Laboratory of Dr. Ivy Dick
Evaluating Voltage Gated Calcium Channels
Calcium Channel Biophysics
Utilizing whole-cell patch clamp, single channel recordings, and calcium imaging, we are working to better quantify the biophysical properties of voltage-gated calcium channels in immortalized cells as well as primary cell cultures. Describing these properties and how they can vary in disease states is among our primary interests.
Optical Mapping
Applying voltage-sensitive dyes to monolayers of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes provides the opportunity to evaluate the arrhythmogenic potential of distinct channel mutations. The propagation of the action potential progresses smoothly a monolayer of WT cardiomyocytes, but produces a spiral pattern in cells harboring a Long-QT mutation.
Calcium Imaging
Using confocal microscopy and high resolution CMOS imaging systems, our lab investigates calcium dynamics in a diverse array of cellular environments. Calcium imaging is performed in both cardiomyocytes and neurons, enabling evaluation of the impact of channel mutations on calcium signaling.
iPSCs
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a tremendously powerful resource for biologists who seek to uncover the intricacies of cellular processes as they occur in native human tissue. We pair patient-derived IPSCs with CRISPR-Cas9, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging to probe neurons and cardiomyocytes harboring channel mutations for our various projects.