Our tongue is not the only place that can sense acidity. Throughout the body, and especially in the brain, cells are equipped with molecular sensors that detect changes in pH. Among them are pH-activated ion channels, proteins embedded in the cell membrane that convert chemical signals into electrical and cellular responses. During injury, stroke, inflammation, or cancer, tissues often become more acidic. This shift in pH is not just a byproduct of disease, but an active signal that shapes how cells function and communicate.
A central question in our research is: How do cells detect and interpret these acidic signals at the molecular level? My lab focuses on two key pH-activated ion channels, ASIC (Acid-Sensing Ion Channel) and PAC (Proton-Activated Chloride channel). These channels respond to acidic environments and influence processes such as pain perception, brain activity, cell survival, and nutrient uptake. Despite their importance, we still do not fully understand how ASIC and PAC sense pH or how their activation contributes to tissue damage. By uncovering the mechanisms of pH sensing in these channels, we aim to lay the foundation for new therapies that selectively target them in disease — turning harmful acidity signals into opportunities for treatment.
To achieve this, we combine electrophysiology, fluorometry, and protein engineering to link molecular structure to function and to better understand how these channels operate in their cellular context.