tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62953862686685517622024-03-05T12:48:25.658-08:00The Ahern Lab – BlogChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-65748916742592076272013-05-02T10:08:00.002-07:002013-05-03T10:58:33.615-07:00Stephan does it again at Nature CommunicationsThis week yet another paper at the nascent e-journal <i><a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n4/full/ncomms2761.html" target="_blank">Nature Communications</a> </i>emerges from the publishing machine that is Dr. Stephan Pless. This was our longest running and most difficult project to date and seeing it come out in such a great journal is fantastic. I'll let folks read the <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n4/full/ncomms2761.html" target="_blank">paper</a> to see what its all about but the summary is that the data (actual and theoretical) support the existence of a <i>repulsive </i>interaction between a co-evolved glutamate and phenylalanine side-chain that serves to 'fine-tune' channel gating by mildly destabilizing the open state of the channel. There are most likely (many) other (unidentified) players in this crowded region of the channel, including lipids (and their polar head groups), maybe even PIP molecule or two, and the interaction as we describe it requires that the Phe aside chain is more or less fixed and facing the carboxylate of the glutamate side-chain. But even with all of those qualifiers aside, its a pretty interesting possibility and might be important for the potassium channel's big brother, the sodium channel, where mutations at these sites can lead to inherited arrhythmia and painful syndromes. <br />
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This was the first project that Stephan and I decided to tackle in the newly founded lab way back in 2008. The idea was simple: lets look at the energetic basis for why a group of aromatic phenylalanine and tyrosine residues that cluster around the inner opening of the channel are so important for potassium channel function. I mean, if you do even modest mutations at any of these sites one ends up with functionally dead or a seriously messed up channel, so these residues must be doing something important, right? We had just begun setting up the in vivo nonsense suppression in the lab (no small feat itself) and we had a full toolbox of nonnatural derivatives of Phe.......so it seemed it would an easy way to quickly get a paper out for the lab and for Stephan's postdoc. How wrong we were. Almost 100 mutations (thanks, Ana!!), more than a few mix-ups (and emotional ups and downs), and 4+ years later, its out. Lets just say it was an extended labor to birth this beast, and anesthetic was often required. We owe a huge debt to our collaborator and friend <a href="http://crg.ubc.ca/kurata/">Harley Kurata</a> and his math wiz undergrad, John-Jose (aka J^2) Nunez for their help with the kinetic schemes and their work on the SCA analysis, which both served to push the story over the top. Jason played a key chemical role as always with his input and timely turn-around on the synthesis requests. Working with such great people makes our science better. period. <br />
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See it <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n4/full/ncomms2761.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Congrats all around....and now onto the next one.........Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-62365105926303077572013-04-26T14:20:00.005-07:002013-04-28T23:18:55.002-07:00Welcoming Lilia (to the website) This week, well technically last week, Lilia's webpage went live on the Ahernlab website. You can now see Lilia's love/hate relationship with the durable yeast strains that she is using in the lab to make some cool new tools. We are absolutely thrilled to have Lilia on our site and in the lab. <br />
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Lilia is what as known as a "dominant positive" player in the lab (opposed to those 'dominant negative' folks). She is smart, funny and most importantly, she doesn't hesitate to tell me when I'm wrong. I am a better person and scientist just for knowing her and the lab is a better place because she is here. We look forward to great things coming from her project and to the good times ahead. Prost!<br />
