The focus of this laboratory is to study the molecular mechanisms whereby intracellular messengers modulate ion channels, and how defects in channel gating contribute to human neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease and ataxias.
A fundamental property of all neurons is their ability to respond to a variety of chemical, physical, and electrical inputs. All of these inputs contribute to accurately shaping the electrical properties of every neuron, mediated by the intricate interplay of many classes of ion channels. Defects in the modulation or functioning of ion channels are known to have devastating consequences in humans. This laboratory utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach embracing electrophysiological, molecular, and imaging techniques, to study channel modulation and the consequences of channel defects. Projects currently underway include:
- Determining how alterations in medium spiny neuron electrical activity contributes to neurodegeneration in Huntington's and related diseases
- Determining how K+ channel subunits tetramerize and form functional protein complexes, and how such channels contribute to the electrical properties of cerebellar Purkinje cells
- Studying the role of Purkinje cell electrical activity on motor defects associated with Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Resolving how increases in intracellular Ca2+ and phosphorylation by a range of protein kinases modulates Ca2+-activated K+ channels cloned from human brain
- Elucidating the activation of pain receptor/channels (VR1-like) by pH, temperature, and agonists. Identifying and characterizing novel human VR1 isoforms
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Contact 301G
Box 3209, DUMC
919.681.6166
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