How BK (Slo1) channel partners affect nerve signaling and sleep
Synaptic function of BK channel-interacting proteins
This project looks at whether proteins that interact with BK (Slo1) channels change nerve cell signaling and sleep, which could matter for people with certain nerve and sleep disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Farmington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11252610 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using tiny worms (C. elegans), lab-grown human proteins, and electrical recordings to learn how BK (Slo1) channels are controlled by partner proteins. They found that melatonin and an E3 ubiquitin ligase change Slo1 activity in worms and in cell systems, and they are mapping where Slo1 acts in neurons to influence sleep and neurotransmitter release. Mass spectrometry is being used to find other proteins that alter Slo1 function when the ligase is mutated. The team aims to learn whether the same mechanisms operate in human neurons.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with sleep disorders, movement problems like ataxia, or known mutations in BK/Slo1 channels (or whose doctors suspect a channel-related cause) would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to neuronal BK channel dysfunction—such as purely structural injuries or non-neurological diseases—are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If these mechanisms hold in humans, the findings could point to new targets for treating sleep disruptions, ataxia, or other neurological problems linked to BK channel mutations.
How similar studies have performed: Previous lab studies showed melatonin can activate human Slo1 in cell systems and that worm experiments link Slo1 to sleep, but applying these findings to native human neurons remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Farmington, United States
- University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt — Farmington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Zhao-Wen — University of Connecticut Sch of Med/dnt
- Study coordinator: Wang, Zhao-Wen
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 below.