Lab Interests

Voltage-gated Calcium (Ca_V) Channels

Voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels play an important and essential role in numerous physiological processes and they open in response to membrane depolarization to allow rapid entry of Ca²⁺ ions to initiate many physiological effects like muscle contraction, neurotransmitter release, gene expression or hormone secretion.

Alternative splicing of Ca_V channels has been shown to be dynamically regulated in development, physiology and pathophysiology. The exquisite fine-tuning of channel structure through post-transcriptional mechanisms, such as alternative splicing or RNA editing, diversifies protein functions to customize for specific requirements of cellular, physiological or pathological conditions.

Our laboratory’s research interests include:

Investigations into diversification of calcium channel function via alternative splicing and RNA editing and their implications in neurological disorders such as anxiety or fear and in cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension and heart failure.

Investigations into physiological significance of alternative splicing and RNA editing of Ca_V channels in hippocampal learning and memory and cerebellar motor learning, and in feeding behavior and circadian rhythm.

Investigations into the implications of functional coupling between galectin-1, galectin-3 or filamin A and Ca_V1.2 channel in the cardiovascular system, and in heart failure and hypertension.