Ion channels are essential for the regulation of every cellular function, whether it is the beating of the heart or the storing of memories. The focus of the laboratory is upon ion channels in the nervous system and in the Golgi complex (an intracellular organelle). Ion channels in these areas are being studied using a variety of techniques, including molecular biology, cell biology and electrophysiology.

Electrical signaling in the nervous system relies on the correct activation and inactivation of ion channels. We have recently cloned a new voltage-gated sodium channel that is expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems. We have generated antibodies that are specific to this channel and have used these to show that the channel is at sites important for both conduction and synaptic transmission. Mice with natural mutations in this channel have been identified, and these mice have neurological disorders that involve motor neurons and the cerebellum. We expect that some human neurological disorders are due to mutations in this ion channel, and studies of these mice will help identify and understand the cause of these disorders.

The Golgi complex is an intracellular organelle that is in every eukaryotic cell, from yeast to humans. It is important for modifying proteins and targeting them to the correct location in the cell. We have isolated ion channels from the Golgi and incorporated these channels into planar lipid bilayers to study their electrical properties. We have found an anion channel with novel properties. For example, it is modulated by pH and may be important for establishing the low pH inside the Golgi. Future studies are aimed at isolating the molecule (cDNA and protein) and determining its functional role.