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Professor
Ph.D: University of Alabama in Birmingham
Post Doctoral: University of Alabama in Birmingham

Research interests: My primary research interests are to define structure/ function relationships within ion pumps. These pumps serve vital roles in the formation of ion pools used to maintain cell pH homeostasis, nutrient absorption, Ca-dependent intracellular signaling, nerve transduction and the secretion of gastric HCI. A central tenant for ion transport via these pumps is that they, in contrast to ion channels, couple ion movement to the hydrolysis of AT? by a series of "slow" conformational changes. The nteraction of specific domains during this process provides the basis for energy utilization, the formation of specific ion binding sites and the coupling of the two processes in active ion transport.

I am presently investigating the gastric H,K-ATPase, a member of the "P-type" ion pump family comprised of the Ca-ATPase, the Na,K-ATPase, the Neurospora H-pump and the H,K-ATPase. These enzymes share significant sequence homology within specific regions, but also display functional differences in the specificity and stoichiometry of ion transport. The discovery of the primary structure and resultant clues gained from comparisons of sequence homology to other related proteins have helped to partially identify a nucleotide and a cation binding domain within the ATPase. My work continues to define these sites within the H,K-ATPase to help determine how the coordination of concerted conformational changes within these sites leads to ion selectivity and energetically coupled transport.

My laboratory utilizes both protein based techniques such as HPLC, proteolytic mapping, affinity chromatography and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as nucleic acid based techniques such as PCR, site specific mutation and protein expression in mammalian cells. The combination of these techniques provides a means to evaluate the functional importance of specific sites within the a and B-subunits of the H,K-ATPase. The aim of this work is to develop an intimate knowledge of the conformationally sensitive interactions within the cytoplasmic, transmembrane and extracytoplasmic domains of the H,K-ATPase that contribute to the active and passive transport of ions.

Recent Publications:

A PubMed listing of research publications for Edwin C. Rabon, Ph.D.

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