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

> **NIH NIH R35** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $376,214

## 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:** 9978834
- **Project number:** 5R35GM124913-04
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** GuangJun Zhang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $376,214
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9978834

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9978834, Roles of Bioelectricity of Ion Channels in Developmental Patterning and Oncogenesis (5R35GM124913-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9978834. Licensed CC0.

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