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Dr Stephanie Schorge

  • Telephone:

    020 3448 4208

  • Extension:

    020 3456 7890

  • Email:

    s.schorge@ucl.ac.uk

  • Webpage:

    http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~skaasns/

  • Address:

    808 QSH Queen Square,
    UCL Institute of Neurology,
    London,
    WC1N 3BG

  • Appointments:

    Senior Research Fellow, Clinical & Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology

Research Summary

We are interested in how ion channels alter neurological disorders (such as epilepsy and ataxias) and also how neurological disorders alter ion channels. In particular we are interested in how alternative splicing in ion channels changes their behaviour, and how changes caused by splicing may lead to changes in the course and treatment of diseases. Voltage-gated ion channels are often subject to extensive alternative splicing and the functional and neurological impact of changes in this splicing, as well as the factors regulating it are currently largely unknown. In the lab we regularly record from sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride channels. A close collaboration with the Experimental epilepsy group at IoN involved developing viral-mediated expression to permit heterologous expression of ion channels in difficult to transfect cells, and a close collaboration with the MRC-funded Neuromuscular Centre at IoN means we have a regular stream of novel mutations identified in patients to investigate as well as normally occurring splice variants. We have experimented with a variety of model systems, from oocytes to differentiated teratoma cells, and are constantly looking for ways to better reproduce the cellular environments that are relevant for the changes in ion channel behaviour. S.Schorge is funded by a fellowship endowed by the Worshipful Company of Pewterers.

Research Activities

  • Cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration
  • Experimental epilepsy
  • Function of single synapses
  • Molecular mechanisms of cell surface receptor function
  • Regulation, alternative splicing and modulation of ion channels changes in development and neurological disorders

Recent Publications

Displaying 50 most recent publications. For the full list please visit UCL Discovery

