HERG channels produce an inwardly rectifying current and are one of the components of Ikr which contributes to the repolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. Mutations in HERG can cause LQT2 syndrome. These K+ channels are made up of four subunits each having six a-helical transmembrane domains, intracellular N- and C- termini and a pore loop linking the S5 and S6 domains. The S4 segment is highly charged and acts as the voltage sensor. Two isoforms of ERG1, 1a and 1b, are known to exist. ERG1b, however, lacks the extreme N-terminal region and PAS domains found in ERG1a. Our research aims to examine the mechanism of assembly of HERG channels formed from co-expression of HERG1a and HERG1b subunits as well as study the stoichiometry of ERG channels in native cells. In order to achieve this goal we use two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology, a fluorescence imaging technique called Fluorescence Intensity Ratio (FIR), molecular biology, and protein chemistry.

I completed my undergraduate studies in the Department of Chemistry at De La Salle University - Manila. I received my Ph.D. through the Department of Chemistry at the University of Connecticut under the mentorship of Harry A. Frank.

• Thin Film Voltammetry of Spinach Photosystem II. Proton-Gated Electron Transfer Involving the Mn(4) Cluster
Alcantara, K.; Munge, B.; Pendon, Z D.; Frank, H A.; Rusling, J F. Journal of the American Chemical Society 128 (2006) 14930-14937.

• Triplet State Spectra and Dynamics of Geometric Isomers of Carotenoids
Pendon, Z D.; Gibson, G N.; van der Hoef, I.; Lugtenburg, J.; and Frank, H A. Photosynthesis Research 88 (2006) 51-61.

• Effect of Isomer Geometry on the Steady State Absorption Spectra and Femtosecond Time-Resolved Dynamics of Carotenoids
Pendon, Z D.; Gibson, G N.; van der Hoef, I.; Lugtenburg, J.; and Frank, H A. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 109 (2005) 21172-21179.

• Stereoisomers of carotenoids: Spectroscopic properties of locked and unlocked cis-geometric isomers of spheroidene
Pendon, Z D.; Sullivan, J.O.; van der Hoef I.; Lugtenburg, J.; Cua, A.; Bocian, D F.; Birge, R R.; and Frank, H A. Photosynthesis Research 86 (2005) 5-24.

• A spectroscopic and computational study of the singlet and triplet excited states of synthetic beta-functionalized chlorins
Bruckner, C.; McCarthy, J R.; Daniell, H W.; Pendon, Z D.; Ilagan, R P.; Francis, T M.; Ren, L; Birge, R R.; and Frank, H A. Chemical Physics 294 (2003) 285-303.

• Electron Transfer Reactions of Redox Cofactors in Spinach Photosystem I Reaction Center Protein in Lipid Films on Electrodes
Munge, B.; Das, S K.; Ilagan, R P.; Pendon, Z D.; Yang, J.; Frank, H A.; and Rusling, J F. Journal of the American Chemical Society 125 (2003) 12457-12463.

• Electrochemical reactions of redox cofactors in Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center proteins in lipid films
Munge, B.; Pendon, Z D.; Frank, H A.; and Rusling, J F. Bioelectrochemistry 54 (2001) 145-150.

• Effect of the Solvent Environment on the Spectroscopic Properties and Dynamics of the Lowest Excited States of Carotenoids
Frank, H A.; Bautista, J A.; Josue, J.; Pendon, Z D.; Hiller, R G.; Sharples, F P.; Gosztola, D.; and Wasielewski, M R. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 104 (2000) 4569-4577.

• Antimicrobial flavones from Coleus amboinicus
Ragasa, C Y.; Pendon, Z D.; Sangalang, V.; and Rideout, J A Philippine Journal of Science 128 (1999) 347-351.