Peter J. Mohler, Ph.D.

Research

Our research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying ion channel and transporter targeting in cardiac and other excitable cells. In particular, we are interested in the role of membrane-associated ankyrin family of polypeptides in the targeting and function of ion channels and transporters. Our work establishes that loss-of-function mutation in ankyrin-B is the basis for a new human cardiac arrhythmia syndrome associated with sinus node dysfunction, repolarization defects, and polymorphic tachyarrhythmia in response to stress and/or exercise (ankyrin-B syndrome). Additionally, our work revealed that reduction of ankyrin-B in mice results in reduced levels and abnormal localization of Na/Ca exchanger, Na/K ATPase, and InsP3 receptor at T-tubule/SR sites in cardiomyocytes and leads to altered Ca2+ signaling and extrasystoles that provide a rationale for the arrhythmia. A second line of work in the lab is focused on the role of ankyrin-G for targeting voltage-gated Na channels in heart. These studies establish a physiological requirement for ankyrins in localization of a variety of ion channels in excitable membranes in the heart and demonstrate a new class of functional channelopathies due to abnormal cellular localization of functionally-related ion channels and transporters.