Searching for ways to treat abnormal heart rhythms

Determination of the SK channel composition contributing to atrial action potential duration

Professor Neil Marrion and colleagues at the University of Bristol are investigating ‘SK’ channels in the upper chamber of the heart, to see if they hold the key to treating abnormal heart rhythms. For the heart muscle to beat in synchrony and pump blood effectively, charged particles (called ions) pass through ion channels within and on heart cells, which open when the cells become stimulated with electricity. When ion channels are faulty, abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias can occur, which can be treated with drugs that target ion channels. Scientists have discovered a new ‘SK’ ion channel, which helps the heart recover after being electrically excited. This channel is mainly found in the heart’s upper chambers – the atria - and drugs blocking SK channels appear to only affect the atria, not the rest of the heart. In this project, Professor Marrion will use heart muscle cells from the atria of mice and people, to work out the structure of SK channels, and where the ions which activate these channels come from. By unveiling more about SK channel structure and how it is activated, this research will reveal more about how the heartbeat is controlled and whether these channels could be a target for new anti-arrhythmia drugs.