Faculty Bio

Ion channel function and cardiac arrhythmias Electrical signals generated by ion channels control many biological processes including rhythmic heartbeat. We are studying cardiac ion channel functions and their roles in cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We currently focus on voltage-gated potassium channels encoded by the human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG). Mutations in hERG and certain common medications can impair hERG function and cause Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), a cardiac electrical disorder associated with life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death. We employ molecular biology and electrophysiology techniques in cell lines and animal models to study hERG expression and function under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Our work has revealed that extracellular potassium is required for the function and expression of hERG channels, and a reduction of serum potassium concentration, clinically known as hypokalemia, can cause LQTS through reducing hERG expression. Current projects include drug-hERG interactions, molecular pathways regulating hERG expression levels, and mechanisms through which LQTS-causing mutations decrease hERG activity.

Research Interests

Molecular Mechanisms of Ion Channel Function in Health and Heart Disease

HERG is a potassium channel important for cardiac repolarization. Mutations in HERG and drugs can impair HERG function and cause arrhythmias and sudden death. Our research addresses the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias by studying a variety of ion channels with a focus on HERG.  

Current projects include:

1. The structural basis of K+ channel activity
The project focuses on understanding which parts of the channel protein are involved in the channel's opening and closing. We are also interested in other components that interact with the channel to control its function. These components include K+ channel beta subunits (minK - related peptides), protein kinases, and ions (e.g. K+) which permeate through the channels.

2. Mechanisms of drug-HERG channel interaction
Many drugs can block HERG channels and potentially lead to lethal cardiac arrhythmias, which represent a major concern in cardiovascular drug safety. We are interested in the mechanisms of drug-HERG channel interactions. Such knowledge is useful for the prevention and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

3. The role of potassium channels in cell physiology
The project concerns the role of potassium channels in the overall electrical activities of cardiac cells by manipulating K+ channel expression levels in primary culture of cardiac myocytes and in animal models. The project aims to provide fundamental insights into the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and to explore innovative anti-arrhythmic therapies.

Selected Publications

Sutherland-Deveen ME, Wang T, Lamothe SM, Tschirhart JN, Guo J, Li W, Yang T, Du Y, Zhang S. Differential regulation of hERG current and expression by activation of protein kinase C. Mol Pharmacol. pii: mol.118.115188. doi: 10.1124/mol.118.115188. 2019 Apr 23. [Epub ahead of print] 
PMID: 31015282

Tschirhart JN, Li W, Guo J, Zhang S. Blockade of the human ether a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channel by fentanyl. Mol Pharmacol. 95(4):386-397, 2019. 
PMID: 30665971       Reprint: PDF 

Szendrey J, Lamothe SM, Vanner S, Guo J, Yang T, Li W, Davis J, Joneja M, Baranchuk A, Zhang S. Anti-Ro52 antibody acts on the S5-pore linker of hERG to chronically reduce channel expression. Cardiovasc Res. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvy310. 2018 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print] 
PMID: 30544220

Lamothe SM, Hogan-Cann AE, Li W, Guo J, Yang T, Tschirhart JN, Zhang S. The N terminus and transmembrane segment S1 of Kv1.5 can coassemble with the rest of the channel independent of the S1-S2 linkage. J Biol Chem. 293:15347-15358, 2018. 
PMID: 30121572

Lamothe SM, Hulbert M, Guo J, Li W, Yang T, Zhang S. Glycosylation stabilizes hERG channels on the plasma membrane by decreasing proteolytic susceptibility. FASEB J. 32:1933-1943, 2018. 
PMID: 29162701

Lamothe SM, Song W, Guo J, Li W, Yang T, Baranchuk A, Graham CH, Zhang S. Hypoxia reduces mature hERG channels through calpain up-regulation. FASEB J. 31:5068-5077, 2017. 
PMID: 28784631

Sangoi MG, Lamothe SM, Guo J, Yang T, Li W, Avery EG, Fisher JT, Zhang S. β-Arrestin-mediated Regulation of the Human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) Potassium Channel. Mol Pharmacol. 92:162-174, 2017.
PMID: 28495999

Lamothe SM, Guo J, Li W, Yang T, Zhang S. The Human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) Potassium Channel Represents an Unusual Target for Protease-mediated Damage. J Biol Chem. 291:20387-20401, 2016.
PMID: 27502273

Zhao Y, Wang T, Guo J, Yang T, Li W, Koichopolos J, Lamothe SM, Kang Y, Ma A, Zhang S. Febrile temperature facilitates hERG/IKrdegradation through an altered K+ dependence. Heart Rhythm. 13:2004-2011, 2016.
PMID: 27321242

Lamothe SM, Zhang S. Ubiquitination of Ion Channels and Transporters. Book Chapter: Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 141:161-223, 2016. 
PMID: 27378758

Hogan-Cann A, Li W, Guo J, Yang T, Zhang S. Proteolytic cleavage in the S1-S2 linker of the Kv1.5 channel does not affect channel function. Biochim Biophys Acta. Jun;1858:1082-1090, 2016. 
PMID: 26874203

Kang Y, Guo J, Yang T, Li W, Zhang S. Regulation of the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel by Nedd4 family interacting proteins (Ndfips). Biochem J. 472:71-82, 2015. 
PMID: 26363003
 

Chen J, Guo J, Yang T, Li W, Lamothe SM, Kang Y, Szendrey JA, Zhang S. Rab11-dependent Recycling of the Human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) Channel. J Biol Chem. 290:21101-21113, 2015. 
PMID: 26152716 

