Stefan Somlo

#nephjc
One key question is what the role of the c-termini of the proteins have in defining the complex. These are truncated in the structure but old co-immunoprecipitation studies say this is a key site of interaction.

#nephjc
Others had proposed the 3:1 stoichiometry based on just nmr of the c-terminal ends of the proteins. otherwise not known really.

#nephjc
Heard Dr. Shi speak in China recently (Vishal was there) and he said they are working on solving the structure of these proteins in cilia, which would be another huge step.

#nephjc
There is the issue that it is thought these channels work in cilia and that no enough calcium in cilia to make a difference in the cell body which is orders of magnitude larger.

#nephjc
I think it means we don't know the function of polycystins. PKD2 is a channel, but its role specific to ADPKD is uncertain. I think the structure paper suggests this as do some channels studies on PKD2 in cilia.