Our lab started with chemicals that target ion channels and are still doing some of this however now we're working on doing this with fully exogenous electromagnetic fields. In both cases the core model update is that rather than targeting specific channels to alter ion flows based on diffusion effects, we've shifted our focus toward directly modulating the protein-water-ion interactions inside the cell
This is very interesting indeed. I’ve proposed creating micro voxel endogenous (in vivo) fields via biocompatible material encapsulated semiconductor fragments which contain radio accessible programmable elements in control of various solid state beam and field generators (e..g. ultrasonic, EM etc). But that was aimed at targeting individual ion channels the need for which I am now going to reconsider ofcourse! :)
So many questions after reading this. So what exactly are the membrane pumps doing then? What are the 'big picture' implications of this hypothesis if true for biomedical science? Also: please forgive me but a very minor correction: Nasonov was a Soviet citizen ;-)
Membrane pumps are still hydrolyzing ATP and facilitating the movement of ions in this model. We would argue just more likely as stabilizers or fine-tuners rather than the main drivers of ion balance.
As far as big picture: think about what would it look like to target diseases that are currently pegged to faulty pumps or channel protein expression as if they are instead the product of internal structural problems. We don't know the answer to that yet, but we're working on it! In short, think the shape of the solution is going to look more like an MRI that has read AND write capability as opposed to drugs & gene therapies.
Love this!
I listen intently.
How can we control ion flow and electric field gradient using this knowledge?
Our lab started with chemicals that target ion channels and are still doing some of this however now we're working on doing this with fully exogenous electromagnetic fields. In both cases the core model update is that rather than targeting specific channels to alter ion flows based on diffusion effects, we've shifted our focus toward directly modulating the protein-water-ion interactions inside the cell
This is very interesting indeed. I’ve proposed creating micro voxel endogenous (in vivo) fields via biocompatible material encapsulated semiconductor fragments which contain radio accessible programmable elements in control of various solid state beam and field generators (e..g. ultrasonic, EM etc). But that was aimed at targeting individual ion channels the need for which I am now going to reconsider ofcourse! :)
So many questions after reading this. So what exactly are the membrane pumps doing then? What are the 'big picture' implications of this hypothesis if true for biomedical science? Also: please forgive me but a very minor correction: Nasonov was a Soviet citizen ;-)
Membrane pumps are still hydrolyzing ATP and facilitating the movement of ions in this model. We would argue just more likely as stabilizers or fine-tuners rather than the main drivers of ion balance.
As far as big picture: think about what would it look like to target diseases that are currently pegged to faulty pumps or channel protein expression as if they are instead the product of internal structural problems. We don't know the answer to that yet, but we're working on it! In short, think the shape of the solution is going to look more like an MRI that has read AND write capability as opposed to drugs & gene therapies.
Thanks for the note on Nasanov, will update (:
“MRI read and write” - that would be amazing :-o
“diseases that are currently pegged to faulty pumps or channel protein expression”
That’s a lot! (many of them cancers too…..)”
Not really getting how the 'writing' might happen...
Have you written more about this somewhere