Wang T, Hogan-Cann A, Kang Y, Cui Z, Guo J, Yang T, Lamothe SM, Li W, Ma A, Fisher JT, Zhang S. Muscarinic Receptor Activation Increases hERG Channel Expression through Phosphorylation of Ubiquitin Ligase Nedd4-2. Mol Pharmacol. 85:877-886, 2014. 
PMID: 24688054

Cui Z and Zhang S. Regulation of the Human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) Channel by Rab4 Through Neural Precursor Cell-expressed Developmentally Downregulated Protein 4-2 (Nedd4-2). J Biol Chem. 288:21876-21886, 2013.
PMID: 23792956

Lamothe S and Zhang S. The Serum- and Glucocorticoid-Inducible Kinase SGK1 and SGK3 Regulate hERG Channel Expression via Ubiquitin Ligase Nedd4-2 and GTPase Rab11. J Biol Chem. 288:15075-15084, 2013.
PMID: 23589291

Guo J, Wang T, Li X, Shallow H, Yang T, Li W, Xu J, Fridman MD, Yang X and Zhang S. Cell surface expression of hERG channels is regulated by caveolin-3 via Nedd4-2. J Biol Chem. 287:33132-33141, 2012.
PMID: 22879586

Guo J, Wang T, Yang T, Xu J, Li W, Fridman MD, Fisher JT and Zhang S. Interaction between the cardiac rapidly (IKr) and slowly (IKs) activating delayed rectifier potassium channels revealed by low K+-induced endocytic degradation. J Biol Chem. 286:34664-34674, 2011.
PMID: 21844197

Guo J, Li X, Shallow H, Xu J, Yang T, Massaeli H, Li W, Sun T, Pierce G and Zhang S. Involvement of caveolin in probucol-induced reduction in hERG plasma-membrane expression. Mol Pharmacol. 79:806-813, 2011.
PMID: 21278233

Sun T, Guo J, Shallow H, Yang T, Xu J, Li W, Hanson C, Wu JG, Li X, Massaeli H and Zhang S. The role of monoubiquitination in endocytic degradation of Human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) channels under low K+ conditions. J Biol Chem. 286:6751–6759, 2011.
PMID: 21177251

Massaeli H, Sun T, Li X, Shallow H, Wu J, Xu J, Li W, Hanson C, Guo J, Zhang S.Involvement of caveolin in low K+-induced endocytic degradation of cell-surface human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels. J Biol Chem. 285:27259-27264, 2010. 
PMID: 20605793

Massaeli H, Guo J, Xu J and Zhang S. Extracellular K+ is a prerequisite for the function and plasma membrane stability of HERG channels. Circ Res. 106:1072-1082, 2010.
PMID: 20133899

Guo J, Massaeli H, Xu J, Jia Z, Wigle JT, Mesaeli N and Zhang S. Extracellular K+ concentration controls cell surface density of IKr in rabbit hearts and of the HERG channel in human cell lines. J Clin Invest. 119:2745-2757, 2009. 
PMID: 19726881

Guo J, Massaeli H, Li W, Xu J, Luo T, Shaw J, Kirshenbaum L and Zhang S. Identification of IKr and its trafficking disruption induced by probucol in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 321:911-920, 2007. 
PMID: 17377062

Gang H and Zhang S. Na+ permeation and block of hERG potassium channels. J Gen Physiol. 128:55-71, 2006. 
PMID: 16769794

Guo J, Gang H, and Zhang S. Molecular determinants of cocaine block of human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium channels. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 317:865-874, 2006. 
PMID: 16397089

Zhang S. Isolation and characterization of IKr in cardiac myocytes by Cs+ permeation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 290:H1038-H1049, 2006. 
PMID: 16227343

Lin J, Guo J, Gang H, Wojciechowski P, Wigle JT, Zhang S. Intracellular K+ is required for the inactivation-induced high-affinity binding of cisapride to HERG channels. Mol Pharmacol. 68:855-865, 2005. 
PMID: 15967876

Zhang S, Eduljee C, Kwan DC, Kehl SJ, Fedida D. Constitutive inactivation of the hKv1.5 mutant channel, H463G, in K+-free solutions at physiological pH. Cell Biochem Biophys. 43:221-230, 2005.
PMID: 16049347

Zhang S, Kehl SJ, Fedida D. Modulation of human ether-a-go-go-related K+ (HERG) channel inactivation by Cs+ and K+. J Physiol. 548:691-702, 2003. 
PMID: 12626667

Zhang S, Kurata HT, Kehl SJ, Fedida D. Rapid induction of P/C-type inactivation is the mechanism for acid-induced K+ current inhibition. J Gen Physiol. 121:215-225, 2003. 
PMID: 12601085

Zhang S, Rajamani S, Chen Y, Gong Q, Rong Y, Zhou Z, Ruoho A, January CT. Cocaine blocks HERG, but not KvLQT1+minK, potassium channels. Mol Pharmacol. 59:1069-1076, 2001. 
PMID: 11306689

Zhang S, Kehl SJ, Fedida D. Modulation of Kv1.5 potassium channel gating by extracellular zinc. Biophys J. 81:125-136, 2001.
PMID: 15041663

Zhang S, Kwan DCH, Fedida D, Kehl SJ. External K+ relieves the block but not the gating shift caused by Zn2+ in human Kv1.5 channels. J Physiol. 532:349-358, 2001.
PMID: 11306655

Zhang S, Zhou Z, Gong Q, Makielski JC, January CT. Mechanism of block and identification of the verapamil binding domain to HERG potassium channels. Circ Res. 84:989-998, 1999. 
PMID: 10325236

Zhang S, Hirano Y, Hiraoka M. Arginine vasopressin-induced potentiation of unitary L-type Ca2+ channel current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Circ Res. 76:592-599, 1995.
PMID: 7895334