BARRERA LAB

The plasma membrane constitutes the boundary that delineates communication between cells and their environment. As a consequence, any cell-based therapy entails interaction with membrane components. In fact, half of the currently used drugs target membrane proteins, primarily receptors. The study of cellular membranes is living a sustained growth, and important discoveries are being made establishing the biological relevance of this vital entity. Intense areas of study include lipid regulation of membrane protein structure of function, membrane nanodomains, the dynamic interplay of peripheral membrane proteins and the formation of membrane protein complexes. The Barrera laboratory uses biophysical, biochemical, molecular biology, cell biology and computational tools to investigate the interplay between proteins and lipids in systems of biomedical relevance.

Primary location: Knoxville United States