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Given that its Friday, spring has arrived and the lab has been making some fantastic progress this week We leave you with this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnGzl-OEyGE" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnGzl-OEyGE</a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-13737876280325384792013-04-10T18:18:00.003-07:002013-04-15T11:46:43.317-07:00Sodium channel review gets top ranking in Biophys J in 2012Friends of the lab, <a href="http://crg.ubc.ca/VanPetegem/people.html" target="_blank">Filip</a>, Paolo and I, recently put together a review on the regulation of sodium channels by intracellular calcium ions. Like all channel fields trying to study modulation, things are a bit tricky. These physiological tweaks of channel gating, wether it be (dreaded) phosphorylation or any other labile modification of channels, Ca2+ regulation of sodium channels has been a function enigma since its initial description. Simply put, scientists see variable functional effects on channel gating when intracellular calcium levels are varied. We did our best to summarize these different results and propose a novel mechanism of channel facilitation. Check out the details <a href="http://www.cell.com/biophysj/retrieve/pii/S0006349512011253" target="_blank">here</a>. Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-90957013404063866192011-09-27T22:56:00.001-07:002011-09-27T22:59:56.338-07:00Researcher Profile ALERT!! Presenting... STEPHAN PLESS!!My good friend and colleague Stephan is the latest researcher to be profiled here at the Ahern Lab Blog!! Follow the link to his YouTube video:<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGDJUTCLis0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGDJUTCLis0</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next year I will compile all the footage I took from Wreck Beach and we will have an even more intimate portrait of Herr Pless...</div>Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-11000865496297758132011-09-15T15:33:00.000-07:002013-04-15T11:48:04.474-07:00Researcher Profile ALERT!! Presenting... ANA NICIFOROVIC!!The one person who keeps it all together, the glue that prevents us from falling apart, the scientist that can't stop making mutations (because Stephan won't let her), the one and only Ana is featured in the latest instalment of Ahern Researcher profiles. Follow the link to the YouTube video!!:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0033cc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwXX05TvrPc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwXX05TvrPc</a></span></span></span></div>
Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-81764399604481827692011-08-17T23:38:00.001-07:002011-08-17T23:48:11.286-07:00Stephan nabs the cover of Nature Chemical Biology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZHvK-HEzWwQ5TKWDczFZysNGvlvZRXD6Z_NsPuRgQNQLhCS9aQnPQwAIGiG68gfcOvAANPtuotOvOXS3ictfcWGGwU-y0RezMM8BLDdDLMzKPDvw_6thV8Pc0suoTRGFNiNhj0SYTqON/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-08-17+at+11.20.37+PM.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZHvK-HEzWwQ5TKWDczFZysNGvlvZRXD6Z_NsPuRgQNQLhCS9aQnPQwAIGiG68gfcOvAANPtuotOvOXS3ictfcWGGwU-y0RezMM8BLDdDLMzKPDvw_6thV8Pc0suoTRGFNiNhj0SYTqON/s200/Screen+shot+2011-08-17+at+11.20.37+PM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642081855935006290" border="0" /></a>Stephan makes it 3 in 2011 with a new paper in Nature Chemical Biology to complete his research hat-trick. Thanks to Christina for the awesome cover art, and to the lab for the excellent stuff they do everyday.
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<br />Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-43575350768901282842011-08-13T18:24:00.000-07:002011-08-13T18:28:14.075-07:00Ahern Lab Bonus Video Featurette!!As promised, here we present an extra dollop of wisdom from Dr. Sam Goodchild on the link between presenting a compelling scientific narative and producing a documentary film. No pipet tips were harmed in the recording of this video.<div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3jmqn4bYYA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3jmqn4bYYA </a></div>Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-78766079922619007232011-08-12T13:31:00.000-07:002011-08-12T13:36:02.639-07:00Researcher Profile ALERT!! Presenting... DR. SAM GOODCHILD!!At long last we get to see a senior member of the research staff in the Ahern lab, and hear some personal views on the narrative links between art and science. Also, some stuff about electrophysiology.<div>
