Dr. Irina I. Serysheva

Regular Member

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical School
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research Interests:

The interests of my laboratory broadly focus on the area of structure-function of ion channels with specific emphasis on structural characterization of Ca2+ channels. In our studies, we utilize electron cryomicroscopy and computer reconstruction techniques in conjunction with biochemical and electrophysiological studies and bioinformatics.

Our recent focus has been on type-1 ryanodine (RyR1) and type-1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP­3R1), those are members of an intracellular Ca2+ release channel family and play key roles in mobilizing Ca2+ ions from intracellular stores, i.e., the endoplasmic/sacroplasmic (ER/SR) reticulum. These channels form large tetrameric protein complexes with a molecular mass of ~2.3 MDa for RyR1 and ~1.3 MDa for IP3R1. The RyR1 is the primary Ca2+ release channel in skeletal muscle. The IP3R1 channel is detected in virtually all cell types with highest densities in the cerebellum. Both channels share significant sequence homology that accounts for many functional similarities between RyRs and IP3Rs.

Projects/Techniques:

• Purification of integral membrane proteins
• Reconstitution of ion channels into lipid vesicles
• Ca2+ flux measurements
• Radio-ligand binding assay
• Cryo-EM
• Cryo-ET
• Single particle reconstruction
• Tomographic reconstruction
• Structural proteomics

Selected Publications:

Ludtke, S. J., Tran, T. P., Ngo, Q. T., Moiseenkova-Bell, V. Y., W. Chiu & I. I. Serysheva (2011). Flexible Architecture of IP₃R1 by Cryo-EM. Structure 19 (8): 1192-1199. PMCID: PMC21827954

Serysheva, I. I., S. J. Ludtke, M. L. Baker, Y. Cong, M. Topf, D. Eramian, A. Sali, S. L. Hamilton & W. Chiu (2008). Subnanometer-resolution electron cryomicroscopy-based domain models for the cytoplasmic region of skeletal muscle RyR channel. PNAS USA 105:9610-9615.

Moiseenkova-Bell, V. Y., L. A. Stanciu, I. I. Serysheva, B. Tober & T. G. Wensel (2008). Structure of TRPV1 channel revealed by electron cryomicroscopy. PNAS USA 105: 7451-7455.

Serysheva, I. I., Chiu W. & S. J. Ludtke (2007). Single-particle electron cryomicroscopy od the ion channels in the excitation contraction couping junction. Methods Cel Biol 79: 407-435.

Additional Publications

Program Affiliation:

Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology