Looking for a cell line that natively expresses PIEZO2 - we’d say avoid MCC13. Unlike Merkel cells the native mechanically-evoked currents in this line are largely carried by PIEZO1. And like many other cell lines that we’ve tested the slow components come from MDFIC/MDFI tinyurl.com/3mmnwhpp

Not the greatest ride for this one but happy with the end result - a sensory neuron specific protein that regulates PIEZO1/2. Lots of cool things left to show with this protein! MDFIC2 is a sensory neuron–specific PIEZO channel auxiliary subunit | PNAS www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Tucker Carlson: "It's vile. It begins w/ a promise to use the US military to commit a war crime. Those people who are in direct contact w/ the president need to say 'No. I'll resign. I'll do whatever I can do legally to stop this, bc this is insane. And if given the order, I'm not carrying it out'"

Using electrophysiology, cryo-EM, molecular simulations, and in vivo models, we also identify a druggable inhibitory site that could guide future therapies for cerebellar ataxia. (2/4)

Here is the morph video summarizing some of the changes we found in a TRPC3 hypermorphic variant (Science Advances, Science Magazine) (4/4)

We are grateful to all the authors and collaborators who made this study possible. Special thanks to everyone in the Cordero-Morales and Vásquez laboratories (especially Briar Bell, Angela Jaramillo-Granda, and Luis Romero), as well as to our collaborators. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... (3/4)

Excited to share our new paper in Science Advances @science.org In this work, we uncover how a disease-linked TRPC3 mutation, together with a cerebellum-specific splice isoform, stabilizes the channel in an open state, drives Calcium overload, and promotes neurodegeneration. (1/4)

A great opportunity to bring trainees, exchange ideas, and connect across disciplines. Registration is open: www.grc.org/ion-channels... 3/3

We have an outstanding speaker lineup, including Keynote Talks by Kenton Swartz, Nancy Carrasco, Miriam B. Goodman (@wormsense.bsky.social), and Francisco Bezanilla. Trailblazer Spotlights presented by Ed Twomey (@cryoet.bsky.social)and Theanne Griffith (@doctheagrif.bsky.social). 2/3

Sudha (@chakrapanilab.bsky.social) and Julio (@cvlab.bsky.social) are organizing the 2026 Ion Channel Gordon Research Conference: Ion Channels Across Scales — Bridging Molecular Events to Physiological Outcomes, to be held at Mount Holyoke College, July 12–17, 2026. 1/3

What's especially insane about all of this is that Maduro is going to get more due process than the Venezuelan migrants deported to CECOT.

1. The longest isoform resembles a Mercedes-Benz steering wheel in top view. 2. The long and intermediate isoforms are semi-flattened and differ from the mammalian domes. 3. Multiple blade–cap contacts stabilize a “toggle-down” conformation. 3/5

Briar and Angela (CV Lab) solved three structures from heavily spliced worm isoforms. Along the way —while solving the structures, characterizing their function, and evaluating effects on membrane curvature— we ran into several surprises: 2/5

This work was a collaboration with Mat Baker (UTHealth Houston), the Chesler Lab @alexchesler.bsky.social (NIH), and the Sotomayor Lab (University of Chicago). 5/5

4. The pore-distal, N-terminal blade is dispensable for mechanoactivation: the intermediate isoform is not only functional, but also inactivates more slowly than the long isoform. 5. The intermediate isoform induces larger membrane deformation than the long isoform. 4/5

The Cordero Vásquez Lab is starting the year on a high wheel (see below) with our latest work on the C. elegans PIEZO channel: “Structures of invertebrate PEZO-1 isoforms with a compact architecture and a dispensable pore-distal N-terminal blade”: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 1/5

And here is the story after peer review. This work highlights our current approach, which is to use Piezo channels to uncover new areas of biology that are shaped by mechanical forces: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Checking in on the *ceasefire* www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/m...

Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. " www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...

Up to 323 cancelled CSR study sections. That's more than the 204 sections cancelled earlier this year. Rescheduling is going to be a hot mess with NIH staff reductions and study section members heading into finals and holidays that limit availability. 🧪

Thanks to our team members (Luis Romero, Manisha Bade, Sonia Paz-López) and collaborators (Elisa Carrillo, Vasanthi Jayaraman @frettinglab.bsky.social , Syed Hasan, William James Antonisamy, and Zahoor Shah) 6/6

Our results highlight cytoskeletal dysregulation as a key driver of ion channel and behavioral deficits, and suggest that actin-binding proteins may be targets to enhance motor coordination and spatial learning in AS. 5/6

Our new Journal of Neuroscience paper "Cofilin Inhibition Ameliorates PIEZO2 and AMPA Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Angelman Syndrome (AS)” is out: www.jneurosci.org/content/45/4... 1/6

“That collective effort — part self-defense, part civic awakening — may explain why Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize has resonated beyond her polarizing figure” www.caracaschronicles.com/2025/10/14/m...