<br /></div><div>Here is the link to the YouTube video:</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ysz_aMYPE0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ysz_aMYPE0</a></div>Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-75923836774666837642011-08-08T19:54:00.000-07:002011-08-08T20:29:30.961-07:00A trip up northRebecca, Sam & Stephan took on a lot of snow to scale Tricouni Peak last weekend <a href="http://www.trekbc.ca/Members/Hikes/Location/Squamish/Tricouni%20Peak/index.php">www.trekbc.ca/Members/Hikes/Location/Squamish/Tricouni Peak/index.php</a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmYvglRnKvaDdy-jTmZzUSGxElAoroGMrUce-O_avU1fTQ9r_R2r7TZb4Z1zmN8l-H0e3-hqZuiiPLr6pmOjRQG0xxmQEJqrAp0BN4rwYMQ8r2Y31900bQxpaqFjkQMVgD-jGOmW-dR8R/s1600/IMG_6736.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmYvglRnKvaDdy-jTmZzUSGxElAoroGMrUce-O_avU1fTQ9r_R2r7TZb4Z1zmN8l-H0e3-hqZuiiPLr6pmOjRQG0xxmQEJqrAp0BN4rwYMQ8r2Y31900bQxpaqFjkQMVgD-jGOmW-dR8R/s400/IMG_6736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638685722452778850" border="0" /></a>
<br />Stephanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487192005330999145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-68970257834345941222011-06-14T11:13:00.000-07:002011-06-14T11:20:08.943-07:00Happy DaysIt's official, the Ahern lab's first Nature family paper is out: <a href="http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v2/n6/full/ncomms1351.html">http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v2/n6/full/ncomms1351.html</a><br /><br />For those less inclined to chew through all the scientific details, here is the Faculty of Medicine's take on it: <a href="http://www.med.ubc.ca/home.htm">http://www.med.ubc.ca/home.htm</a>Stephanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487192005330999145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-12026860614825514882011-04-14T22:48:00.000-07:002011-04-14T23:13:35.803-07:00Researcher Profile ALERT!! Presenting... SORA LEE!Welcome to the very first video profile of the Ahern lab members, a series which over the coming weeks will see many short vignettes and profiles of the hard-working, creative and fun people from, you guessed it, the Ahern lab! Please watch the video on the YouTube link provided, but for completeness it is posted here in a savagely degraded form.<div><br /></div><div>MUCH better YouTube link:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf3QMItKqV4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf3QMItKqV4</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyf30RsOgpWOkBTcvTQD3_xCnPfL4CS_rBdBZ8uzJK1XWhwKdbsyhGnQ_nYdlDHySvoQ6o8vRXHSIw51khy1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-56956697133300402402011-03-23T10:11:00.000-07:002011-03-23T11:05:11.821-07:00The Ahern Lab Introductory VideoHere is a post that I'm sure many of you will enjoy, some will like and a few will shake their heads at. Be sure to check back here in the coming weeks for more video profiles and behind-the-scenes looks at the inner workings of our thoroughly modern research laboratory. This weekend some of the lab are off to Mount Baker for another ski retreat so prepare thyself for more photographs of snow-filled hijinks.