Functional Specificity of Calcium-activated Potassium Channels Neurones
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Neuroscience Physiology and Pharmacology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paola Pedarzani (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Costello D
(2012)
Brain Deletion of Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 Disrupts Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Metaplasticity
in PLoS ONE
D'hoedt D
(2004)
Domain analysis of the calcium-activated potassium channel SK1 from rat brain. Functional expression and toxin sensitivity.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Gymnopoulos M
(2014)
Developmental mapping of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel expression in the rat nervous system.
in The Journal of comparative neurology
Nazzaro C
(2012)
SK channel modulation rescues striatal plasticity and control over habit in cannabinoid tolerance.
in Nature neuroscience
Pedarzani P
(2008)
Molecular and cellular basis of small--and intermediate-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channel function in the brain.
in Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS
Pedarzani P
(2005)
Specific enhancement of SK channel activity selectively potentiates the afterhyperpolarizing current I(AHP) and modulates the firing properties of hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
in The Journal of biological chemistry
Raffaelli G
(2004)
BK potassium channels control transmitter release at CA3-CA3 synapses in the rat hippocampus.
in The Journal of physiology
Stocker M
(2004)
Matching molecules to function: neuronal Ca2+-activated K+ channels and afterhyperpolarizations.
in Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
| Description | BBSRC Project Grant (Modulation of neuronal excitability by heterotrimeric G-proteins and Rho GTPases) |
| Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/E020585/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2007 |
| End | 11/2010 |
| Description | Nuffield Foundation Undergraduate Research Bursary |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Nuffield Foundation |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2006 |
| End | 08/2006 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship |
| Amount | £960 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2006 |
| End | 08/2006 |
| Title | 1-EBIO, NS309 and NS8593 |
| Description | THese are enhancers (1-EBIO and NS309) and inhibitors (NS8593) of calcium-activated potassium channel activity. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | After our first characterisation on recombinant and neuronal channels, these compounds (in particular 1-EBIO and NS309) have been used by several other groups studying the function of calcium-activated potassium channels in vitro and in vivo, in the brain and other systems (i.e. vascular smooth muscle). They have been shown to have anti-epileptogenic effects, a remarkable impact on learning and memory and to be a potential new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of certain forms of cerebellar ataxia. 104 papers making use of 1-EBIO have been published after our JBC paper in 2001; 15 papers after our characterisation of NS309; and 4 after our characterisation of NS8593 in 2006. |
| Description | New pharmacological tools to elucidate potassium channel function |
| Organisation | Neurosearch AG, Copenhagen |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have characterised the effects of the new enhancers and inhibitors developed by NeuroSearch on ion channels in expression systems and neurons. This has revealed novel functions of the ion channels of interest and has opened the way to their use as targets for the treatment of hyperexcitability disorders. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided innovative compounds acting as enhancers or inhibitors of the activity of specific ion channels. |
| Impact | We have published two papers together (both in section 2) and have obtained an MRC Industrial Case PhD Studentship. |
| Description | SK channels in drug addiction |
| Organisation | Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia IIT) |
| Department | Neuroscience and Brain Technologies IIT |
| Country | Italy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | My lab contributes the expertise on ion channel function at the cellular/network level in brain regions/circuits involved in habit formation, drug dependence and compulsuve behaviours. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This collaboration has opened the way to investigations in animal models of drug addiction and compulsive behaviour. My lab contributes the expertise on ion channel function at the cellular/network level, the IIT lab (Dr Tonini) contributes the expertise on drug addiction and tolerance mechanisms and related behaviours. |
| Impact | The collaboration is multidisciplinary, involving in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology and pharmacology, cellular imaging and behavioural tests. Output: paper submitted. |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | Structure and function of ion channels in the brain |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Biosciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Electrophysiological characterization of calcium-activated potassium channels and currents in different brain areas and expression systems. Experimental design, data analysis, interpretation and discussion, writing of papers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Martin Stocker: Contributed with the molecular studies on calcium-activated potassium channels requiring molecular biology, protein biochemistry and immunohistochemical techniques. Contributed to the design of the research projects, discussion of the data and writing of papers. |
| Impact | This has been a very long-lasting and fruitful collaboration, given the complementarity of the methodological approaches. It has generated grant icome (latest a BBSRC grant awarded in 2006) and several papers, some of which are listed in section 2. |
| Description | Public Lecture - Bondeno (Italy) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public lecture on "The mechanisms of memory", attended by more than 300 people. I have received a very positive feedback from many people immediately after and months/years after the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
| Description | School visit - Bondeno (Italy) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I organised a lecture on "How the brain works" for fifth grade children and ran a workshop on the structure and function of neurons. I received a very positive feedback directly by teachers, children and families. Several children have chosen science-oriented secondary schools as a result of this event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006 |