How potassium channels control cell signals and heart rhythm
Structural and Functional Studies of Potassium Channels by Solid State NMR
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · NIH-11380684
This project uses advanced NMR imaging to learn how potassium channels change shape to control nerve signals and heart timing, with relevance to arrhythmia and nervous system conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11380684 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use solid-state NMR and targeted mutations to visualize potassium channel structures at the atomic level and see how opening and inactivation affect potassium binding. The team studies model channels (including bacterial channels) to map the molecular steps that link channel opening to loss of potassium in the selectivity filter. Their experiments identify specific parts of the channel that mediate this allosteric coupling and how mutations alter that behavior. Although the work is lab-based and does not enroll patients, the findings aim to inform drug design and understanding of disorders like cardiac arrhythmia and neurological diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not recruit patients and is carried out as laboratory studies on channel proteins and model systems rather than clinical research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking direct treatment or clinical trial enrollment should not expect immediate personal benefit because the grant funds basic lab research rather than patient interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or strategies to correct abnormal potassium channel activity, potentially helping people with arrhythmias or certain neurological conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies, including work from this group, have successfully used NMR and mutation analysis to clarify potassium channel inactivation mechanisms, but applying those insights to therapies is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCDERMOTT, ANN E — COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- Study coordinator: MCDERMOTT, ANN E
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.