More than the background: the role of lipids in ion channel function

The generation of nerve impulses in responses to the senses, and how they are spread through the bodies is not fully understood. Such impulses are tightly controlled so that sensations dont feel too weak (absent) or too strong (painful), and so that they dont generate chaotic firing that can lead to seizures. This project aims to harness the collaborative expertise of multiple research teams to understand one way the individual cells in your body control such impulses through the properties of the cell membrane. The project is fundamental in nature, and will enrich our understanding of a range of biological processes that can be controlled by cell membranes. This research will have diverse implications, as we will study a range of organisms from humans to plants. For example, we will provide insight into our least understood sense, the ability to feel mechanical forces, as well as having benefit in agriculture and biotechnology providing directions for improving drought