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Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating

Gordon Research Conference

Transporters, Ion Channels, and G-protein Coupled Receptors in Context

March 15 - 20, 2026

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco

Via Giovanni Pascoli

Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy

Venue and Travel Information

Venue

Office Manager: Cass Wilson

Office Manager Email: renaissancetuscany_sm@grc.org

Office Phone: +3905837691

Application Information

The application deadline for this meeting was February 15, 2026. You may still submit an application, which may be considered by the conference chair if there is still room available.

Conference Description

The Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

The topic of this GRC is unique, as it addresses the structures, functional mechanisms and higher-order assemblies of three important classes of transmembrane proteins: ion channels, active transporters, and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). In this edition of the GRC, we aim to modernize and direct the focus to current frontiers in the field, such as the study of the structure, function and interaction of these proteins with lipids, with partner proteins, in super-complexes, and ultimately in a cellular context. New structural methods such as cryo-electron tomography and native-mass spectrometry of vesicles or cellular compartments combined with computational approaches now allow to acquire an integrated structural characterization of these protein classes, while advanced single-molecule techniques allow to unravel kinetics and energetics avoiding ensemble averaging.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Mesoscale Membrane Biology Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:10 pm	"Ligand and Lipid Recognition in Membrane Receptors and Transporters"
8:10 pm - 8:20 pm	Discussion
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm	"Orchestrating the Flip: Molecular Dynamics of Amphiphilic Ligand Transport by Membrane Transporters"
8:30 pm - 8:35 pm	Discussion
8:35 pm - 9:05 pm	"Unexpected MOAs of Toxins on Nav Channels"
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"A Novel Mechanism: Agonist-Induced Movement of Ion Channels Between Nanoscopic Lipid Compartment Controls Gating"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Modulation of Protein Activity by Lipids and Small Molecules Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Gatekeepers of Phosphate Homeostasis: Unveiling the Unconventional Mechanisms of its Transporters"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Ligand-Dependent Activation Trajectories Dictate GPCR Signaling Efficacy in Intact Cells"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Dynamic Control of a Human Glutamate Transporter"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 11:05 am	"Lipid Modulation of CNG Channels: A Tale of Inhibition and Activation"
11:05 am - 11:15 am	Discussion
11:15 am - 11:25 am	"Molecular Mechanisms of Ligand Selectivity by Catecholamine G Protein-Coupled Receptors"
11:25 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:50 am	"Nucleotide and Dinucleotide Sensing in a Mycobacterial K+ Channel"
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:20 pm	"Chemical Specificity in the Olfactory System"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Regulation of Transporter, Channel and Receptor Activity through Protein-Protein Interaction Discussion Leaders: and
6:00 pm - 6:20 pm	"Not Alone: Protein-Protein Interactions between Ion Channels and Endogenous or De Novo Designed Proteins"
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm	Discussion
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm	"De Novo Design of Miniprotein Agonists and Antagonists Targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors"
6:40 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:05 pm	"Lipid Transport at Membrane Contact Sites by the IST2-OSH6 Complex"
7:05 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	"Lipid Transport Mechanism of ABCA2"
7:25 pm - 7:30 pm	Discussion
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Oh HECT! Ion Channel Regulation by HECT E3 Ligases"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Transporters, Channels and Receptors in Bacterial Resistance Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Siderophore Import and Export in Mycobacteria"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Insights into Teichoic Acid Transport by a Gatekeeper Flippase in S. pneumoniae"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Membrane Transporters in Out-of-Equilibrium Reaction Networks of Synthetic Cells"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"From Drug To Target: One Mycobacterial Story"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Transporting Proteins across the Bacterial Membranes - Proton Driven Mechanisms"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Conformational Selection Drives the Coupling Process in the Type VI ABC Transporter"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Mechanisms of Inhibition of a Lipid Flippase"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"An Asymmetric Gate in the Homoheptameric Mechanosensitive Channel MscS from Francisella Tularensis"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Membrane Proteins that are Natural Chimera Discussion Leaders: and
6:00 pm - 6:20 pm	"Making Order out of Disorder: Role of Intrinsically Disordered Regions in K_ATP Channels"
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm	Discussion
