Physiology Seminar Jan. 15 – Dr. Ji Sun, Structural Biology, St. Jude “Molecular mechanisms of the cell-specific KCNQ1 modulation through KCNE1/3”

Associate Professor in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be presenting his seminar titled "Molecular mechanisms of the cell-specific KCNQ1 modulation through KCNE1/3"

Thursday, Jan. 15 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Cancer Research Building Auditorium, 19 S. Manassas St., Room 114.

Presentation Summary:

KCNQ1 potassium channels are essential for physiological processes such as cardiac rhythm and intestinal chloride secretion. KCNE-family subunits (KCNE1-5) associate with KCNQ1, conferring distinct properties across various tissues. KCNE1, by significantly enhancing KCNQ1's PIP2 affinity and resistance to GPCR regulation, forms predominantly voltage-gated channels with KCNQ1 for conducting the slow-delayed rectifier current in excitable cardiac cells. Our study highlights how KCNE1/3 modulates KCNQ1 gating in different cellular contexts, providing insights for tissue- specifically targeting multi-functional channels.

Brief Biography:

Ji earned his PhD from the University of Washington under the mentorship of Ning Zheng (HHMI). During his graduate studies, he solved the first X-ray crystal structure of an MFS (major facilitator superfamily) transporter from Arabidopsis, offering critical insights into how plants adapt to environmental fluctuations and efficiently uptake nitrate from soil. He then pursued postdoctoral training with Dr. Roderick MacKinnon at The Rockefeller University, where he employed cryo-EM and electrophysiology to elucidate the structure and function of a vital potassium channel in the human heart. This work established a molecular framework for understanding the potassium channel's modulation by diverse signals, including lipids, β-subunits, and CaM/Ca²⁺ pathways. In 2019, Ji launched his independent laboratory at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he has advanced the field of spatial regulation in cell signaling. His discoveries have paved the way for the development of innovative pharmacological tools with potential applications in treating diseases such as cancer and Parkinson's diseases.

Ji received numerous awards, including the American Heart Association postdoc fellowship, K99/R00 pathway to independence from NIH, Dean's Chair from and President Young Professorship (PYP) from NUS, and NRF Investigator Professorship from Singapore.

We hope to see you there!

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