# Generic Assays for Functional Characterization (548-591)

> **NIH NIH P41** · NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER · 2020 · $59,424

## Abstract

Membrane proteins play critical roles in virtually all life processes. Membrane proteins regulate cellular
processes by functioning as gates for signal transduction, nutrition transport, defense from outside attack, and
maintenance of membrane homeostasis. However, due to difficulties in handling membrane proteins and the
requirement of a lipid-bilayer environment, functional studies are never straightforward and require substantial
efforts in labor-intensive screening for conditions suitable for functional characterization. To accelerate
functional studies of membrane proteins, we propose to develop a technical research resource for generic
functional characterization of membrane proteins. Built on our nearly ten years of research experiences on
membrane proteins and our functional characterization of more than a dozen novel membrane transporters,
channels and enzymes, we propose to develop complementary and synergic techniques in three sub-projects.
Aim 1 (TR&D3.1) focuses on the development of microscale thermophoresis technology for analysis of the
interactions, dynamics and kinetics of membrane proteins. Aim 2 (TR&D3.2) combines the complementary metaloxide-
semiconductor (CMOS) chips with the planar lipid bilayer membranes for recording membrane channels. Aim 3
(TR&D3.3) utilizes fluorescent and radioactive labels for probing uptake activities for membrane transporters and
channels. The three integrated technologies will be robust and transformative for characterization of challenging
membrane proteins.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9939555
- **Project number:** 5P41GM116799-05
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** WAYNE A. HENDRICKSON
- **Activity code:** P41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $59,424
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9939555

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9939555, Generic Assays for Functional Characterization (548-591) (5P41GM116799-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9939555. Licensed CC0.

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