Biophysics of Cellular Transport
Title: Biophysics of Cellular Transport
DNr: SNIC 2022/5-606
Project Type: SNIC Medium Compute
Principal Investigator: Björn CG Karlsson <bjorn.karlsson@lnu.se>
Affiliation: Linnéuniversitetet
Duration: 2023-01-01 – 2024-01-01
Classification: 10602 10603 10407
Homepage: http://www.lnu.se/ppl
Keywords:

Abstract

The research activities described in the current application are several however all shed light on important aspects regarding the biophysics of membrane interaction and transport: Our aims are to perform: I. Studies on how physico-chemical characteristics of typically small organic drug molecules influences their bioavailability in terms of drug-membrane interactions and permeability. In order for drug molecules to reach their molecular targets they must be transported across e.g. phospholipid bilayer membrane barriers. Detailed computational studies of such transport processes can potentially lead to an understanding about the kinetics and thermodynamics involved thereby helping us to better predict the bioavailability of drugs. II. Studies on the structure and dynamics of proteins in order to understand cellular transport and its consequences for biological function. Light is also shed upon how these macromolecules can regulate cellular transport of nutrients such as ions. In parallel, work will be performed that will focus on correlations between the structure of alpha-synuclein and its interactions with membranes and consequences for biological function and implications for Parkinson's disease. III. Studies concerning general principles and laws of physical chemistry. For example, in one on-going study attention is directed on how the molecular structure of volatile organic compounds influences their dissolution and evaporation from non-ideal liquid mixtures in order to explain molecular factors that explain general physico-chemical behavior of such mixtures.