The long-term goals of this work are to uncover determinants of inherited and acquired long QT syndrome (LQT), and to make advances that will ultimately allow more drugs to be developed while protecting those at risk from sudden cardiac death. This study focuses on composition and functional analysis of hERG 1a and 1b subunits contributing to channels underlying cardiac IKr, a critical target for inherited and acquired LQT.
The specific aims of the current project are to (1) elucidate the developmental and sex-specific profiles of homomeric and heteromeric hERG channels in native tissues, (2) resolve the stoichiometry of these subunits determined by primary sequence in heterologous systems, and that found in native systems, (3) understand the biophysical basis for pharmacological differences previously defined for homomeric and heteromeric channels, and (4) characterize mechanisms of disease specific to the most recently defined hERG 1b isoform. A high-impact component of the proposal is the use of a large sample of normal ventricular tissue from human donors, and the paired analysis of individual specimens with respect to channel composition and physiological response to challenge by drugs that cause acquired long QT syndrome (LQT). Two independent, innovative strategies will be utilized for determining subunit stoichiometry in both heterologous and native tissues. The mechanism underlying differential potency of drugs to homomeric and heteromeric channels will be determined by testing two hypotheses relating to structural and functional differences of the 1a and 1b subunits. How perturbation of the 1b subunit contributes to disease will be evaluated with experiments reporting changes in cellular trafficking or functional alterations caused by novel mutations derived from a proven genomic screening approach, by the evaluation of a genetic modifier persistently associated with LQT populations, and by selective knockdown of the 1b subunit in native tissues. These experiments are expected to elucidate how hERG 1a and 1b subunits contribute to native IKr and how their different expression profiles dictate normal function and susceptibility to long QT syndrome and sudden cardiac death in children, men and women.

Public Health Relevance

If successful, these studies will expand current understanding of the molecular basis for inherited arrhythmias and those caused by block from drugs intended for other therapeutic targets. They will facilitate development of better drug safety screening approaches by providing information of stratified risk for sudden cardiac death among children, women and men.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL081780-09
Application #
8685300
Study Section
Electrical Signaling, Ion Transport, and Arrhythmias Study Section (ESTA)
Program Officer
Krull, Holly
Project Start
2005-09-15
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$372,836
Indirect Cost
$120,196
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Jones, David K; Johnson, Ashley C; Roti Roti, Elon C et al. (2018) Localization and functional consequences of a direct interaction between TRIOBP-1 and hERG proteins in the heart. J Cell Sci 131:
Pointer, Kelli B; Clark, Paul A; Eliceiri, Kevin W et al. (2017) Administration of Non-Torsadogenic human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene Inhibitors Is Associated with Better Survival for High hERG-Expressing Glioblastoma Patients. Clin Cancer Res 23:73-80
Harley, Carol A; Starek, Greg; Jones, David K et al. (2016) Enhancement of hERG channel activity by scFv antibody fragments targeted to the PAS domain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:9916-21
Liu, Fang; Jones, David K; de Lange, Willem J et al. (2016) Cotranslational association of mRNA encoding subunits of heteromeric ion channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:4859-64
Jones, David K; Liu, Fang; Dombrowski, Natasha et al. (2016) Dominant negative consequences of a hERG 1b-specific mutation associated with intrauterine fetal death. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 120:67-76
Morais-Cabral, João H; Robertson, Gail A (2015) The enigmatic cytoplasmic regions of KCNH channels. J Mol Biol 427:67-76
Jones, David K; Liu, Fang; Vaidyanathan, Ravi et al. (2014) hERG 1b is critical for human cardiac repolarization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:18073-7
Robertson, Gail A (2013) High-resolution scanning patch clamp: life on the nanosurface. Circ Res 112:1088-90
Trudeau, Matthew C; Leung, Lisa M; Roti, Elon Roti et al. (2011) hERG1a N-terminal eag domain-containing polypeptides regulate homomeric hERG1b and heteromeric hERG1a/hERG1b channels: a possible mechanism for long QT syndrome. J Gen Physiol 138:581-92
Abi-Gerges, N; Holkham, H; Jones, E M C et al. (2011) hERG subunit composition determines differential drug sensitivity. Br J Pharmacol 164:419-32

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