Dr. Baljit Khakh
Cell sensing by ATP and P2X receptors
53-257 CHS
310-825-7185 Lab
310-825-6258 Office
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:
S. Chaumont, V. Compan, E. Toulme, E. Richler, G.D. Housley, F. Rassendren & B.S. Khakh (2008). Regulation of P2X2 receptors by the neuronal calcium sensor VILIP1. Science Signaling; Article in pressS. Chaumont & B.S. Khakh (2008) Patch-clamp coordinated spectroscopy shows P2X2 receptor permeability dynamics require cytosolic domain rearrangements, but not Panx-1 channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 105; 12063-8.
E. Richler, S. Chaumont, E. Shigetomi, A. Sagasti & B.S. Khakh (2008) Tracking transmitter-gated P2X cation channel activation in vitro and in vivo. Nature Methods, 5; 87-93.
D.N Bowser & B.S. Khakh (2007) Two forms of single vesicle astrocyte exocytosis imaged with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104: 4212-7
B.S. Khakh & RA. North (2006) P2X receptors: cell sensors in health and disease. Nature, 442: 527-532.
An elaborate neuron imaged in vivo
Cartoon of P2X receptor subunit structure-function studies
