The stepwise mechanism of TRPV6 channel blockade by polyamine spermine
Researchers from IBCh RAS, as part of an international collaboration, have elucidated how the endogenous polyamine spermine blocks the calcium-selective TRPV6 ion channel, which is hyperactive in prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Using a combination of cryo-EM, molecular modeling, electrophysiology, and site-directed mutagenesis, it was shown that spermine enters the open TRPV6 pore in a stepwise manner and physically occludes it like a “plug”. These findings advance our understanding of calcium homeostasis regulation under both physiological conditions and in cancer. The study was supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education (computational modeling) and published in Nature Communications. Learn more
News 
- School for Young Scientists: "Objects and Methods of Developmental Biology: Genomic, Molecular, and Morphogenetic Mechanisms of Development and Regeneration"
conferences
IX.4 From September 24-27, 2026, the Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences will host a school for young scientists entitled "Objects and Methods of Developmental Biology: Genomic, Molecular, and Morphogenetic Mechanisms of Development and Regeneration." The school is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the eminent embryologist D.P. Filatov (1876–1943). It is supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant no. 23-74-30005). Venue: IBD RAS (Moscow, 26 Vavilova St.).
- Scientists from IBCh RAS and their colleagues describe a new type of luciferase from a previously unexplored bioluminescent system
science news
VII.31 Scientists from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IBCh RAS) and their colleagues have identified, cloned and characterized the luciferase of the fungus gnat Keroplatus testaceus for the first time. The study strongly suggests that the newly identified enzyme evolved from the storage protein hexamerin, revealing a previously unknown evolutionary pathway for the emergence of bioluminescence in insects. These findings reveal the molecular basis of light emission in dipteran insects and pave the way for the development of new biomedical imaging tools.
- The stepwise mechanism of TRPV6 channel blockade by polyamine spermine
science news
VI.3 Researchers from IBCh RAS, as part of an international collaboration, have elucidated the mechanism by which the natural polyamine spermine blocks the human calcium channel TRPV6. The study was supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education (computational modeling) and published in Nature Communications.
Events
- Open seminar of the Department of Immunology
science news
VI.8 (This event is over) Dear colleagues! On June 8 (Monday) at 3 p.m., an open seminar of the Department of Immunology will be held in seminary room 404 (4th floor, 52nd building), dedicated to the pre-defense of the dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Biological Sciences Anastasia I. Palamarchuk on the topic: "Overexpression of the telomerase catalytic subunit gene as a factor influencing the transcriptional and functional activity of NK cells, as well as their sensitivity to targeted elimination", specialty 1.5.3. Molecular Biology. Everyone is invited to attend. June 8th
- Symposium under the auspices of the Russian Neurochemical Society, dedicated to Eugene Grishin’s 80th anniversary
science news
IV.20 (This event is over) The symposium, organized by the Department of Molecular Neurobiology, will take place on April 20 at 11:00. The program includes the unveiling of a memorial booth and presentations by colleagues, students, friends, and associates of Eugene Grishin. We cordially invite everyone interested in modern research in the field of toxins, ion channels, and neurobiology! The presentations will be broadcast via Zoom.