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm	"Structural Determinants for GPCR-Mediated Inhibition of TASK K2P Channels by Diacylglycerol and Its Dysfunction in Disease"
6:40 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 6:55 pm	"Two-Tiered Regulation of the K⁺ Efflux System KefC by Glutathione and NADH"
6:55 pm - 7:00 pm	Discussion
7:00 pm - 7:20 pm	"The mTORC1 Cholesterol-Sensing Protein LYCHOS is a GPCR–PIN Transporter Hybrid"
7:20 pm - 7:30 pm	Discussion
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	"Voltage Dependence of G Protein Coupled Receptors"
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm	Discussion
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	"Targeting Ligand Binding Sites in Plasmodium Falciparum NCR1 Enables Antimalarial Drug Discovery"
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Promises & Challenges of Cryo-EM for Studying Membrane Protein Mechanisms of Action Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Activation of RyR1 in Native Membranes"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Structural Basis of Glucosinolate Recognition and Transport in Plant GTR Proteins"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Temperature Reshapes TRPM4 Pharmacology"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"Wilson’s Disease Mechanisms Manipulate ATP7B Activity"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"A Lipid Plug Affects K2P6.1(TWIK-2) Function"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Enabling High Throughput Electron Cryo-Microscopy for Structure-Based Design"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Structural Mechanisms of Gating in ENaC/DEG Channels"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Ligand-Encoded Allosteric Networks Dictate Long-Range Arrestin Silencing in the Human Delta-Opioid Receptor"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Supercomplexes: Membrane Proteins that Form Functional Ensembles Discussion Leaders: and
6:00 pm - 6:20 pm	"The Hidden Architecture of Red Blood Cells: Native Complexes Revealed by Cryo-EM"
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm	Discussion
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm	"Age-Dependent GPCR Expression Dynamics Guides Precision Medicine for Fetal, Pediatric, and Geriatric Populations"
6:40 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:05 pm	"Unlocking the Gateway to Chloroplast Protein Import"
7:05 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	"Understanding the Function, Localisation and Molecular Interactions of TRPC Ion Channels"
7:25 pm - 7:30 pm	Discussion
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Molecular Insights into Activation and Signaling of Non-Canonical GPCRs"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Structural Pharmacology Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Mechanistic Framework of Ligand Efficacy at a G Protein-Coupled Receptor"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"The activation pathway of a steroid receptor: From ligand binding to higher-order assemblies"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"From Structural Studies of GPCRs to Application: Engineering OptoGPCRs As Scientific Tools and for Optogenetic Applications"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:25 am	"Ultra-Sensitive 19F NMR Probe for Protein Dynamics: Revealing Concealed Conformational States in GPCRs"
10:25 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Unlocking the Molecular Mechanism of Amino Acid Transport and Inhibition"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Molecular Basis for Selectivity of Novel ß1-Adrenoceptor Antagonists"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Mechanisms of RXFP1 Relaxin Receptor Activation by Diverse Agonists"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Probing Lipid Specificity and Functional Integrity of WRAP-Solubilized Membrane Proteins"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	New Concepts in the Channel / Receptor / Transporter Field Discussion Leaders: and
6:00 pm - 6:20 pm	"Elucidating the Molecular Regulation of Dopamine Transporter Activity"
6:20 pm - 6:30 pm	Discussion
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm	"Development and Application of a Molecular Framework To Study the Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Piezo1 Under Tension"
6:40 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 7:05 pm	"Structural Insights into the Generation of Lipid Asymmetry in the Endoplasmic Reticulum"
7:05 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:25 pm	"Unveiling the Mysteries of the Sperm Ion Channel CatSper"
7:25 pm - 7:30 pm	Discussion
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Structural Investigation of Human M-Channel"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R13NS147737. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Conference History Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

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Funding Opportunities

Financial assistance is available beginning in 2026 for qualified applicants through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,680.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,380.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$950.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,460.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,160.00

Guest Off-Site:

$730.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$580.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$365.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Bus Arriving:

$65.00

Bus Departing:

$65.00

Additional Fee Info

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