University of Pittsburgh
Home › People ›

Michael Grabe

Assistant Professor

Computational biology

Michael Grabe
mdgrabe@pitt.edu
Office: (412) 383-5334
Lab: (412) 648-2180
242 Crawford Hall
4249 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Web Site
Education

Dr. Grabe received his Ph.D. in 2002 with George Oster at the University of California, Berkeley, performed his postdoctoral studies with Lily Jan at the University of California, San Francisco, and joined the Department in 2006.

Our lab uses computational methods to understand biological phenomena. We are primarily interested in the mechanical operation of ion channels and transporters, which move ions and small molecules across membranes. Additionally, we use theoretical approaches to explore how these membrane proteins work together to regulate ion homeostasis in organelles such as the lysosome and Golgi. Lastly, we are developing methodologies for predicting the stability of membrane proteins to understand how mutations give rise to a loss of function, improper trafficking or degradation.

Recent Publications

  • Callenberg, K.M., N.R. Latorraca, and M. Grabe. (2012) Membrane bending is critical for the stability of voltage sensor segments in the membrane. J. Gen. Physiol. (in press)

  • Adelman, J.L., A.L. Dale, M.C. Zwier, D. Bhatt, L.T. Chong, D.M. Zuckerman, and M. Grabe. (2011) Simulations of the alternating access mechanism of the sodium symporter Mhp1. Biophys. J. 101: 2399-2407

  • Cantalupo, P.G., B. Calgua, G. Zhao, A. Hundesa, A.D. Wier, J.P. Katz, M. Grabe, R.W. Hendrix, R. Girones, D. Wang, and J.M. Pipas. (2011) Raw sewage harbors diverse viral populations. mBio 2: e00180-11

  • Kashlan, O.B., J.L. Adelman, S. Okumura, B.M. Blobner, Z. Zuzek, R.P. Hughey, T.R. Kleyman, and M. Grabe (2011) Constraint-based, homology model of the extracellular domain of the epithelial Na+ channel alpha subunit reveals a mechanism of channel activation by proteases. J Biol Chem 286:649-660

  • Bailey, M.A., M. Grabe, and D.C. Devor (2010) Characterization of the PCMBS-dependent modification of KCa3.1 channel gating. J. Gen. Physiol. 136:367-387

  • Callenberg, K.M., O.P. Choudhary, G.L. de Forest, D.W. Gohara, N.A. Baker, and M. Grabe (2010) APBS membrane tool: a graphical tool for electrostatics calculations at the membrane. PLoS One 5:e12722

  • Choe, S., J.M. Rosenberg, J. Abramson, E.M. Wright, and M. Grabe (2010) Water permeation through the sodium-dependent galactose cotransporter vSGLT. Biophys. J. 99:L56-L58

  • Watanabe, A., S. Choe, V. Chaptal, J.M. Rosenberg, E.M. Wright, M. Grabe, and J. Abramson (2010) Sodium release triggers galactose exit from the sodium-galactose transporter, vSGLT. Nature 468:988-991

  • Kashlan, O.B., C.R. Boyd, C. Argyropoulos, S. Okumora, R.P. Hughey, M. Grabe, and T.R. Kleyman (2010) Allosteric inhibition of the epithelial Na+ channel through peptide binding at peripheral finger and thumb domains. J. Biol. Chem. 285:35216-35223

  • Choudhary, O.P., R. Ujwal, W. Kowallis, R. Coalson, J. Abramson, and M. Grabe (2010) The electrostatics of VDAC: implications for selectivity and gating. J. Mol. Biol. 396:580-592

  • Choe, S., and M. Grabe (2009) Conformational dynamics of the inner pore helix of voltage-gated potassium channels. J. Chem. Phys. 130:215103

  • Choe, S., K.A. Hecht, and M. Grabe (2008) A continuum method for determining membrane protein insertion energies and the problem of charged residues. J. Gen. Physiol. 131:563-573

  • Krzysiak, T.C., M. Grabe, and S.P. Gilbert (2007) Getting in sync with dimeric Eg5: Initiation and regulation of the processive run. J. Biol. Chem. 283:2078-2087

  • Grabe, M., H.C. Lai, M. Jain, Y.N. Jan, and L.Y. Jan (2007) Structure prediction for the down state of a potassium channel voltage sensor. Nature 445:550-553

  • Nayak, S., I. Olkin, H. Liu, M. Grabe, M.K. Gould, I.E. Allen, D.K. Owens, and D.M. Bravata (2006) Accuracy of Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound for identifying patients meeting the world health organizations diagnostic criteria for osteoporosis: A systematic review. Ann. Inter. Med. 144:832-841

  • Grabe, M., D. Bichet, X. Qian, Y.N. Jan, and L.Y. Jan (2006) K+ channel selectivity depends on kinetic as well as thermodynamic factors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 103:14361-14366

  • Bichet, D., M. Grabe, Y.N. Jan, and L.Y. Jan (2006) Electrostatic interactions in the channel cavity as an important determinant of potassium channel selectivity. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 103:14355-14360

  • Lai, H.C., M. Grabe, Y.N. Jan, and L.Y. Jan (2005) The S4 voltage sensor packs against the pore domain in the KAT1 voltage-gated potassium channel. Neuron 47:395-406

  • Kashlan, O.B., J.L. Adelman, S. Okumura, B.M. Blobner, Z. Zuzek, R.P. Hughey, T.R. Kleyman, and M. Grabe (2011) Constraint-based, homology model of the extracellular domain of the epithelial Na+ channel alpha subunit reveals a mechanism of channel activation by proteases. J Biol Chem 286:649-660

E-mail Lab