Potassium channels shape and modify a cell's electrical inputs and outputs. Our work is currently aimed at investigating representative  members of these types of channels. We have used molecular genetic methods coupled with functional selections in yeast to investigate the structural features of inward rectifier potassium channels (Kir channels) and X-ray crystallography combined with mutagenesis and electrophysiological measurements to study voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv). These studies  reveal key structural and functional features of these two important  classes of ion channels. We are pursuing further work on these channels  as well as establishing new systems for study using similar approaches.

[1] Structural understanding of ion channel action and regulation
[2] Molecular evolution of ion channel modulators for channels
[3] Structural understanding of membrane proteins that power the cell through their actions in mitochondria