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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7252
Email
kirk.hamilton@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Associate Professor
Department
Department of Physiology
Qualifications
MA (Texas) PhD (Utah State)
Research summary
Ion channels and transport

Research

My main research interest is the molecular regulation, physiology and function of ion channels of epithelial tissues. My research is focused on the molecular regulation and trafficking of K+ channels, in particular, the human intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel, KCa3.1 and the one transmembrane domain K+ channels β-subunits KCNE1 and KCNE3. We are using biotin-ligase acceptor peptide (BLAP) technology to tagged K+ channels in order to examine their cellular and membrane fate. We hope to further understand the role of KCa3.1 in cell biology.

A new research avenue has emerged from collaboration with members of the Auckland Bioengineering Institute in which we are developing mathematical modeling approaches to understand the function of the nephron. The goal of this research is to develop a framework for the comprehensive model description of biophysically detailed multi-scale physiological model of multi-nephron complex.

Publications

Logue, M., Farquhar, R. E., Eckhoff-Björngard, Y., Cheung, T. T., Devor, D. C., McDonald, F. J., & Hamilton, K. L. (2023). The exocyst complex is required for the trafficking and delivery of KCa3.1 to the basolateral membrane of polarized epithelia. American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00374.2022 Journal - Research Article

Farquhar, R. E., Cheung, T. T., Logue, M. J. E., McDonald, F. J., Devor, D. C., & Hamilton, K. L. (2022). Role of SNARE Proteins in the Insertion of KCa3.1 in the Plasma Membrane of a Polarized Epithelium. Frontiers in Physiology, 13, 905834. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.905834 Journal - Research Article

Logue, M., Cheung, T., Devor, C., Devor, D., McDonald, F., & Hamilton, K. (2021). The Role of Retromer in the Trafficking of the Ca2+- activated K+ channels KCa2.3 and KCa3.1. FASEB Journal, 35(Suppl. 1). doi: 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.S1.04094 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Hamilton, K. L., & Devor, D. C. (Eds.). (2020). Studies of epithelial transporters and ion channels: Ion channels and transporters of epithelia in health and disease (Vol. 3) (2nd ed.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 1244p. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-55454-5 Edited Book - Research

Devor, D. C., Thibodeau, P. H., & Hamilton, K. L. (2020). KCa3.1 in epithelia. In K. L. Hamilton & D. C. Devor (Eds.), Studies of epithelial transporters and ion channels: Ion channels and transporters of epithelia in health and disease (Vol. 3). (2nd ed.) (pp. 893-948). Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-55454-5_22 Chapter in Book - Research

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