<div><br /></div><div>PS - here is a link to a MUCH better quality version of the video:</div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxkdmOi9oxI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxkdmOi9oxI</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw21pjUmj3W-I4jTj2juxFHN5TsJqV_FA--_FlI6hQn1f7iAKW8ZpS4J47c0t147YSTPVhF6IHWejfw0OsR1g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jason Galpinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14256365583501946407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-85230162569831216942011-03-18T11:32:00.000-07:002011-03-19T09:28:27.206-07:00joys of sciencethanks to dr galpin for providing 450 microliter of the good stuff - how could the week end better!?Stephanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487192005330999145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-76105093902973608532011-02-18T19:20:00.000-08:002011-02-18T19:59:30.146-08:00Ricardo's first timeCongrats to Ricardo for his first publication, an insightful piece of work that enlightens us on yet another compound that turns on TRPV1 channels - currently in press at the flagship journal of all <span class="webmail-channel-text">anesthesiology-related endeavours, carrying one of the most straight forward names ever, </span><span class="webmail-channel-text"><a href="http://journals.lww.com/anesthesiology/pages/default.aspx">Anesthesiology</a></span>.Stephanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487192005330999145noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-2332532108850013462011-02-08T22:00:00.000-08:002011-02-08T22:10:38.811-08:00Utopia Retreat<span style="" lang="EN-US">On the last January weekend the Ahern and Kurata empires joined forces and left cold and rainy Vancouver to search for the much coveted ‘Utopia’ (aka Mt. Baker) just south of the iron bureaucracy curtain. After a more or less smooth ride across that magic line we gathered in one of our two mansions to present each other with our latest scientific achievements – while simultaneously boring our significant (but not so scientific) others to death. After surviving this initiation rite we left all science behind and, for two days straight, indulged in enormous quantities of great food, gorgeous weather on the mountain, great skiing / snowboarding and fun times in the hot tub (sorry Jason, no nudity).</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="" lang="EN-US">Special thanks to Pam & Chris for a heroic shopping effort; Ana, Pam and Jason for (most of) the cooking; Harley´s special talent with hillbilly tunes; our generous funding sources – and Bea for putting constant smiles on everybody’s faces!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="" lang="EN-US">Mt. Baker, we will be back.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JRc1cU1bNPEgRepu0JodpWKtaGH0sZGofTMJ8wdG71IgcWQVoX4YOD7kENEdlXEhzcpzrm1A5H0bl0ejfzaZ1N8wyRw4lViTNl8vf_OF4DnoQo3k4ywu0sMUMtW6VA0oz5PHPMpEKJdi/s1600/IMG_4625.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JRc1cU1bNPEgRepu0JodpWKtaGH0sZGofTMJ8wdG71IgcWQVoX4YOD7kENEdlXEhzcpzrm1A5H0bl0ejfzaZ1N8wyRw4lViTNl8vf_OF4DnoQo3k4ywu0sMUMtW6VA0oz5PHPMpEKJdi/s400/IMG_4625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571566417201958098" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcwdQ7KGqcSfwJVdhj3_M83TlB2ucPH6feBDLL-rk_GkaEe31XuvLFFXdaJsgQpGHiorQfSg-RTA_Tal4OjZzku-fHyJfmhU06DDcsit8wH-v2wdFs0-M7ZIlTDzRLCEj1uvxRVpjtt8/s1600/P1225609.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwcwdQ7KGqcSfwJVdhj3_M83TlB2ucPH6feBDLL-rk_GkaEe31XuvLFFXdaJsgQpGHiorQfSg-RTA_Tal4OjZzku-fHyJfmhU06DDcsit8wH-v2wdFs0-M7ZIlTDzRLCEj1uvxRVpjtt8/s400/P1225609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571566707655394674" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB2EXqPrZEmaTCA6xjolTwoGtsTeRX-c6FGd_WvNVeQFGvisRVFktpLMbFYxwhn9XWiYNpyKlV2Ae1g5feM-JGH0OMKpRoTOzuBERh8T3cefehhV9jt6-iZzL5PPDQ84xqR8A2TK2_iS2/s1600/IMG_4590.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB2EXqPrZEmaTCA6xjolTwoGtsTeRX-c6FGd_WvNVeQFGvisRVFktpLMbFYxwhn9XWiYNpyKlV2Ae1g5feM-JGH0OMKpRoTOzuBERh8T3cefehhV9jt6-iZzL5PPDQ84xqR8A2TK2_iS2/s400/IMG_4590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571567382675450306" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13wS5KJ8rl_VZav9PUkX2NAg4hNWgQ0nR3h-7kbK9zLOInM7uJD_pMWk7wQusKzX9Iy7s03-nrMgNxO4NSur_N4rJqhIjGcj6PYAGfOGl_h2IipcXdZo4ujpTsJxt5wUSSC292Yd_2foA/s1600/IMG_4601.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13wS5KJ8rl_VZav9PUkX2NAg4hNWgQ0nR3h-7kbK9zLOInM7uJD_pMWk7wQusKzX9Iy7s03-nrMgNxO4NSur_N4rJqhIjGcj6PYAGfOGl_h2IipcXdZo4ujpTsJxt5wUSSC292Yd_2foA/s400/IMG_4601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571567310757960002" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY1QXBdXkS3UeSY6aFk33n6YuGtUbFZiLVsxbMf0dMgXV6u2ZlIZiQRPJ3rIyvgEm9Lx71bOVebP9rPzreOITa1pqWY4une_psnzLwB8Xet5UtrzgGu5wHUJQ4RZshgYGXdbeQotDF4Bw/s1600/P1225625.