Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
Icln, volume-sensitive organic osmolyte-anion channels, VSOAC
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Political Science
Abstract
Cells respond to swelling by releasing ions to balance osmotic pressure with their surroundings. Ions travel out of cells by means of protein channels that form or open in response to increased pressure. The study of volume-sensitive organic osmolyte-anion channels (VSOAC) is relatively new. Other ion efflux pathways have been studied, but little is known about the mechanism and regulation of organic osmolyte release from cells. It has been proposed by Kevin Strange and Paul S. Jackson from Harvard Medical School that VSOAC channels are formed by a protein dimer of the 235 amino acid protein Icln.1 It has also been proposed by others that Icln is a channel regulator, rather than a channel former. In a series of experiments I studied the Icln protein in isolation to determine if, and with what regularity, it forms channels.
Recommended Citation
Maughan, Peter Hanks and Busath, David
(2013)
"DOES THE Icln PROTEIN FORM VOLUME-SENSITIVE ORGANIC OSMOLYTYANION CHANNELS?,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 387.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/387