Potassium channels in airway epithelia

钾通道是在细胞膜中发现的蛋白质，它允许钾离子根据需要进入或离开细胞。它们是在人体内被发现的，在那里它们执行着广泛的生物功能。在上皮细胞中，钾通道负责许多重要的过程，包括控制液体和电解质的吸收和分泌，调节细胞体积，以及控制细胞增殖。我的实验室的工作涉及到改善我们对肺部上皮细胞中钾通道的理解。本研究的目的是研究两种不同类型的钾通道的调节和功能--一种是受钙调节的钾通道(称为HIK)，另一种是Kv4和KCNQ家族中的电压门控性钾通道。使用来自人类呼吸道上皮细胞的一些不同的细胞系，我们将研究这些通道是如何调节的，以及在Kv4通道的情况下，它们在哪里表达，以及它们可能的生物学作用。为了做到这一点，我们将使用一些不同的实验技术来研究可能在基因和蛋白质水平上增加它们表达的因素，并用提供通道活动的直接测量的方法来补充这些研究。从长远来看，这项研究的目标是增加我们对这些重要的离子通道如何调节呼吸道上皮细胞基本生物学过程的理解。

Potassium channels are proteins found in the membrane of the cell and which permit potassium ions to enter or exit the cell as required. They are found thoughout the body, where they perform a wide range of biological functions. In epithelial cells, which line body cavities and structures providing support and protection, potassium channels are responsible for a number of important processes, including the control of fluid and electrolyte absorption and secretion, regulating cell volume, and controlling cell proliferation. Work from my laboratory is concerned with improving our understanding of potassium channels in the epithelial cells which line our lungs. The aims of this proposal are to investigate the regulation and function of two different types of potassium channels- one regulated by calcium (the Ca-activated potassium channel termed hIK), and also voltage-gated potassium channels in the Kv4 and KCNQ families. Using a number of different cell lines derived from human airway epithelial cells, we will investigate how these channels are regulated and, in the case of the Kv4 channels, where they are expressed and what their biological roles might be. To do this, we will use a number of different experimental techniques to investigate factors which might increase their expression at the gene and protein level and to compliment these studies with methods that provide direct measurements of the activity of the channels. In the long term, the goals of this research are to increase our understanding of how these important ion channels work to regulate fundamental biological processes in airway epithelia.