Sharon Ruthstein

Research Interests

The goal of my research is to get structural information on the glycine receptor (GlyR) in various allosteric states in order to shed light on the gating mechanism of this protein membrane. In this research, we can incorporate copper ions, which are paramagnetic metals. In addition, we can use site directed spin labeling and incorporate nitroxides at different positions in the protein. My work focuses on the copper binding sites in the GlyR. I am especially interested in indentifying the coordination environment of copper in the extracellular domain of the protein, as well as the number of copper atoms that bind to GlyR. In the future, I am planning to perform some copper-copper distance measurements and copper-nitroxide distance measurements in order to get some structural information on the GlyR.

Other Interests

My spare time is devoted to my two beautiful little kids, Yuval, who is six years old, and Oren, who is 18 months old. In the weekends, my husband and I like to take the kids to national parks around Pittsburgh and also to see some new places around USA. Since we are from Israel, everything is new and exciting for us, and we have already visited Washington DC, Philadelpia, New York and New Jersey.