# Functional interaction between cardiac Na channels and KATP channels

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2021 · $682,612

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Cardiac Na+ channels and KATP channels are generally thought to have very different roles in cardiac
electrophysiology. They do, however, share certain characteristics such as being expressed at higher levels at
the intercalated disk compared to the lateral membranes and they coexist with desmosomal proteins. Our new
data demonstrate that cardiac KATP channels interact with Na+ channels (and with the Na+/K+ ATPase). This
proposal will utilize innovate super-resolution microscopy techniques and patch clamping to examine the
interaction between Na+ channels and KATP channels. We will identify the membrane subdomains where
interaction occurs, the molecular mechanisms responsible for interaction and the functional consequences of
interactions. The overall hypotheses is that interaction is particularly prominent at membrane domains at the
ICD, that interaction is mediated by specific binding sites in ankyrin-G, and that interaction leads to functional
coupling between Na+ channels and KATP channels (via the Na+/K+ ATPase). In a first Aim, we will localize Na+
channels and KATP channels with nanometer precision to membrane subdomains in the lateral membrane (e.g.
t-tubules, caveolae, etc.) as well as membrane subdomains at the intercalated disk (e.g. hybrid adhering
junctions). A role for ankyrins in targeting channels to these domains will be investigated with siRNA
approaches. In a second Aim, we will investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in interaction, testing the
hypothesis that Na+ channels and KATP channels bind to similar sites on ankyrins. We will also test the
functional consequences of interaction of Na+ channels and KATP channels. These studies will significantly
move forward our understanding of Na+ channel and KATP channel and function in the cardiovascular system,
and more generally, advance our knowledge on how channel systems in ventricular myocytes physically and
functionally interact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160950
- **Project number:** 5R01HL148609-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** William A Coetzee
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $682,612
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-07 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160950

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160950, Functional interaction between cardiac Na channels and KATP channels (5R01HL148609-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160950. Licensed CC0.

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