PhD Student at the Corry Lab, ANU
Enjoyer of pentagonal proteins, MD simulations, parasites, and frogs :))
Ciara Wallis
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PfFNT blurs the channel–transporter boundary by
• operating as a transporter without major conformational changes
• Switching between transporter and channel modes within the same pathway
6/6
We show a transport mechanism for PfFNT in which protonation of a central histidine (H230) enables lactate binding, and proton transfer from H230 to lactate is required to release the substrate as neutral lactic acid. 4/6
PfFNT is essential during the intra-erythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum, exporting lactate and H⁺ to prevent cytosolic acidification and parasite death. 2/6
Our data indicates that under acidic conditions, small neutral molecules such as formic acid can passively diffuse through PfFNT. 5/6
We combined over 720 μs of molecular dynamics simulations, quantum chemical calculations, and transport assays in Xenopus laevis oocytes to characterize the transport cycle of PfFNT. 3/6
🥳So excited to announce our latest preprint on PfFNT!! The lactate/H+ exporter from the malaria parasite that challenges the standard definitions of transporters vs channels 💪✨ 1/6
tiny.cc/pffnt
🎉The @corrylab.bsky.social are so excited to be at #BPS2026! 💃
See Emily TODAY 4:45 PM, Room 207 talking about a simulation PIPeline to predict PIP binding sites 🖥️
+ me tomorrow 8:45 AM, Room 201 for when AlphaFold can predict homo-oligomeric states 🤖
+ both of us @ posters B218 & B11 on Tues! 🎆
Closing Session 4 - Ben Corry - on Membrane transporter plasmodium falciparum Formate Nitrate transporter - moves lactate and protons out of the cell. Detoxification of glycolysis products.
Transporter or channel??
Central His highly conserved.
#lorneproteins2026
Video
Ciara Wallis
Excited to share this paper from @yiechanglin.bsky.social showing how lipids can move between bacterial membranes along the bridge like protein TamB. Also happy to be able to post the cool movie. 🎥🌟 #MDsimulations #StructuralBiology doi.org/10.1016/j.bp...
How does your immune system tell pathogenic RNA from your own, even though they’re made of the same stuff?
Our latest paper with @gantierlab.bsky.social shows some self RNA act as an off switch preventing autoimmunity in the absence of pathogens. 🧬🔬⭐
www.nature.com/articles/s41590-026-02429-2
