Emerging Concepts in Ion Channel Biophysics

Emerging Concepts in Ion Channel Biophysics

Tuesday Speaker Abstracts

TRP Channels in Noxious Heat Sensing and Pain Thomas Voets . KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Acute pain represents a crucial alarm signal to protect us from injury. Whereas the nociceptor neurons that convey pain signals have been well-characterized, the identity of the molecular sensors responsible for detecting noxious thermal or mechanical insults remains largely elusive. Here, evidence will be presented that acute noxious heat sensing in vitro and in vivo is mediated by a set of three functionally redundant heat-activated TRP channels. Combined elimination of all three channels eliminates heat-induced pain responses, but does not affect pain responses to cold or mechanical stimuli, or thermal preference. Pharmacological inhibition of these channels has differential effects on pathological hypersensitivity and pain.

Cryo-EM Imaging of a Voltage-gated Channel with Membrane Potential Applied Frederick Sigworth . Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. No Abstract

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