Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Archives
Targeting glucagon action in diabetes
Mar. 4, 2021—Disrupting the action of glucagon — a pancreatic hormone that works to raise blood glucose — restores functional insulin-producing cells in mouse models of type 1 diabetes and may be a promising treatment strategy.
Histamine circuits in brain reward center
Oct. 29, 2020—Histamine — commonly associated with allergies — also has a signaling role in the brain’s reward center and may offer a novel target for treating addiction.
Brain blood vessel response to hypoxia
Oct. 15, 2020—The brain’s response to low oxygen — growth and remodeling of blood vessels — involves certain cell types and molecular pathways, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
Salt, immune cells and hypertension
Aug. 20, 2020—Excess dietary salt activates immune cells to induce inflammation and hypertension, supporting current recommendations for low sodium consumption.
Single mutation causes seizure disorder
Jun. 22, 2020—A single mutation in one gene can impair inhibitory signaling in the brain and cause multiple types of seizures and behavioral abnormalities.
Transporter’s role in gut barrier
Apr. 16, 2020—A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein impairs gut barrier function, leading to gastrointestinal disease and chronic infections.
Blocking stress-induced relapse
Mar. 19, 2020—Danny Winder and colleagues are teasing apart the actions of neurotransmitter receptors in a brain region linked to anxiety and addiction, with a goal of finding treatments for substance use disorders.
Protein interactions and brain function
Feb. 20, 2020—Roger Colbran and colleagues have discovered new molecular details about the function of an enzyme with a key role in shaping learning and memory.
Transporter mutation alters cell energy
Feb. 20, 2020—A disease-associated mutation in a transporter protein causes cells to increase energy production, as if they are starving, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
A key to calcium signaling
Feb. 11, 2020—Erkan Karakas and colleagues used cryo-electron microscopy to determine structural details of a calcium channel protein that has numerous cell signaling roles.
Reversing stress-related anxiety
Dec. 20, 2019—Inhibiting COX-2 — an enzyme associated with inflammation — could provide a novel therapeutic approach for stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Protein dynamics in the beating heart
Dec. 16, 2019—To study the dynamics of structural proteins in the heart, Vanderbilt investigators generated a cellular tool they expect will be useful for screening drugs that affect heart muscle contraction.
