Guillermo Altenberg, M.D., Ph.D.

The focus of the work in my laboratory is the structure and function of membrane transport proteins. We study the structure, transport function and regulation of proteins of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily such as P-glycoprotein, CFTR and MRP1. We also have a project on the structural bases for the regulation of connexins, the proteins that form the gap junctions. In addition, we are developing new sensors for glucose and calcium based on the use of specific glucose- and calcium-binding proteins fused to autofluorescent proteins (green fluorescent protein family).

Recent Publications

• Lee, S.H. and Altenberg, G.A. Transport of leukotriene C4 by a cysteine-less multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1). Biochem. J., 370: 357-360, 2003.
• Bao, X.; Chen, Y; Lee, S.H.; Lee, S.C.; Reuss, L.; Altenberg, G.A. Membrane transport proteins with complete replacement of transmembrane helices with poly-alanine sequences remain functional. J. Biol. Chem. 280:8647-8650, 2005.
• Chen, Y.; Deng, Y.; Bao, X.; Reuss, L.; Altenberg, G. A. Mechanism of the defect in gap-junctional communication by expression of a mutant connexin 26 associated with dominant deafness. FASEB J. 10.1096/fj.04-3491 fje, 2005.
• Altenberg, G.A. (2005) The multidrug resistance protein P-glycoprotein and the regulation of chloride channels. Leuk. Res. 29:983-984.