Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
The Automation Of Electrophysiological Experiments And Data Analysis, David Morton
The Automation Of Electrophysiological Experiments And Data Analysis, David Morton
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
The role of computation in science is continually growing and neuroscience is no exception. Despite this, a severe lack of scientific software infrastructure persists, slowing progress in many domains. In this thesis, we will see how the combination of neuroscience and software engineering can build infrastructure that enables discovery. The first chapter discusses the Turtle Electrophysiology Project, or TEP, an experiment-automation and data-management system. This system has allowed us to automate away some of the most tedious tasks involved in conducting experiments. As a result, we can collect more data in less time, and with fewer errors related to the …
From Bacteria To Human: Biophysical Studies Of Inward Rectifying Potassium Channels, Wayland Cheng
From Bacteria To Human: Biophysical Studies Of Inward Rectifying Potassium Channels, Wayland Cheng
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
Inward rectifying potassium: Kir) channels are important in regulating cellular excitability in organs such as the heart, brain and pancreas. Prokaryotic KirBac channels are structurally similar to eukaryotic Kir channels, but distantly related and of unknown function. The goal of this thesis has been to investigate the functional properties of KirBac1.1 and to relate these findings to eukaryotic Kir channels. The approach was to use recombinantly-expressed, purified K+ channels--KirBac1.1, KcsA, Kir2.1 and Kir2.2--in order to integrate findings from functional studies, using liposomal flux assays and patch-clamping, with high-resolution crystal structures. By reconstituting KirBac1.1 into giant liposomes for patch-clamping, I show …
Cardiac Pi3kα Signaling And K+ Channel Regulation In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure, Kai-Chien Yang
Cardiac Pi3kα Signaling And K+ Channel Regulation In Cardiac Hypertrophy And Heart Failure, Kai-Chien Yang
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
Pathologic biomechanical stresses cause cardiac hypertrophy, which is associated with QT prolongation and increased risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Previous studies demonstrated that repolarizing K+ current densities are decreased in pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy, resulting in action potential and QT prolongation. Cardiac hypertrophy also occurs with exercise training, but this "physiological hypertrophy" is not associated with electrical abnormalities or increased arrhythmia risk, suggesting that repolarizing K+ currents are upregulated, in parallel with the increase in myocyte size, to maintain normal cardiac function. To explore this hypothesis directly, two mouse models of physiological hypertrophy, one produced by chronic exercise: swim-) …