Dr Thomas Boulin: Don't get too excited: K2P Potassium channels and the regulation of the membrane potential Event

Event details

Two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P channels) play a central role in the control of cellular excitability and the regulation of the cell's membrane potential. They are broadly expressed in excitable and non-excitable cells, and have in turn been implicated in a large spectrum of physiopathological processes, ranging from the regulation of neuronal excitability, respiratory and cardiac function to the control of cell volume, hormone secretion and cell proliferation. Recently, loss- and gain-of-function mutations in K2P channels have been directly linked to human pathologies (Birk Barel syndrome, familial migraine with aura, cardiac conduction disorder). Despite the basic roles of K2P channels and in contrast to many other ion channel families, comparatively little is known about the genes and cellular processes that control their function in vivo. For instance we know only of very few factors that specifically regulate the expression, the activity and the localisation of K2P channels at the cell surface. Yet, such factors could represent entry points to regulate cellular activity, or be at the basis of pathological dysfunction. Our team is using the full array of of techniques available in C. elegans including genetics, live imaging, electrophysiology and state-of-the-art genome engineering and next-generation DNA sequencing to address the following question : How is the number of active potassium leak channels present at the cell surface controlled in vivo?