Overview

We are interested in ion transporters associated with cellular acid-base, mainly HCO3- transporters, divalent cation homeostasis and anion transport. In particular, we focus our studies on epithelial cell physiology and development.

We clone mammalian, vertebrate and invertebrate transporter cDNAs and express the corresponding proteins in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Many of our studies use microelectrodes to measure ion activities and membrane potential / current by a variety of electrophysiology techniques. To better understand these ion transporters, we determine which cations and/or anions are transported. Using both chimeric protein approaches and site-directed mutagenesis, we are beginning to understand critical domains and residues of particularly HCO3- transporters. We also develop antibodies for protein localization in epithelial tissues.