Description:

"Getting to the heart of HERG K+ channels"

Potassium ion channels encoded by the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) form the ion-conducting subunit of the rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr). HERG channels show a widespread tissue distribution, but they play a particularly important role in the heart. The unusual gating kinetics of HERG channels, most notably rapid and voltage-dependent inactivation coupled to slow deactivation, are particularly well suited for regulating cardiac repolarization and suppression of cardiac arrhythmias. In this presentation I will discuss our recent work exploring the structural basis of how HERG channels work and then discuss the development of high throughput assays to assess the impact of clinically occurring mutations in HERG K+ channels. 

Jamie Vandenberg, Ph.D.
Head, Mark Cowley Lidwill Research Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology
Co-Deputy Director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
Professor, School of Medical Sciences
University of South Wales Sydney 

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