  1. Burge JA,Hanna MG,Schorge S (2013) Non-genomic actions of progesterone and 17β-estradiol on the chloride conductance of skeletal muscle. Muscle Nerve. 10.1002/mus.23887.
  2. Tomlinson SE,Rajakulendran S,Tan SV,Graves TD,Bamiou DE,Labrum RW,Burke D,Sue CM,Giunti P,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2013) Clinical, genetic, neurophysiological and functional study of new mutations in episodic ataxia type 1. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304131.
  3. Wanisch K,Kovac S,Schorge S (2013) Tackling obstacles for gene therapy targeting neurons: disrupting perineural nets with hyaluronidase improves transduction. PLoS One, 8(1), e53269. 10.1371/journal.pone.0053269.
  4. Burge J,Schorge S,Hanna MG (2012) Progesterone reduces and shifts the voltage dependence of the skeletal muscle chloride conductance NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS, 22, S16 - S16.
  5. Raja Rayan DL,Haworth A,Sud R,Matthews E,Fialho D,Burge J,Portaro S,Schorge S,Tuin K,Lunt P,McEntagart M,Toscano A,Davis MB,Hanna MG (2012) A new explanation for recessive myotonia congenita: exon deletions and duplications in CLCN1. Neurology, 78(24), 1953 - 1958. 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318259e19c.
  6. Wykes RC,Heeroma JH,Mantoan L,Zheng K,MacDonald DC,Deisseroth K,Hashemi KS,Walker MC,Schorge S,Kullmann DM (2012) Optogenetic and potassium channel gene therapy in a rodent model of focal neocortical epilepsy. Sci Transl Med, 4(161), 161ra152. 10.1126/scitranslmed.3004190.
  7. Raheem O,Penttilä S,Suominen T,Kaakinen M,Burge J,Haworth A,Sud R,Schorge S,Haapasalo H,Sandell S,Metsikkö K,Hanna M,Udd B (2012) New immunohistochemical method for improved myotonia and chloride channel mutation diagnostics. Neurology, 79(22), 2194 - 2200. 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31827595e2.
  8. Raheem O,Penttila S,Suominen T,Kaakinen M,Burge J,Haworth A,Sud R,Schorge S,Haapasalo H,Sandell S,Metsikko K,Hanna M,Udd B (2012) New immunohistochemical method for improved myotonia and chloride channel mutation diagnostics NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS, 22(9-10), 898 - 898. 10.1016/j.nmd.2012.06.314.
  9. Farmer C,Cox JJ,Fletcher EV,Woods CG,Wood JN,Schorge S (2012) Splice variants of Na(V)1.7 sodium channels have distinct β subunit-dependent biophysical properties. PLoS One, 7(7), e41750. 10.1371/journal.pone.0041750.
  10. Wykes RC,Heeroma JH,Kullmann DM,Walker MC,Schorge S (2011) LENTIVIRAL-MEDIATED OVEREXPRESSION OF THE POTASSIUM CHANNEL KV1.1 AS A TREATMENT FOR FOCAL NEOCORTICAL EPILEPSY EPILEPSIA, 52, 9 - 9.
  11. Mantoan L,Wykes R,Schorge S,Walker MC,Kullmann DM (2011) OPTOGENETIC INHIBITION OF EPILEPTIC ACTIVITY EPILEPSIA, 52, 42 - 42.
  12. Fletcher EV,Kullmann DM,Schorge S (2011) Alternative splicing modulates inactivation of type 1 voltage-gated sodium channels by toggling an amino acid in the first S3-S4 linker. J Biol Chem, 286(42), 36700 - 36708. 10.1074/jbc.M111.250225.
  13. Rajakulendran S,Graves TD,Labrum RW,Kotzadimitriou D,Eunson L,Davis MB,Davies R,Wood NW,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG,Schorge S (2010) Genetic and functional characterisation of the P/Q calcium channel in episodic ataxia with epilepsy. J Physiol, 588(Pt 11), 1905 - 1913. 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.186437.
  14. Schorge S,van de Leemput J,Singleton A,Houlden H,Hardy J (2010) Human ataxias: a genetic dissection of inositol triphosphate receptor (ITPR1)-dependent signaling. Trends Neurosci, 33(5), 211 - 219. 10.1016/j.tins.2010.02.005.
  15. Eddaoudi A,Townsend-Nicholson A,Timms JF,Schorge S,Jayasinghe SN (2010) Molecular characterisation of post-bio-electrosprayed human brain astrocytoma cells Analyst, 135(10), 2600 - 2612. 10.1039/C0AN00213E.
  16. Schorge S,Matthews E,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2010) VOLTAGE SENSOR CHARGE LOSS ACCOUNTS FOR MOST CASES OF HYPOKALEMIC PERIODIC PARALYSIS Reply NEUROLOGY, 74(3), 269 - 270.
  17. Schorge S,Kullmann DM (2010) Sodium channel mutations and epilepsy: association and causation. Exp Neurol, 226(1), 8 - 10. 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.08.008.
