Research Interests
Voltage-gated Ion channels are responsible for the generation
of conducted electrical signals in  excitable cells. We are interested
in 1) molecular biology, electrophysiology and pharmacology of insect
voltage-gated ion channels, and 2) molecular biology of insecticide resistance.
Current research is focused on two voltage-gated ion channel genes: the
para sodium channel gene and the BSC1 calcium-selective channel gene.
Projects in my laboratory:
1. Molecular biology and pharmacology of insect sodium
channels
(Supported by National Science Foundation and BARD)
2. Knockdown resistance (kdr) of insects to pyrethroid
insecticides
(Supported by National Institutes of Health and GREEEN)
3. Functional characterization of BSC1, a novel voltage-gated
calcium-selective channel  (Supported by National Science Foundation and
Rackham Fund)
We want to
1) understand the functional diversity and
biological role of Para and BSC1 channels in insects;
2) elucidate interactions
of the Para and BSC1 channels with various neurotoxins including pyrethroid
insecticides at the molecular level;
3) reach a  mechanistic understanding
of how point mutations in the Para sodium channel alter the channel sensitivity
to pyrethroid insecticides; and
4) identify potential new targets for
novel and safe insecticides. For more information, please visit Dong's
lab home page.
Selected Publications
Search all publications in the NCBI Journal Database
Tan, J, Liu, Z, Wang, R, Huang, ZY, Chen, AC, Gurevitz, M, and Dong, K.
(2005) Identification of amino acid residues in the insect sodium channel
critical for pyrethroid binding. Mol Pharmacol. 67:513-522.
Liu, Z., Song, W. and Dong, K. (2004) Persistent
tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium current resulting from U-to-C RNA editing of an insect sodium
channel. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:11862-11867.
Zhou, W., Chung, I., Liu Z. Goldin, A. L. and Dong, K. (2004) A voltage-gated calcium-selective channel encoded by a sodium channel-like
gene. Neuron 42: 101-112.
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Ke
Dong 