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Mary Hongying Cheng

Position
Staff
Email
hoc2@pitt.edu
Phone
Affiliation
Department of Chemistry
Institution
University of Pittsburgh
Research

I have modeling experience in a wide range of ion channels/transporters, including several types of sodium coupled neurotransmitter transporters, neurotransmitter-gated ion channels, CLC channels/transporters, and gap junction Claudin-2. My research interest and expertise lie in protein modeling and medicinal chemistry, focusing on molecular mechanisms of i) transporter functions, i.e., transporter cycle; ii) ion transport through membrane protein channels, i.e. channel conductance and charge selectivity; iii) drug modulation of protein receptors, i.e. ligand binding sites and binding affinity; and iv) protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions. I am particularly interested in development/implement of multi-scale modeling technology to investigate biological systems at both molecular and cellular levels. I developed a hybrid molecular dynamics/Brownian dynamics methodology that can be applied to investigate ion permeation through membrane protein channels.

Office
Chevron Science Center
Office URL
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chevron+Science+Center,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15213/@40.4457431,-79.960001,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8834f229532c90fb:0x8f72f6f36e9d41ee!8m2!3d40.4457431!4d-79.9578123