Lopes Lab

The major focus of Dr. Lopes current work involves the regulation of the slow delayed rectifier-like current (IKs) in the heart and the pathogenesis of the Long QT (LQT1) syndrome. KCNQ1 is co-assembled with the KCNE1 gene product in the heart to produce IKs, which is one of the main currents responsible for myocyte repolarization. The most commonly inherited cardiac arrhythmia, long-QT1 (LQT1), is due to mutations in the KCNQ1 potassium channel. Stress and exercise are triggers known to precipitate arrhythmias, in particular for LQT1 patients. Dr. Lopes research focus on the understanding of the regulation of IKs channels, their importance for heart function and the molecular mechanism by which their down-regulation leads to the LQT1 syndrome. In addition, Dr. Lopes

is interested in phospholipid regulation of ion channels. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is an important membrane-delimited second messenger. It has been shown to be crucial for the activity of a number of transporters and ion channels. Several PIP2-sensitive channels have also been show to be regulated by physiological changes in PIP2 levels in the plasma membrane. Dr. Lopes is interested in the study of the crosstalk of PIP2 modulation with other common regulatory mechanisms of different ion channel families such as mechanosensitivity, voltage-gating and phosphorylation.