A5045528772- Ion channel regulation and function
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Diversity and Career in Medicine
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
- stochastic dynamics and bifurcation
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Career Development and Diversity
- Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Connexins and lens biology
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Polyomavirus and related diseases
- Nuclear Structure and Function
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Health and Medical Research Impacts
- Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response
University of California, Davis
2021-2025
Marine Biological Laboratory
2017-2022
Columbia University
2017-2019
Northwestern University
2014-2016
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
2011
Smith College
2008-2011
Animals requiring purposeful movement for survival are endowed with mechanoreceptors, called proprioceptors, that provide essential sensory feedback from muscles and joints to spinal cord circuits, which modulates motor output. Despite the nature of proprioceptive signaling in daily life, mechanisms governing proprioceptor activity poorly understood. Here, we identified nonredundant roles two voltage-gated sodium channels (Na V s), Na 1.1 1.6, mammalian proprioception. Deletion 1.6...
Epithelial-neuronal signaling is essential for sensory encoding in touch, itch, and nociception; however, little known about the release mechanisms neurotransmitter receptors through which skin cells govern neuronal excitability. Merkel are mechanosensory epidermal that have long been proposed to activate afferents chemical synaptic transmission. We employed a set of classical criteria neurotransmission as framework test this hypothesis. RNA sequencing adult mouse demonstrated they express...
The voltage-gated sodium channel (Na V ), Na 1.1, is well-studied in the central nervous system; conversely, its contribution to peripheral sensory neuron function more enigmatic. Here, we identify a new role for 1.1 mammalian proprioception. RNAscope analysis and vitro patch-clamp recordings genetically identified mouse proprioceptors show ubiquitous expression significant contributions intrinsic excitability. Notably, genetic deletion of neurons caused profound visible motor coordination...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive abilities, amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) accumulation and synaptic alterations. Previous studies indicated that hyperforin, component the St John's Wort, prevents Aβ neurotoxicity some behavioral impairments in rat model AD. In this study we examined ability tetrahydrohyperforin (IDN5607), stable hyperforin derivative, to prevent deficit impairment an vivo double transgenic...
The voltage-gated sodium NaV1.7 channel plays a key role as mediator of action potential propagation in C-fiber nociceptors and is an established molecular target for pain therapy. ProTx-II potent moderately selective peptide toxin from tarantula venom that inhibits human activation. Here we used available structural experimental data to guide Rosetta design ProTx-II-based inhibitors channels. Functional testing designed peptides using electrophysiology identified the PTx2-3127 PTx2-3258...
Small-diameter vesicular glutamate transporter 3-lineage (Vglut3<sup>lineage</sup>) dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons play an important role in mechanosensation and thermal hypersensitivity; however, little is known about their intrinsic electrical properties. We therefore set out to investigate mechanisms of excitability within this population. Calcium microfluorimetry analysis male female mouse DRG demonstrated that the cooling compound menthol selectively activates a subset...
Kainate receptors (KARs) are ionotropic glutamate (iGluRs) that modulate synaptic transmission and intrinsic neuronal excitability. KARs associate with the auxiliary proteins neuropilin- tolloid-like 1 2 (Neto1 Neto2), which act as allosteric modulators of receptor function impacting all biophysical properties these studied to date. M3-S2 linkers play a critical role in KAR gating; we found individual residues bidirectionally influence Neto2 modulation desensitization an agonist specific...
Thermosensation, the ability to detect and estimate temperature, is an evolutionarily conserved process that essential for survival. Thermosensing impaired in various pain syndromes, resulting thermal allodynia, perception of innocuous temperature as painful, or hyperalgesia, exacerbated a painful stimulus. Several behavioral assays exist study thermosensation rodents, however, most rely on reflexive withdrawal responses subjective quantification spontaneous nocifensive behaviors. Here, we...
The analysis of action potentials and other membrane voltage fluctuations provides a powerful approach for interrogating the function excitable cells. However, major bottleneck in interpretation this critical data is lack intuitive, agreed-upon software tools its analysis. Here, we present SanPy, an open-source freely available package exploration whole-cell current-clamp recordings written Python. SanPy robust computational engine with application programming interface. Using this, have...
Abstract Animals that require purposeful movement for survival are endowed with mechanosensory neurons called proprioceptors provide essential sensory feedback from muscles and joints to spinal cord circuits, which modulates motor output. Despite the nature of proprioceptive signaling in daily life, mechanisms governing proprioceptor activity poorly understood. Here, we have identified distinct nonredundant roles two voltage-gated sodium channels (NaVs), NaV1.1 NaV1.6, mammalian...
The analysis of action potentials and other membrane voltage fluctuations provide a powerful approach for interrogating the function excitable cells. Yet, major bottleneck in interpretation this critical data is lack intuitive, agreed upon software tools its analysis. Here, we present SanPy, Python-based open-source freely available pipeline exploration whole-cell current-clamp recordings. SanPy provides robust computational engine with an application programming interface. Using this, have...