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; 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text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqenehTPAbkfchfLQ_vyKGjxAPNIXctxtgUGZqRKWenpABzkAKRoLBMTuAADe_J7kdbiyA3I_WvbsEZZBEFWJEoRRWvDut7w9UiyOphicdJT3ObBHPY6na7gmUO8o3oDTF3obxvi_ncuDL/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqenehTPAbkfchfLQ_vyKGjxAPNIXctxtgUGZqRKWenpABzkAKRoLBMTuAADe_J7kdbiyA3I_WvbsEZZBEFWJEoRRWvDut7w9UiyOphicdJT3ObBHPY6na7gmUO8o3oDTF3obxvi_ncuDL/s400/IMG_4588.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571567233537564066" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0N2MAzVwD90gn2NUNPxt8DLYWWT9fNv8rfT-2XwbTHvs1XhzWBgqW4pOyKLNwODcDhBzj5Rn4tVQGjXRT9ZIU-gPGP7cJfXK5ks7t5YpGyovE4U5daiIlvI3qb5EpcJsQqy1IfxOHIZrK/s1600/IMG_4628.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0N2MAzVwD90gn2NUNPxt8DLYWWT9fNv8rfT-2XwbTHvs1XhzWBgqW4pOyKLNwODcDhBzj5Rn4tVQGjXRT9ZIU-gPGP7cJfXK5ks7t5YpGyovE4U5daiIlvI3qb5EpcJsQqy1IfxOHIZrK/s400/IMG_4628.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571567081618150882" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Stephanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17487192005330999145noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-48255350013987699402010-11-27T18:59:00.000-08:002010-11-27T19:01:38.870-08:00First taste of the fresh and local snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYChxC4Xw8Zcw5rDPxeFi34B-06H1mQPAoqK5h9Qt8mCahutbeYrjqMcukauA7gxkARNaeY1WvXA_J1vdjGIQFUD3g-4tOUlmVpdDQc2Wxglc9bmIncYxdd9u0Ld3YikMBOpP-ZQtyQ6Ol/s1600/11272010004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYChxC4Xw8Zcw5rDPxeFi34B-06H1mQPAoqK5h9Qt8mCahutbeYrjqMcukauA7gxkARNaeY1WvXA_J1vdjGIQFUD3g-4tOUlmVpdDQc2Wxglc9bmIncYxdd9u0Ld3YikMBOpP-ZQtyQ6Ol/s200/11272010004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544430101861819698" border="0" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-85404701844800445292010-11-10T21:23:00.000-08:002010-11-10T21:36:36.577-08:00Congrats to the Van Petegem Lab!We can't always have all the fun with our own publications so it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the neighboring lab of collaborator Dr. Filip Van Petegem for his <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/archive/subject.html?code=npg_subject_535">Nature</a> paper this week. Filip and his crew have been tackling the structural challenges of the biggest ion channel of them all, the 2.5 megadalton beast known as the Ryanodine Receptor. This structure of this channel is of interest (and importance) because it controls calcium release in skeletal and cardiac muscle. In this weeks issue of Nature, Filip presents a high resolution crystal structure the biggest piece of the N-terminal domain of the channel to date which highlights a hot-spot of cardiovascular mutations. Way to go on a beautiful bit of science.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-9938498690494864272010-11-10T08:44:00.000-08:002010-11-10T21:23:04.562-08:00Fall is the season of changeWith the changing of the seasons come the obvious references to life cycles in nature. Death, birth, repeat. While lab life is not so severe, we are welcoming some new members while seeing some long time labbies move on to greener pastures. Any returning visitors to the webpage (if there are such folks) will soon notice some changes to our personnel. For one, our most recent rock star undergraduates, Fayeza Islam and Ada Leung, have done some really stellar work in the Ahern lab and now that they've moved on, we thank them for their efforts and wish them the best in the endeavors ahead. <br /><br />I would also like to welcome our newest member, Dr. Jason Galpin, as our in house organic synthesist. Jason is an all around great dude and an exceptional amino acid chemist who will bring his talents to help us in the production of exotic and benign residues for our ion channel research. <br /><br />And lastly, after 2.5 years at the helm of this ongoing experiment of running a lab I'm now looking forward to reflecting on the transition from post-doc to PI and all the pitfalls along the way. The journey is by no means over and I'm happy that you are along for the ride. Stay tuned.