How a chemical switch changes the Kv7.2 nerve channel
Official title: Structural consequences of PKC-dependent phosphorylation of Kv7.2
Funded at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville · NIH-11160786 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether adding a small chemical tag to the Kv7.2 nerve channel changes how it binds helpers and could affect epilepsy in people with Kv7.2-related seizures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arkansas at Fayetteville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fayetteville, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00GM146028-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160786 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with epilepsy linked to Kv7.2 gene mutations or families with known Kv7.2 variants are most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People whose seizures are caused by unrelated genes or non-genetic factors are unlikely to get direct benefit from this lab-focused research.
What this research studies
You will be hearing about lab work that studies the Kv7.2 protein, a channel important for controlling nerve activity and linked to neonatal epilepsy. Scientists will mimic phosphorylation at two specific sites (S520 and S527) and use structural techniques such as NMR to see how that change alters binding of helper molecules like PIP2 and calmodulin. They will compare normal and patient-linked mutant versions of Kv7.2 to understand how these molecular changes reshape the channel. The goal is to map how these switches tune channel structure and function so researchers can think about new treatment targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to molecular targets for drugs or therapies to help people with Kv7.2-related epilepsy.
How similar studies have gone: Structural and biochemical studies of potassium channels have helped explain disease mechanisms before, but the specific effects of PKC-dependent phosphorylation at these Kv7.2 sites remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Fayetteville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Archer, Crystal Rae — University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
- Study coordinator: Archer, Crystal Rae
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.