Ian Outhwaite
Education:
B.A. Williams College (2017)
3rd Year MSTP
1st Year Graduate Student
Advisor:
Markus Seeliger
Biochemistry & Structural Biology
I am interested in studying the structural form of proteins and other macromolecules as they undergo physiologically relevant motions, which may facilitate the rational development of targeted therapeutics. I am also interested in protein engineering, particularly de novo protein design, since entirely novel mechanisms to perturb cellular systems can be developed. Previously, I explored what proteomic features may have allowed certain strains of marine cyanobacteria to adapt to particular environmental niches. My most recent project examined the structural rearrangement of an ion channel as it enters an open conformation, and how features of the open conformation may produce physiological characteristics of the channel.
Publications:
*Hou, X., *Outhwaite, I. R., Pedi, L., Long, S.B. Cryo-EM structure of the calcium release-activated calcium channel Orai in an open conformation. eLife 2020;9:e62772 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.62772
* Co-equal contribution