Heusser Lab: Ligand-gated ion channels, pH sensing, and disease mechanisms

We study ligand-gated ion channels - membrane proteins that convert chemical signals into electrical responses and enable cells to sense their environment. Our work focuses on pH-activated ion channels and the molecular mechanisms by which cells detect acidic conditions. Because tissue acidosis is a key feature of diseases such as ischemic stroke, cancer, and inflammation, we study how low pH alters ion channel function to help guide the development of new treatments.

Latest Publications

Coupling between acid-sensing ion channel 1a and the monocarboxylate transporter family shapes cellular pH response

Proton activation of ASIC1a induces Na⁺ (and limited Ca²⁺) influx followed by rapid desensitization, yet some cells show altered proton sensitivity and slow, incomplete desensitization. We demonstrate that MCT1 interacts with ASIC1a, modulating proton sensitivity and desensitization in a subtype-specific manner. MCT1 is required for distinct ASIC1a currents in glioblastoma cells, and co-expression of ASIC1a with MCT1 significantly prolongs survival in glioblastoma mouse models