  18. Schorge S,Kullmann DM (2010) Sodium channel mutations and epilepsy: Association and causation EXP NEUROL, 226(1), 8 - 10. 10.1016/j.expneuro1.2010.08.008.
  19. Rajakulendran S,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2010) Dysfunction of the Ca(V)2.1 calcium channel in cerebellar ataxias. F1000 Biol Rep, 2. 10.3410/B2-4.
  20. Rajakulendran S,Labrum RW,Graves TD,Tomlinson S,Eunson LH,Davis MB,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2010) PAW31 Clinical and genetic spectrum of the episodic ataxias: the UK perspective. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 81(11), e32. 10.1136/jnnp.2010.226340.59.
  21. Graves TD,Rajakulendran S,Zuberi SM,Morris HR,Schorge S,Hanna MG,Kullmann DM (2010) Nongenetic factors influence severity of episodic ataxia type 1 in monozygotic twins. Neurology, 75(4), 367 - 372. 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181ea9ee3.
  22. Rajakulendran S,Graves T,Kullmann D,Schorge S,Hanna M (2009) Variation in CACNA1A associated with episodic ataxia and epilepsy EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 16, 46 - 46.
  23. Matthews E,Labrum R,Sweeney MG,Sud R,Haworth A,Chinnery PF,Meola G,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Davis MB,Hanna MG (2009) Voltage sensor charge loss accounts for most cases of hypokalemic periodic paralysis Neurology, 72(18), 1544 - 1547. 10.1212/01.wnl.0000342387.65477.46.
  24. Schorge S,Kullmann DM (2009) Sodium channelopathy of peripheral nerve: tightening the genotype-phenotype relationship Brain, 132(7), 1690 - 1692. 10.1093/brain/awp120.
  25. Schorge S,Walker MC (2009) A self-activating intrinsic brake on bursting in CA3 neurons The Journal of Physiology, 587(6), 1143 - 1144. 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.170027.
  26. Labrum RW,Rajakulendran S,Graves TD,Eunson LH,Bevan R,Sweeney MG,Hammans SR,Tubridy N,Britton T,Carr LJ,Ostergaard JR,Kennedy CR,Al-Memar A,Kullmann DM,Schorge S,Temple K,Davis MB,Hanna MG (2009) Large scale calcium channel gene rearrangements in episodic ataxia and hemiplegic migraine: implications for diagnostic testing. J Med Genet, 46(11), 786 - 791. 10.1136/jmg.2009.067967.
  27. Heeroma JH,Henneberger C,Rajakulendran S,Hanna MG,Schorge S,Kullmann DM (2009) Episodic ataxia type 1 mutations differentially affect neuronal excitability and transmitter release. Dis Model Mech, 2(11-12), 612 - 619. 10.1242/dmm.003582.
  28. Rajakulendran S,Tan SV,Matthews E,Tomlinson SE,Labrum R,Sud R,Kullmann DM,Schorge S,Hanna MG (2009) A patient with episodic ataxia and paramyotonia congenita due to mutations in KCNA1 and SCN4A. Neurology, 73(12), 993 - 995. 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181b87959.
  29. Graves TD,Morris H,Zuberi S,Hanna MG,Kullmann DM,Schorge S (2008) Episodic ataxia type 1 in twins: Genotype-phenotype correlation JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY, 79(3), 344 - 344.
  30. Graves TD,Zuberi SM,Morris H,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2008) Episodic ataxia type 1 in identical twins: genotype-phenotype correlation JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 255, 16 - 16.
  31. Fialho D,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG,Schorge S (2008) Non-genomic effects of sex hormones on CIC-1 may contribute to gender differences in myotonia congenita NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS, 18(9-10), 745 - 745. 10.1016/j.nmd.2008.06.076.
  32. Graves TD,Zuberi SM,Morris H,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2008) Episodic ataxia type 1 in identical twins NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS, 18(9-10), 746 - 746. 10.1016/j.nmd.2008.06.079.
  33. Fialho D,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG,Schorge S (2008) Non-genomic effects of sex hormones on CLC-1 may contribute to gender differences in myotonia congenita Neuromuscular Disorders, 18(11), 869 - 872. 10.1016/j.nmd.2008.07.004.
  34. Kullmann DM,Schorge S (2008) Voltage-gated ion channels: molecular biology and role of mutations in epilepsy, 253 - 265.
  35. Graves T,Morris H,Zuberi S,Kullmann D,Schorge S,Hanna M (2008) Episodic ataxia type 1 in identical twins: Genotype-phenotype correlation NEUROLOGY, 70(11), A317 - A317.
