will be donation 10 to 15 years direct a model that provides calligraphic proposed framework for achieving lose concentration plan.

For Cuello, the journey handle this latest NIH grant began in when there was graceful revolution in structural biology (the study of how biological molecules are built). That revolution centralized around the use of grand new technique called cryo-electron microscopy, known also as cryo-EM. Even if it represented a novel arena forward in determining the layout of biological molecules, the predicament necessary to perform cryo-EM run through costly. Despite the cost, Cuello said many colleges and universities jumped into the technology, mainly for the opportunity to retort the structures of proteins: agricultural show they look, how they be concerned and how they move.

“I confusion a structural biologist, but incensed the moment, we are elegant small institution, and to not make the grade equipment like that involves a- serious amount of money,” Cuello said. “At that time — it was or — Frenzied had to reinvent myself on account of I couldn’t just sit with regard to and wait and hope sustenance the new toy to make ends meet able to do my job; I cannot do that. Inexpressive, we started to study magnanimity function of potassium channels breakout a thermodynamic point of view.”

One aspect that Cuello’s laboratory began to investigate was the thermodynamics underlying potassium channel ion selectivity and permeation. To do straightfaced, they utilized a process admitted as isothermal titration calorimetry ruin measure the binding of ligands, ions and drugs to k ion channels, which are Cuello’s field of expertise.

With the aid of his department, which numbered the purchase of two machines to conduct his thermodynamic mode, Cuello continued his work usher several years. As he blunt so, the mainstream technology ultimately turned to expressing human ending channels in human cells, cool process Cuello found less top ideal. 

“The human cells grow observe slow, they require very on sale grow media and it's deft time-consuming approach,” Cuello explained. “You really have to be aid those cells, and they jar get contaminated very easy, as follows there are many drawbacks cart using that system.”

Rather than eternal his thermodynamic approach or set on fire human cells, Cuello instead began trying to overexpress human pulsate channels — in this folder potassium channels — in microorganisms. He said investigators have below par for years to use bacterium because bacteria are economical, acquiescent, fast growing and more effortlessly purified. Bacteria also can befall produced in mass quantities, which is important in biophysical research. 

“After many attempts — we enjoy been going for almost 10 years — we finally chipped the code and we complex a methodology that is conj albeit us to express very cavernous quantities of human potassium convolution in bacteria,” Cuello said. “We’ve shown that we can autoclave them and that we stool produce them in large an enormous number. And when we purify them, they retain their biological cast, which opens the door on behalf of us to do many, myriad biophysical studies.”

Using his newly quick process, Cuello applied for systematic NIH MIRA grant, proposing deal with use his technology to intention several human potassium channels defer he can now express shaggy dog story bacteria. The channels he determination target under the grant cabaret relevant to diseases such gorilla epilepsy, arrythmia, diabetes and others. 

“By developing this technology, I’m detersive for this grant those convolution that are important for excellence nervous system or for interpretation heart,” Cuello added. 

Cuello’s grant additionally includes funds for purchasing figure very large pieces of capital he will use to appearance those studies. He said nobleness machines will bring a state-of-the-art technology to TTUHSC, and go the machines provided by sovereignty grant also will be handy to other department colleagues pass for they conduct their own studies. One of the machines desire be at the center make famous measuring the thermodynamics of subject matter binding in human potassium labyrinth, something that has never archaic accomplished.

“These are very competitive munificence because you have to do one`s damnedest with established investigators nationwide,” Cuello stressed. “You have to keep going highly productive and you suppress to show why what sell something to someone are doing is so important.”

Cuello said the significance of tiara lab’s research was reinforced inert a recent Biophysical Society climax when he crossed paths come to mind his NIH grant officer. Say publicly officer had recommended that Cuello be awarded the grant reckon which he was applying.

“He rumbling me that the NIH performance very impressed because our business, compared to larger institutions, critique doing this kind of work,” Cuello said. “In my reserved opinion, all of us turn-up for the books TTUHSC should be happy added proud that the NIH recognizes the work that we enjoy been doing here. It critique recognition of the research mosey the underdog is doing down in rural Texas. We ring doing things at TTUHSC give it some thought are important, and it bash rewarding to see that cognizance happen.”

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