The overall area of interest in my laboratory is to understand the factors that modulate neuronal excitability in disease, from the study of ion channel function and dysfunction. Our lab is currently focused on trying to understand the molecular basis of dysfunction of voltage-gated
calcium channels in two main areas of research. In the first area or research, we study the functional changes in calcium channels in calcium channelopathies, or mutations in ion channel proteins that lead to neurological diseases, such as Spinocereberallar ataxia type 6 (SCA6).
We are currently studying the function of the actin-binding protein Kelch-like 1 or KLHL1, as it relates to calcium channel function modulation. This novel protein is located in the Spinocereberallar ataxia type 8 (SCA8) gene locus, which suggests KLHL1 is implicated in this movement disorder. With the aid of NSF-funded grants, our lab has pioneered the investigation of this protein function and is currently elucidating its mechanisms of modulation of calcium channels.
Our second current project involves the study of abnormal function of neuronal calcium channels in metabolic disease (diabetes), specifically in diabetic neuropathy; our goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of up-regulation of voltage-gated calcium channels during hyperglycemia. Our experimental approaches include electrophysiology , and cellular and biochemical techniques such as immunocytochemistry, biochemistry and confocal microscopy.
Selected Publications
Book Chapter
Piedras-Rentería, Erika S., Barrett, Curtis F., Cao, Yu-qing and Richard W. Tsien. Voltage-gated Calcium Channels, Calcium Signaling and Channelopathies. In: Calcium a matter of life or death, Joachim Krebs & Marek Michalak Eds., New Comprehensive Biochemistry Series no. 41, Series Editor G. Bernardi, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Pp 127-166, 2007.