Physiology

BRIAN P. DELISLE, Ph.D. Office: MS-577 Medical Center 0298 Tel: (859) 323-2797 E-mail: brian.delisle@uky.edu

Voltage-gated ion channels form aqueous pores that facilitate the electrochemical flow of ions across membranes. These proteins are conserved in all the major kingdoms of life, and they regulate multiple physiological processes including electrical signaling in the nervous system and muscle contraction. Our research focus is to understand the structure and function relationships that regulate voltage-gated ion channel kinesis (protein folding and intracellular transport), second-messenger regulation, and gating. Our current projects use molecular, biochemical, and electrophysiological techniques to determine how congenital mutations or drugs that are linked to arrhythmia alter the properties of voltage-gated ion channels expressed in the heart. Understanding the etiology of congenital arrhythmia syndromes could potentially lead to new therapeutic strategies. A long-term goal of our research is to determine if acquired or drug-induced arrhythmias can be avoided, and if genetic causes for these arrhythmia syndromes can be corrected.