Postdoctoral Scholar

Anindita Das

Research Interests:

Cellular membranes, which define the boundaries of cells and organelles are critical for essential cellular functions like signal transmission, solute exchange, and vesicle trafficking. Additionally, approximately two-thirds of known drugs interact with membrane proteins. However, the structural and functional stability of these membrane proteins are significantly influenced by lipid-protein interactions. My research interests focus on investigating small molecule-induced changes in structural dynamics and the role of lipid-protein interactions in stabilizing the structure and function of ion channels/transporters. During my PhD at SINP Kolkata, I explored the structural dynamics of the voltage sensor of the voltage-gated K⁺ channel, KvAP in membrane-mimetic systems using site-directed fluorescence techniques. My first postdoctoral research at UT Health Houston involved studying ligand-induced conformational dynamics of glutamate receptors utilizing single molecule fluorescence (FRET and FLIM). In the Maduke lab, my research focuses on structural transitions associated with channel gating and pharmacological modulation of the CLC family of proteins.