Conveners
M2-3 Functional Biophysics (DPMB) | Biophysique fonctionnelle (DPMB)
- Ozzy Mermut
G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) form a large family of more than 800 transmembrane proteins that serve as signal transducers between extracellular ligands, such as hormones or medicinal drugs, and intracellular mediators, such as G proteins and arrestins. Recent evidence suggests that, as opposed to the classical two-state model of a single unit switching from an inactive to an active...
The ubiquity of the nickel recovery slag deposited in the environment of the Sudbury, Ontario basin gives merit to the study of the impact this foreign material could potentially have on wildlife in the area. In this work, the effects of ingestion of this largely metallic grit source on the bone health of Columbia Livia Domestica pigeons was measured. This was accomplished by controlling the...
The vertebrate inner ear achieves high sensitivity and selectivity via active sensors known as hair cells. Hair cells use metabolic energy to generate force to improve their functionality, resulting in self-induced vibrations that can manifest as faint sounds akin to whispers – otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). OAEs are detectable in the ear canal using a sensitive microphone and can arise...
The healthy ear not only detects incident sound, but also generates and emits it as well. These sounds, known as otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), can arise spontaneously (SOAEs) and thus provide salient evidence that there is an active (metabolic-based) process taking place at the level of the inner ear. Such a process appears to enhance the sensitivity and frequency selectivity of hearing....
Membranes are an essential building block in cells, and their biophysical properties impact cellular metabolism and functions. Synthetic lipid membranes are widely used as model systems to understand properties of their much more complex biological counterparts. However, the accuracy of this approximation remains an open question. Advancements in sample preparation and instrumentation now...
