Grant: Operating Grant

The direct aims of this project are to understand how these small proteins that regulate the electrical activity of the heart work. When they control the beating of the heart they must open and then close at the appropriate time during the heartbeat. To allow them to do this they have specialized parts that move and change shape. We want to understand how the parts work together to make a smoothly functioning channel. in this way we can fully appreciate the complexity of these channels, and begin to understand how the disease process modifies this normal pattern of function. Finally we can begin to devise ways to correct malfucntions in these small proteins both from birth, and also as a result of modificaitons that occur as a result of diseases, and perhaps correct the manifestations of disorders of heart rhythm that can be so serious.