SLUSaint Louis University · Biochemistry
Cardiac Ion Channel Research Lab
Gucan Dai · Saint Louis, Missouri
Research Focus
Dr. Gucan Dai's research lab focuses on understanding how specific ion channels in the heart respond to electrical signals, which is crucial for understanding heart conditions like arrhythmias. The lab employs advanced techniques to investigate the structural changes in these channels that occur during their activation, as well as how mutations can impact their function. This research could lead to new treatments for heart diseases by identifying potential therapeutic targets in heart channel mechanisms.
ion channelsarrhythmiasvoltage sensingheart diseaseselectrophysiologyfluorescence imaging
Research Aims
5AIM 01Determine the voltage-sensing dynamics of cardiac ion channels expressed in human cell lines.
AIM 02Characterize how regulatory domains modulate channel gating and VSD conformations.
AIM 03Assess the structural dynamics of ion channels linked to cardiac diseases.
AIM 04Explore the mechanistic basis of arrhythmia-related mutations in ion channels.
AIM 05Develop advanced biophysical tools to study cardiac channel functions.
Skills the Lab Values
patch-clamp fluorometryfluorescence resonance energy transfermolecular dynamics simulationssite-specific fluorescence labelingelectrophysiological techniquescell culturemutagenesisdata analysis in Pythonphoton counting techniques
Output against the department
Publications53bottom 8% of dept.370th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations652bottom 1% of dept.398th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
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