Geoffrey W. Abbott

About

Dr. Geoffrey W. Abbott earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of London in 1997 and completed postdoctoral research at Yale University School of Medicine. He is a full professor in Physiology & Biophysics at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where he also serves as Vice Dean for Basic Science Research and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Personnel. His research is funded by multiple NIH institutes and focuses on elucidating the molecular basis for ion channel and transporter physiology and pathophysiology. His lab investigates the roles of the KCNE and KCNQ gene families of potassium channel subunits using techniques including genetics, electrophysiology, pharmacology, transcriptomics, and advanced imaging. Notably, his team discovered that neurotransmitters like GABA can directly bind to voltage-gated potassium channels to activate them. Additionally, his work explores the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial actions of traditional herbal and botanical medicines, as well as the discovery of novel ion channel subunits and small molecules that modulate ion channel function. His research aims to understand the molecular etiologies of channelopathies—human diseases caused by ion channel dysfunction—and develop targeted therapies. Dr. Abbott has received numerous awards, including the Samueli Scholarship and the Athalie Clarke Integrative Health Scientific Achievement Award, and is ranked in the top 0.05% of scholars worldwide in…

Research topics

• Biophysics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Cell biology
• Biochemistry
• Cardiology
• Internal medicine
• Anesthesia
• Endocrinology
• Medicine

Selected publications

• The envelope protein of SARS‐CoV‐2 increases intra‐Golgi pH and forms a cation channel that is regulated by pH

  The Journal of Physiology · 2021 · 72 citations

  KEY POINTS: We report a novel method for the transient expression of SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein in intracellular organelles and the plasma membrane of mammalian cells and Xenopus oocytes. Intracellular expression of SARS-CoV-2 E protein increases intra-Golgi pH. By targeting the SARS-CoV-2 E protein to the plasma membrane, we show that it forms a cation channel, viroporin, that is modulated by changes of pH. This method for studying the activity of viroporins may facilitate screening for ne…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• KCNQs: Ligand- and Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels

  Frontiers in Physiology · 2020 · 71 citations

  1st authorCorresponding

  . Although they are firmly in the superfamily of S4 domain-bearing voltage-sensing ion channels, KCNQ channels are highly sensitive to a range of endogenous and exogenous small molecules that act directly on the pore, the voltage-sensing domain, or the interface between the two. The focus of this review is regulation of KCNQs by direct binding of neurotransmitters and metabolites from both animals and plants and the role of the latter in the effects of plants consumed for food and as traditional…

  DOI

• Empagliflozin protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion-induced sudden cardiac death

  Cardiovascular Diabetology · 2021 · 68 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Empagliflozin is a selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Empagliflozin also exerts cardioprotective effects independent from glucose control, but its benefits on arrhythmogenesis and sudden cardiac death are not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of empagliflozin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion-provoked cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in vivo. METHODS: Male Sprague Da…

  DOI

• Molecular and circuit determinants in the globus pallidus mediating control of cocaine-induced behavioral plasticity

  Neuron · 2024-08-16 · 11 citations

  articleOpen access

  Publisher of over 50 scientific journals across the life, physical, earth, and health sciences, both independently and in partnership with scientific societies including Cell, Neuron, Immunity, Current Biology, AJHG, and the Trends Journals.

  PublisherDOI

• A novel autism-associated KCNB1 mutation dramatically slows Kv2.1 potassium channel activation, deactivation and inactivation

  Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience · 2024-07-29 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  KCNB1 , on human chromosome 20q13.3, encodes the alpha subunit of the Kv2.1 voltage gated potassium channel. Kv2.1 is ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and is critical in controlling neuronal excitability, including in the hippocampus and pyramidal neurons. Human KCNB1 mutations are known to cause global development delay or plateauing, epilepsy, and behavioral disorders. Here, we report a sibling pair with developmental delay, absence seizures, autism spectrum disorder, hypotonia, and…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01HL101190

  NIH · $1.7M · 2015

• Therapeutic small molecule modulation of Kv channels

  NIH · $2.6M · 2019–2030

• NIH Grant R01HL079275

  NIH · $4.6M · 2016

Frequent coauthors

• Zhaoyang Hu

  Sichuan University

  68 shared

• Rían W. Manville

  University of California, Irvine

  41 shared

• Torsten K. Roepke

  Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

  27 shared

• James Camakaris

  21 shared

• Norma Allewell

  21 shared

• Eefjan Breukink

  Utrecht University

  21 shared

• Vera Bianchi

  University of Padua

  21 shared

• Craig Atwood

  Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center

  21 shared

Labs

• Abbott LabPI

Awards & honors

• Wellcome Trust Prize Traveling Postdoctoral Fellowship (1997…
• 11th Annual Dept. of Medicine Investigator Award, Weill-Corn…
• 15th Annual Dept. of Medicine Investigator Award, Weill-Corn…
• 18th Annual Dept. of Medicine Investigator Award, Weill-Corn…
• The Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award (2010-2014)

Similar researchers at University of California, Irvine

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• Munjal Acharyah-36
• Anshu Agrawalh-35