Dr. Baljit Khakh
Cell sensing by ATP and P2X receptors
53-257 CHS
310-206-8604
bkhakh@mednet.ucla.edu

Visit my Lab

Research Interests:

ATP is an extracellular signaling molecule, and P2X receptors are plasma membrane ATP-gated cation channels. P2X receptors are widely expressed in the body, but their signal transduction pathways and physiological roles remain incompletely understood.

The first major goal of our experiments is to understand in detail P2X channel gating, pore opening and ion conduction. To this end we use a combination of molecular biology, electrophysiology and imaging methods (FRET, TIRF, confocal).

The second major goal of our experiments is to understand the physiological consequences of cellular ATP sensing by P2X receptors. For this aspect we use engineered P2X receptors with finessed properties, as well as electrophysiological and imaging studies of neurons.

Representative Publications:

Bowser, DN & Khakh BS. Two forms of single vesicle astrocyte exocytosis imaged with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA (2007); , 129: 485-91.

Khakh, B.S & North R.A. P2X receptors as cell surface ATP sensors in health and disease. Nature 442, 527-32 (2006).

Khakh et al., An angstrom scale interaction between plasma membrane ATP-gated P2X2 and a4b2 nicotinic channels measured with FRET and TIRF microscopy. Journal of Neuroscience 20, 6911-20 (2005).

Khakh et al., ATP modulation of excitatory synapses onto interneurons. Journal of Neuroscience 23, 7426-37 (2003).

An elaborate neuron imaged in vivo

Cartoon of P2X receptor subunit structure-function studies