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-63741260571340943002010-05-15T18:06:00.001-07:002010-05-15T18:17:27.635-07:00Welcome to the Official Dude-in-Residence, Dr. Sebastian BrauchiThis week, with great pride, we announce the arrival of Sebastian 'Chino' Brauchi to UBC to work, teach and hold court in the lab for the next 6 weeks. Chino has been recently awarded the Life Sciences Centre Visiting Scholar Award for 2010 which affords him bragging rites, not to mention support for some research goodies in addition to travel and lodging at UBC. He is an world-class TRP-channel pro who has recently founded his lab in beautiful (and equally rainy) Valdivia, Chile. We look forward to seeing some cool and interesting things come out of his time here. Welcome to Chino, let the good times roll.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-41277570476184721752010-05-15T17:55:00.000-07:002010-05-15T18:05:56.672-07:00Springtime in Vancouver<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVjDhBTkgaNi3Bs7xosW54uZ7SG6hPmXg_pWkFoX3q0grl4tcnVr_GoRvHD0CUnMvoveRimlfsMnZBkVYK8i2PrleJdrVjIipiV1p9oyTeoUsOQjCdzZebnP0noaU9m3pwHMdjVHx4FYB/s1600/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVjDhBTkgaNi3Bs7xosW54uZ7SG6hPmXg_pWkFoX3q0grl4tcnVr_GoRvHD0CUnMvoveRimlfsMnZBkVYK8i2PrleJdrVjIipiV1p9oyTeoUsOQjCdzZebnP0noaU9m3pwHMdjVHx4FYB/s200/IMG_0207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471667741785947954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Spring has finally gotten it's act together in the pacific northwest. We took advantage of the mountains being open after the Olympics and a late snowfall to catch a last day on the slopes at Cypress. Here's Stephan and Sam coming down the Olympic snowboard pipe. Looking sweet, fellows.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-78017849844062443032010-03-23T22:48:00.000-07:002010-03-23T23:13:52.691-07:00Cofessions of a negligent bloggerSometimes, it's not enough to just say that time flies. Since my last post in November the holiday season has come and gone, as have the Vancouver Olympic games. On top of those goings on, the lab is chugging along at full speed. <br /><br />News to follow. <br /><br />really.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-69536877473561773792009-11-21T13:18:00.000-08:002009-12-16T10:53:43.167-08:00U-Vic and the bunniesThanks to <a href="http://web.uvic.ca/biology/faculty/facpages/nashmi.html">Dr. Raad Nashmi</a> and the <a href="http://web.uvic.ca/biology/">Department of Biology</a> at the University of Victoria for having me over for a seminar this week. While the helicopter ride to the island was fun, the real impression was made while meeting one-on-one with their diverse faculty. These guys are using the infinite diversity of mother nature to better understand basic biological systems. kool stuff. Also, this was the first run thru on a talk comprised of <a href="http://www.jbc.org/search?author1=Sarhan&fulltext=&pubdate_year=&volume=&firstpage=&submit=yes">Maen's current project</a> and a story from my time with Spike Horn so it was great to get all the feedback from everyone.<br />They have a beautiful campus but what's up with all the bunnies?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TIvrV7Dt7iBevEkwhdWCkzX2lkTlpSO4xu-B-LI-PmDtYdXBo1jB9IXtKvQ9urAsyjrCuoyio0PCHXCzITCAiOC0UMhZcZjrh9EDKFr9_r2aVbbtpNPJN8z94fqytrvfiXEB2tA4TVx_/s1600/IMG_0117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TIvrV7Dt7iBevEkwhdWCkzX2lkTlpSO4xu-B-LI-PmDtYdXBo1jB9IXtKvQ9urAsyjrCuoyio0PCHXCzITCAiOC0UMhZcZjrh9EDKFr9_r2aVbbtpNPJN8z94fqytrvfiXEB2tA4TVx_/s200/IMG_0117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406672169676817074" border="0" /></a>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-63298680308908102762009-11-21T13:08:00.000-08:002009-11-21T13:18:20.092-08:00Welcome to Dr. Sam GoodchildThis week we welcome Dr. Sam Goodchild to the lab all the way from Bristol, UK. Sam did his PhD at the University of Bristol in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. We look for to his achievements in the lab and to his teaching us some new moves on the ski slopes. Just don't call him a hooligan.