Understanding how PKC tweaks Kv7.2 to control neuron signals
Official title: Structural consequences of PKC-dependent phosphorylation of Kv7.2
Funded at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville · NIH-11394489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher is studying how a specific chemical modification (phosphorylation) changes a neuron potassium channel (Kv7.2) to affect brain excitability and epilepsy risk.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00GM146028-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at risk for epilepsy linked to Kv7.2 channel dysfunction, or those who could contribute samples for related molecular studies.
✕Less likely to help
People without Kv7.2-related epilepsy or related channel disorders may not directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how Kv7.2 channel activity is controlled by multiple signaling partners, including PIP2 and calmodulin, and how PKC-related phosphorylation alters these interactions. Using advanced 3D structural methods and NMR, the team will test how phosphorylation at S520 and S527 changes binding and channel function. The goal is to reveal the molecular rules that tune M-channel activity and neuronal excitability, which could inform epilepsy therapies. The work is grounded in human biology and may identify targets relevant to neonatal epilepsy and related brain conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights could lead to new approaches for preventing or treating epilepsy linked to Kv7.2 channel dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data and prior work on Kv7.2, PIP2, and CaM interactions suggest that these mechanisms influence channel activity; the proposed phosphorylation angle is a novel extension.
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.