|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
William Parsons
Chemistry
Bio-X SIGF Fellow 2010
Professor Justin Du Bois (Chemistry)
Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) mediate electrical conduction in neuronal cells and play an essential role in pain sensation. Consequently, VGSC malfunction, improper regulation, and abnormal cellular localization have been implicated in a number of pain pathologies. To better understand the causative link between VGSCs and pain, William has designed small molecule probes derived from the potent VGSC blocker saxitoxin that can be used for multimodal real-time imaging of this protein class. William's studies capitalize on the interplay of complex molecule synthesis, molecular biology, electrophysiology, fluorescent imaging, and live animal experiments to investigate fundamental aspects of VGSC dynamics. |
 |
|
 |
|
|
