Structure, biophysics and physiology of normal and diseased potassium channels in brain and heart
Potassium channels are essential for life. They are key players of many vital functions as diverse as those of the heart, brain, muscle, kidney, pancreas or immune system. Members of the Kv7 family of voltage-gated potassium channels play a major role in modulating brain and cardiac excitability. Consistent with their physiological importance, mutations in human Kv7 genes lead to severe inherited cardiovascular and neurological disorders such as cardiac arrhythmia, neonatal epilepsy and deafness. Our research aims at elucidating the structural, biophysical and physiological attributes of normal and diseased Kv7 channel proteins in brain and heart. Read More »