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-76678995070221910842009-10-08T07:39:00.000-07:002009-10-08T08:01:48.203-07:00Sarhan et al now in press at JBCCongratulations and thanks to Maen for his hard work over the past year. The fruit of his labor (his original manuscript) is now <span style="font-style: italic;">in press</span> at <a href="http://www.jbc.org/search?author1=Sarhan&fulltext=&pubdate_year=&volume=&firstpage=&submit=yes">Journal of Biological Chemistry</a>. Which no matter how you slice <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pnas.org/content/106/17/6883/F1.large.jpg&imgrefurl=http://network.nature.com/people/sunon77/blog/2009/05/04/a-better-index-than-impact-factor-to-decide-the-most-influential-journals&h=1749&w=1800&sz=146&tbnid=pxXKiL0ro7ByBM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJBC%2Bimpact%2Bfactor&usg=__8gI6cFIW2rmuxbGombN57Gm1bV8=&ei=QPzNSujBMZKoswOLm9XBDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=8&ct=image">it</a>, is a pretty good journal. The manuscript describes the results from heroic numbers of biochemical experiments, purifications and assays to show that a 'calcium sensor' molecule called calmodulin binds to the cardiac sodium channel. This feat is all the more impressive when one considers that Maen along with the Van Petegem crew started the project by setting up the biochemistry in the newly founded lab. Thanks to Dr. Van Petegem for the expert assistance, advice and encouragement. Here's to many, many more.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6295386268668551762.post-58060371465600611262009-08-06T23:18:00.000-07:002009-08-11T23:45:10.637-07:00Summertime and the living is easy....well not reallyHey, what just happened? It was just early June, the summer was ahead of us, BBQ season and everything looked so good. Summer, it seemed, would never end. If it were only so simple, and so sweet. One common misconception is that summer for academic folk is the time to relax and reflect upon the academic years accomplishments. Unfortunately, that is not the case when you are doing research to pay the rent where we actually look forward to summer all year as the time of year when the teaching loads ease up and we buckle down to in the lab to get our research programs rolling again. To add to the summer load, most granting agencies decided that the end of summer would be the best time for grant application to be due. So instead of floating our summer days away down at Wreck beach, we are (mostly) scrambling to keep the lab funded and the data flowing. <br /><br />So here's a quick list of my 'highs' and 'lows' for the summer. <br /><br />Low: the email message in my inbox last week from UBC with the subject header 'explosion at the Life Sciences Centre' (where the lab is housed). A blown transformer working overtime to cool the building during a rare Vancouver heat wave leads to an extended power failure and deep freezer meltdown. unfrozen reagents=bad times. Everything we use and store, lives at -80C and when it melts, doves cry. <br /><br />High: Visit to the East Coast for a Gordon Conference in June. Not only did we shore up some good collaborations state-side, the trip did double duty for a visit to see my sister and nephews in Upstate NY. Always a treat! <br /><br />Low: Summer cells. One downside of doing molecular biology is the use 'real' cells. While our need for data is not diminished in the summertime, for reasons currently unexplained, cells are just not right in the warmer months. go figure. <br /><br />High: The completion of the first Ahern Lab manuscript that is currently under review at an undisclosed <span style="font-style: italic;">Journal</span>. WooHoo! <br /><br />Low: August grant deadlines. What cruelty. A grant deadline on August 30th? Don't they understand what this does to our August vacation plans? <br /><br />High: Visit by long time friend, Brad Neu, in July. A few good hikes and road bike rides up the local mountains confirmed my truly horrible physical condition. While I was pushed to my career best Grouse Grind time, I spend most of the trip on the ropes. I got one word for you Bradley: Rematch.Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03188695929135421305noreply@blogger.com1