Photo of Antonios Pantazis

Antonios Pantazis

Associate Professor, Docent

Capturing the molecular transitions governing cellular electrical excitability.

Ion channel biophysics

Understanding the basis of cellular excitability in health and disease.

Our bodies are “wet computers”, utilizing electrical signals to mediate nerve function, a regular heart rhythm, muscle contraction and other physiological functions. Voltage-gated ion channels are fascinating macromolecules that span the cell membrane and, upon receipt of an electrical signal, allow specific ions to cross into or out of the cell. By controlling ionic conduction, ion channels govern cellular excitability; that is, the ability of a cell to generate, and respond to, electrical signals.

My group combines innovative electrophysiological, optical and computational approaches to investigate how the intricate molecular architecture of ion channels relates to their function and regulation; and how ion channel function or dysfunction governs cellular excitability in health and disease.

Latest publications

2025

Marina Angelini, Nicoletta Savalli, Federica Steccanella, Savana Maxfield, Serena Pozzi, Marino DiFranco, Stephen C. Cannon, Antonios Pantazis, Riccardo Olcese (2025) The molecular transition that confers voltage dependence to muscle contraction Nature Communications, Vol. 16, Article 4847 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Kaiqian Wang, Michelle Nilsson, Marina Angelini, Riccardo Olcese, Fredrik Elinder, Antonios Pantazis (2025) A rich conformational palette underlies human CaV2.1-channel availability Nature Communications, Vol. 16, Article 3815 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Pia Dahlberg, Serena Pozzi, Linda Bulmer, Alessia Golluscio, Michelle Nilsson, Anders Nygren, Peter Larsson, Antonios Pantazis, Anders Gummesson (2025) Clinical and electrophysiological characterization of a SCN5A gain-of-function mutation associated with CPVT-like arrhythmia Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Vol. 203, p. 47-58 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2024

Antonios Pantazis, William J. Brackenbury (2024) Worldwide Sodium Channel Conference, January 31st-February 2nd, 2024, Grindelwald, Switzerland BIOELECTRICITY (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Michelle Nilsson, Kaiqian Wang, Teresa Mínguez-Viñas, Marina Angelini, Stina Berglund, Riccardo Olcese, Antonios Pantazis (2024) Voltage-dependent G-protein regulation of CaV2.2 (N-type) channels Science Advances, Vol. 10, Article eadp6665 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2023

Teresa Mínguez‐Viñas, Varsha Prakash, Kaiqian Wang, Sarah Lindström, Serena Pozzi, Stuart A. Scott, Elizabeth Spiteri, David A. Stevenson, Euan A. Ashley, Cecilia Gunnarsson, Antonios Pantazis (2023) Two epilepsy‐associated variants in KCNA2 (KV1.2) at position H310 oppositely affect channel functional expression Journal of Physiology, Vol. 601, p. 5367-5389 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2022

Michelle Nilsson, Sarah H Lindström, Maki Kaneko, Kaiqian Wang, Teresa Minguez-Viñas, Marina Angelini, Federica Steccanella, Deborah Holder, Michela Ottolia, Riccardo Olcese, Antonios Pantazis (2022) An epilepsy-associated KV1.2 charge-transfer-center mutation impairs KV1.2 and KV1.4 trafficking Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 119 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2021

Marina Angelini, Arash Pezhouman, Nicoletta Savalli, Marvin G. Chang, Federica Steccanella, Kyle Scranton, Guillaume Calmettes, Michela Ottolia, Antonios Pantazis, Hrayr S. Karagueuzian, James N. Weiss, Riccardo Olcese (2021) Suppression of ventricular arrhythmias by targeting late L-type Ca2+ current The Journal of General Physiology, Vol. 153, Article e202012584 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Organisation

News

Two researchers in a lab discuss a graph on a computer screen.

How molecules can ‘remember’ and contribute to memory

Researchers have discovered how an ion channel in the brain’s neurons has a kind of ‘molecular memory’, which contributes to the formation and preservation of lifelong memories.

Kaiqian Wang.

Discovery about pain signalling may contribute to better treatment

LiU researchers have pinpointed the exact location of a specific protein fine-tuning the strength of pain signals. The knowledge can be used to develop drugs for chronic pain that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

Researcher Antonios Pantazis sits in his office and shows his 3D model of ion channels in different colors.

Antonios Pantazis channels his passion for ion channels

Antonios Pantazis has recently been awarded the prestigious Swedish Fernström Prize for his work on ion channels. His lab aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms of ion channels and their role in various diseases, such as epilepsy and arrhythmias.

CV

Positions and Education

  • 2023
    Swedish Fernström Prize
  • 2021
    Associate Professor, Linköping University
  • 2018 - 2021
    Assistant Professor, Linköping University
  • 2012 - 2018
    Assistant Researcher, University of California at Los Angeles, Dept. of Anesthesiology
  • 2008 - 2012
    Postdoc, University of California at Los Angeles, Dept. of Anesthesiology
  • 2006 - 2008
    Postdoc, University College London, Dept. of Pharmacology
  • 2002-2006
    PhD, Cambridge University (Churchill College)
  • 1999-2002
    BA in Natural Sciences, Cambridge University (Churchill College)