Daniel Kwan

2001 Research Trainee Award, Master's

Single Channel analysis of the mechanism basis of Zn 2+ and H+ medical block of Kv1.5

“Support from MSFHR has been very encouraging both for Daniel and for me since it allows us to pursue career and research pathways that otherwise would have been blocked by financial barriers.”
–Trainee Supervisor Dr. Steven Kehl A goal that scientists have long hoped for — the ability to design drugs based specifically on the known properties of their targets — motivated Daniel Kwan's Masters research. In order to develop such target-specific drugs, the molecular structure of potential targets needs to be well-defined. Daniel contributed to this goal by combining techniques in electrophysiology, cell biology and molecular biology to study Kv1.5, a protein controlling the movement of potassium ions from heart muscle cells. The protein acts as a pathway for ions to pass through cell membranes. Results from the research show that zinc ions and protons can block these pathways by causing a reduction in the channels available. Daniel also examined how nickel ion affects these channels and results from this study point to a possible link between zinc and epileptic seizures. These findings could help in developing drugs to block the channels as a treatment for diseases such as irregular heartbeat and epilepsy. Completed award term, August 2003 Received 2003 MSFHR Trainee Award
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