Neurons and other excitable cells have the unique ability to transmit and to respond to signals on a millisecond time scale. These rapid signals are due to ion channels, which are the molecular gates that control electrical activity. Our research focuses on a) potassium channels and the signal transduction complexes that are involved in their regulation and trafficking, and b) mechanisms of neuronal polarity. Using a combination of cell biological and biophysical approaches, our goal is to learn how molecular events shape the electrical signals and responses of the nervous system.