Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Chemistry Assistant Professor Jian Hu was part of a team that’s providing new insights into the molecular basis of human diseases resulting from mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor, or CaSR, a protein found in cell membranes. CaSR plays a crucial role in maintaining calcium concentration in the human body. However, the molecular basis underlying how CaSR regulates such important cell function has been unclear.
They detected an unexpected tryptophan derivative bound in the hinge region between two globular subdomains of the receptor protein. The discovery could lead to receptor-based therapeutics for use in the treatment of many different diseases