Hille, Bertil

We are interested in cell signaling by ion channels, neurotransmitters and hormones acting through G-protein coupled receptors and intracellular calcium. Our overall goal is to define every step and the molecular mechanisms underlying physiologically interesting regulation of ion channels and membrane proteins in single cells, with emphasis on events that occur in time scales of microseconds to seconds.

Our work is biophysical and seeks quantitative explanation and modeling.  The cell membrane, cytoplasm and intracellular organelles form a rapidly interacting signaling network. We study single neurons, endocrine cells, epithelial cells, and cell lines using techniques associated with the patch clamp: voltage clamp, membrane capacitance, optical imaging, TIRF, FRET, and photometry of fluorescent dyes. We have analysed G-protein coupled modulation of neuronal Ca channels and K channels, exocytosis and secretion from vesicles, dynamics of intraorganellar calcium, and signaling and dynamics of metabolism of membrane phosphoinositide lipids.