# Functional and structural dynamics of KCNH4 and KCNH8

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2022 · $155,500

## Abstract

Abstract
Ion channels underlie all electrical excitability in the brain and heart, and defects in ion
channels are the cause of many human disorders. The KCNH family of channels, ERG,
ELK, and EAG, are voltage-dependent potassium channels that are specialized for their
role in shaping the electrical activity of cells. Defects in KCNH channels have been
shown to be linked to cognitive defects, increased risk of schizophrenia, cardiac
arrhythmias, and cancer. Given their importance, it is surprising that some of the KCNH
family members are considered “understudied”. The goal of this proposal is to study the
functional and structural dynamics of the understudied KCNH4 and KCNH8 channels to
lay the groundwork for future studies on the potential role of these channels in human
health and disease. Previously we have performed many structural and functional
experiments on KCNH and related channels and invented ground-breaking new
fluorescence methods that allow us to record molecular rearrangements in intact
channels simultaneous with electrophysiological recording. We propose to apply these
methods to measure the functional and structural dynamics of KCNH4 and KCNH8
channels. These experiments will lead to the first dynamic picture of these understudied
channels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10445688
- **Project number:** 1R03TR004135-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** William N Zagotta
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $155,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10445688

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10445688, Functional and structural dynamics of KCNH4 and KCNH8 (1R03TR004135-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10445688. Licensed CC0.

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