Dr Kerry PriceUniversity positionResearch Associate DepartmentsHome pageResearch ThemeInterestsMy research involves receptors from the pentameric (Cys-loop) ligand gated ion channel superfamily. A couple of recent advances in the field have given some insight into the structure of related proteins, but the molecular details of the transitions involved in receptor activation and desensitization are still unclear. I have been using site-directed mutagenesis combined with radioligand binding, electrophysiology and structural modelling, to further define the residues involved in ligand binding and channel gating. I have also been testing different protein expression systems with a view to performing high resolution structural studies on this receptor.  A model of the pentameric 5-HT3 receptor highlighting loops thought to be involved in channel gating transitions Click image to view full-size Research Focus
EquipmentCalcium imaging Cell culture Computational modelling Confocal microscopy Electrophysiological recording techniques Fluorescence assays (Flexstation) Fluorescence microscopy FPLC/HPLC Immunohistochemistry Microscopy Protein purification Recombinant protein expression Whole cell patch clamp CollaboratorsNo collaborators listed Associated News ItemsKey publicationsSpurny R, Ramerstorfer J, Price K, Brams M, Ernst M, Nury H, Verheij M, Legrand P, Bertrand D, Bertrand S, Dougherty DA, de Esch IJ, Corringer PJ, Sieghart W, Lummis SC, Ulens C (2012), “Pentameric ligand-gated ion channel ELIC is activated by GABA and modulated by benzodiazepines.” Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109(44):E3028-34 Details Price KL, Millen KS, Lummis SC (2007), “Transducing agonist binding to channel gating involves different interactions in 5-HT3 and GABAC receptors.” J Biol Chem 282(35):25623-30 Details Price KL, Lummis SC (2005), “FlexStation examination of 5-HT3 receptor function using Ca2+ - and membrane potential-sensitive dyes: advantages and potential problems” J Neurosci Methods 149(2):172-7 Details Publications2013Spurny R, Billen B, Howard RJ, Brams M, Debaveye S, Price KL, Weston DA, Strelkov SV, Tytgat J, Bertrand S, Bertrand D, Lummis SC, Ulens C (2013), “Multisite binding of a general anesthetic to the prokaryotic pentameric Erwinia chrysanthemi ligand-gated ion channel (ELIC).” J Biol Chem 288(12):8355-64 Details 2012Ashby JA, McGonigle IV, Price KL, Cohen N, Comitani F, Dougherty DA, Molteni C, Lummis SC (2012), “GABA binding to an insect GABA receptor: a molecular dynamics and mutagenesis study.” Biophys J 103(10):2071-81 Details 2011Alqazzaz M, Thompson AJ, Price KL, Breitinger HG, Lummis SC (2011), “Cys-loop receptor channel blockers also block GLIC.” Biophys J 101(12):2912-8 Details Pless SA, Hanek AP, Price KL, Lynch JW, Lester HA, Dougherty DA, Lummis SC (2011), “A cation-π interaction at a phenylalanine residue in the glycine receptor binding site is conserved for different agonists.” Mol Pharmacol 79(4):742-8 Details Thompson AJ, Price KL, Lummis SC (2011), “Cysteine modification reveals which subunits form the ligand binding site in human heteromeric 5-HT3AB receptors.” J Physiol Details 2009Bartos M, Price KL, Lummis SC, Bouzat C (2009), “Glutamine 57 at the complementary binding site face is a key determinant of morantel selectivity for {alpha}7 nicotinic receptors.” J Biol Chem 284(32):21478-87 Details 2008Bower KS, Price KL, Sturdee LE, Dayrell M, Dougherty DA, Lummis SC (2008), “5-Fluorotryptamine is a partial agonist at 5-HT3 receptors, and reveals that size and electronegativity at the 5 position of tryptamine are critical for efficient receptor function.” Eur J Pharmacol 580(3):291-7 Details Price KL, Bower KS, Thompson AJ, Lester HA, Dougherty DA, Lummis SC (2008), “A hydrogen bond in loop A is critical for the binding and function of the 5-HT3 receptor.” Biochemistry 47(24):6370-7 Details 2006Melis C, Chau PL, Price KL, Lummis SC, Molteni C (2006), “Exploring the binding of serotonin to the 5-HT3 receptor by density functional theory.” J Phys Chem B 110(51):26313-9 Details Sullivan NL, Thompson AJ, Price KL, Lummis SC (2006), “Defining the roles of Asn-128, Glu-129 and Phe-130 in loop A of the 5-HT3 receptor.” Mol Membr Biol 23(5):442-51 Details 2005Thompson AJ, Price KL, Reeves DC, Chan SL, Chau PL, Lummis SC (2005), “Locating an antagonist in the 5-HT3 receptor binding site using modeling and radioligand binding.” J Biol Chem 280(21):20476-82 Details 2004Beene DL, Price KL, Lester HA, Dougherty DA, Lummis SC (2004), “Tyrosine residues that control binding and gating in the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor revealed by unnatural amino acid mutagenesis.” J Neurosci 24(41):9097-104 Details Price KL, Lummis SC (2004), “The role of tyrosine residues in the extracellular domain of the 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor.” J Biol Chem 279(22):23294-301 Details 2003Reeves DC, Sayed MF, Chau PL, Price KL, Lummis SC (2003), “Prediction of 5-HT3 receptor agonist-binding residues using homology modeling.” Biophys J 84(4):2338-44 Details 2000Fragale A, Aguanno S, Kemp M, Reeves M, Price K, Beattie R, Craig P, Volsen S, Sher E, D'Agostino A (2000), “Identification and cellular localisation of voltage-operated calcium channels in immature rat testis.” Mol Cell Endocrinol 162(1-2):25-33 Details |