Epilepsy is a common neurological disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate seizures. Although multiple factors contribute to epilepsy, the majority of cases are genetic in origin. Variable expressivity is commonly observed in families with inherited mutations in epilepsy-associated genes, suggesting that variation in genetic modifiers may contribute to epilepsy phenotypes. We previously identified the modulatory voltage-gated potassium channel subunit, Kcnv2, as a candidate modifier gene in a transgenic mouse model of epilepsy. This dissertation outlines: the validation of Kcnv2 as a quantitative modifier of epilepsy in mice; the identification of KCNV2 variants in pediatric epilepsy patients; the determination of Kcnv2 regulatory regions; and the identification of mutations in a delayed-rectifier potassium channel gene, KCNB1, in individuals with epileptic encephalopathy. These studies highlight the importance of delayed-rectifier potassium current in governing neuronal excitability and demonstrate the utility of identifying and characterizing genetic modifiers to elucidate mechanisms of pathogenesis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-10292014-130822 |
| Date | 29 October 2014 |
| Creators | Jorge, Benjamin S. |
| Contributors | Kevin C. Ess, M.D., Ph.D., Jennifer A. Kearney, Ph.D., Douglas P. Mortlock, Ph.D., Alfred L. George, Jr., M.D. |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-10292014-130822/ |
| Rights | restrictone, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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