# Roles of Bioelectricity of Ion Channels in Developmental Patterning and Oncogenesis

> **NIH NIH R35** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $249,938

## Abstract

Project Summary
Human congenital diseases and cancers are major prominent health issues for
newborns and adults, respectively. Both types of diseases are closely related to the
processes of normal embryonic development, as they share similar aspects, such as,
signaling pathways on regulation of differentiation, cell migration, and invasion. Thus,
understanding the mechanisms of one system will also shed light on the other.
Potassium channels have long been the subject of neuronal and muscular studies,
while their roles in embryonic development and cancer remain largely unknown. This is
critical for us to better understand disease etiology. The lack of information about the
mechanisms of ion channel function in the embryos and in tumors is a significant
obstacle to development of targeted therapies for many human congenital diseases and
cancers. In this proposal, we will address the demanding need by investigating the
inwardly rectifying potassium channels (kir) using newly developed technologies, such
as, opto-genetic, chemo-genetic, and genetically encoded voltage and calcium
indicators in the zebrafish model system with the two following aims: Aim1. To elucidate
how potassium channels and bioelectricity regulate developmental patterning. Aim2. To
elucidate oncogenic mechanisms of Kir Channels. The expected outcomes will that we
will elucidate a concept-changing mechanism of developmental patterning by ion
channels, and identify new oncogenes that could be used as potential targets for cancer
therapies. The ion-channel patterning mechanism will not only establish a new concept
in developmental biology, but will also provide the foundation for developing prevention
or therapeutic strategies for both congenital diseases and cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10388919
- **Project number:** 3R35GM124913-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GuangJun Zhang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $249,938
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10388919

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10388919, Roles of Bioelectricity of Ion Channels in Developmental Patterning and Oncogenesis (3R35GM124913-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10388919. Licensed CC0.

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