  36. Graves TD,Zuberi SM,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2007) A clinical, genetic and electrophysiological study of a new UK episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) pedigree NEUROLOGY, 68(12), A253 - A253.
  37. Fialho D,Schorge S,Pucovska U,Davies NP,Labrum R,Haworth A,Stanley E,Sud R,Wakeling W,Davis MB,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2007) Chloride channel myotonia: exon 8 hot-spot for dominant-negative interactions. Brain, 130(12), 3265 - 3274. 10.1093/brain/awm248.
  38. Rajakulendran S,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2007) Episodic ataxia type 1: a neuronal potassium channelopathy Neurotherapeutics, 4(2), 258 - 266. 10.1016/j.nurt.2007.01.010.
  39. Graves TD,Schorge S,Morris H,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2007) A novel voltage-sensing mutation in Kv1.1 is associated with episodic ataxia type 1 JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, 254, 28 - 29.
  40. Graves TD,Zuberi SM,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2007) A clinical, genetic and electrophysiological study of a new UK episodic ataxia type 1 pedigree JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY, 78(9), 1019 - 1019.
  41. Schorge S,Ptácek LJ (2006) Inherited erythermalgia moves a sodium channel into focus. Neurology, 67(9), 1538 - 1539. 10.1212/01.wnl.0000242618.60344.8c.
  42. Scimemi A,Schorge S,Kullmann DM,Walker MC (2006) Epileptogenesis is associated with enhanced glutamatergic transmission in the perforant path Journal of Neurophysiology, 95(2), 1213 - 1220.
  43. Graves TD,Schorge S,Davies RA,Wood NW,Kullmann DM,Hanna MG (2006) The role of the brain P/Q-type calcium channel in human epilepsy EUR J NEUROL, 13, 313 - 313.
  44. Schorge S,Elenes S,Colquhoun D (2005) Maximum likelihood fitting of single channel NMDA activity with a mechanism composed of independent dimers of subunits The Journal of Physiology, 569(2), 395 - 418. 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.095349.
  45. Schorge S,Scimemi A,Kullmann DM (2005) Regulation of sodium channel alternative splicing in rat cortex EPILEPSIA, 46, 211 - 212.
  46. King BF,Liu M,Townsend-Nicholson A,Pfister J,Padilla F,Ford AP,Gever JR,Oglesby IB,Schorge S,Burnstock G (2005) Antagonism of ATP responses at P2X receptor subtypes by the pH indicator dye, Phenol red. British Journal of Pharmacology, 145(3), 313 - 322. 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706187.
  47. Tate SK,Depondt C,Sisodiya SM,Cavalleri GL,Schorge S,Soranzo N,Thom M,Sen A,Shorvon SD,Sander JW,Wood NW,Goldstein DB (2005) Genetic predictors of the maximum doses patients receive during clinical use of the anti-epileptic drugs carbamazepine and phenytoin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(15), 5507 - 5512. 10.1073/pnas.0407346102.
  48. Schorge S,Colquhoun D (2003) Studies of NMDA receptor function and stoichiometry with truncated and tandem subunits Journal of Neuroscience, 23(4), 1151 - 1158.
  49. Lin Z,Lin Y,Schorge S,Pan JQ,Beierlein M,Lipscombe D (1999) Alternative splicing of a short cassette exon in alpha1B generates functionally distinct N-type calcium channels in central and peripheral neurons. J Neurosci, 19(13), 5322 - 5331.
  50. Lin Z,Haus S,Edgerton J,Lipscombe D (1997) Identification of functionally distinct isoforms of the N-type Ca2+ channel in rat sympathetic ganglia and brain. Neuron, 18(1), 153 - 166.

Qualifications

  • 1999: Doctor of Philosophy, Brown University
  • 1994: Bachelor of Science, Yale University

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Anti-sense and morpholino approaches
  • Ataxias
  • Biophysics
  • Calcium imaging
  • Cell culture
  • Disorders of neuromuscular junction transmission
  • Disorders of striated muscle
  • Electrophysiological recording techniques
  • Epilepsy
  • Fluorescence microscopy techniques
  • G-protein coupled receptors
  • Gene expression
  • Gene expression profiling - single cell
  • Ion channels
  • Ion channels in neurological diseases
  • MRNA
  • Migraine
  • Patch-clamp recording
  • Pharmacology
  • Single-channel recording
  • Stem cells
  • Viral vectors