Hjem
Timothy Lynaghs bilde

Timothy Lynagh

Forsker, Gruppeleder
  • E-posttim.lynagh@uib.no
  • Telefon+47 55 58 43 12+47 413 68 345
  • Besøksadresse
    Thormøhlens gate 55
    5006 Bergen
  • Postadresse
    Postboks 7800
    5020 Bergen

Certain cells in the nervous system (neurons) must rapidly convert surrounding chemical information into electrical signals. This is generally mediated by ligand-gated ion channels, proteins in the cell membrane that in response to chemical stimuli open an intrinsic channel, allowing the selective passage of electrolytes across the cell membrane.

Through this rapid chemo-electric signaling, ligand-gated ion channels – or receptors – make indispensable contributions to animal development and physiology and constitute important pharmacological targets. We use electrophysiological experiments, chemical biology, and molecular phylogenetics to dissect receptor function and evolution.

A major question we are pursuing is the evolution of excitatory neurotransmitter receptors in the nervous system. The chemical basis for the selective recognition of certain neurotransmitters by their receptors is not perfectly understood. We use cutting edge chemical biology together with comparative and evolutionary analyses to approach this question.

Utvalgte publikasjoner
  • Lynagh, Timothy; Mikhaleva, Yana; Colding, Janne M.; Glover, Joel; Pless, Stephan A. 2018. Acid-sensing ion channels emerged over 600 Mya and are conserved throughout the deuterostomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 115: 8430-8435. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1806614115
Vitenskapelig artikkel
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2024). Structural basis for excitatory neuropeptide signaling. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2024). Loss of activation by GABA in vertebrate delta ionotropic glutamate receptors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2023). Peripheral and central employment of acid-sensing ion channels during early bilaterian evolution. eLIFE. 25 sider.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2022). Comparative analysis defines a broader FMRFamide-gated sodium channel family and determinants of neuropeptide sensitivity. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2020). Peptide Inhibitors of the α-Cobratoxin–Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Interaction. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 13709-13718.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2020). Characterization of Schistosoma mansoni Glutamate-Gated Chloride Channels. Methods in molecular biology. 173-183.
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2018). Acid-sensing ion channels emerged over 600 MYA and are conserved throughout the deuterostomes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 8430-8435.
Sammendrag/abstract
  • Vis forfatter(e) (2023). FMRFamide-gated sodium channel diversity relationship to other DEG/ENaC channels, and the molecular basis for neuropeptide activity. Biophysical Journal.

Se fullstendig oversikt over publikasjoner i CRIStin.