The Nobel Peace Committee sent a clear message to someone else in awarding the Prize to Ms. Machado: ”But democracy is also in retreat internationally. Democracy – understood as the right to freely express one’s opinion, …is the foundation of peace both within countries and between countries.” 👏

“The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 goes to a brave and committed champion of peace – to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...

Exciting finding of Piezo1 being upregulated in RBCs and plays a role in sickling of those cells. Loved this paper!

This study was a collaborative effort across multiple groups, led by our first graduate student, Dr. Luis Octavio Romero, in partnership with graduate student Manisha Bade. 3/3

PIEZO1 is abnormally overactive in sickle red blood cells (humans and mice). In mice, an EPA-enriched diet normalized PIEZO1 and reduced hemolysis, hypoxia-induced sickling, and downstream inflammation, suggesting a potential dietary strategy to support people living with sickle cell disease. 2/3

Our new PNAS paper "Enhanced PIEZO1 function contributes to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease" is out: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 1/3

“Elections don’t matter anymore. They’re just for show. We decide who wins before the first ballots are even printed. You think power changes hands because of a vote?” www.caracaschronicles.com/2025/07/15/c...

🧵(4/4) 🇺🇸This Independence Day, practice your patriotism by supporting these brave civil servants: EPA: act.standupforscience.net/forms/epa-ad... NIH: act.standupforscience.net/forms/add-na... Our legacy is built on the premise that the populist many CAN overcome the tyrannical few. Keep it going.

I’m so honored to be selected as both a 2025 McKnight Scholar and 2025 HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. And I couldn’t be prouder to share these honors with awesome @ucdavis.bsky.social colleagues 💙💛💙💛 health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlin...

I spoke with Jade Hindmon, host of @kpbssandiego.bsky.social Midday Edition, about the consequences of the current administration’s cuts to science funding. Please share to help spread the word and raise awareness. www.kpbs.org/podcasts/kpb...

Highlighting this new paper NOT by my lab, but by Andres Vidal-Gadea's lab: doi.org/10.7554/eLif... #Celegans - more to say on this later 🧪

Today I had the honor of speaking in front of nearly 3000 people today at the Woodland #NoKings rally. WE FEAR NO KING BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE ONE ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 let’s gooooooo

Join @votesaveamerica.crooked.com, @hrc.org and @immdef.bsky.social as they join together for a rally in D.C. on Friday, June 6th at 5pm ET to protest the unlawful disappearance of Andry Romero and many, many others like him who have been stripped of due process. 🔗 votesaveamerica.com/andry

"Women are PIs on 58% of the canceled grants, although they are PIs on only 34% of all active NSF grants. Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."

The man at left separated the mother and baby at right. The mother is now in Venezuela. Baby daughter, in foster care in the US, exact location unknown. Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.

The president is recommending a 40% cut to next year’s NIH budget. This would be disastrous for our nation’s health and economy. Please contact your representatives, especially if they are Republicans, and tell them why this cannot happen. An easy option: 5calls.org

Huge congratulations to the always amazing, truly brilliant @clairelepichon.bsky.social who just received TENURE from our NIH intramural program.

co-author @dimacd.bsky.social pointed out that the link was truncated in my post. Hope this works: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An example of what we in the NIH Intramural program can accomplish. Excited to share our latest paper in close collaboration with Nick Ryba's group. We examined how inflammation transforms representation in somatosensory neurons to cause pain. Lots of surprises here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Bravo, Kara! We desperately need scientists finding creative ways to connect with the public, explaining how science works and why it matters. Take @karalmarshall.bsky.social up on her offer, grab those slides, and find an audience that needs to hear this! #proudmentor

Gave a talk at my parents’ retirement community to describe how science is done, and what is at stake. There was a ton of interest, and anyone can do this. Get the word out about how science affects everyone. I’m happy to share slides with anyone who asks- just get in touch! youtu.be/BY_SFgi-Cig

Local elections matter! Now more than ever

Booker: Do you think we got the right to vote for women because a bunch of men on the House floor got together and said “on the count of three, women get the right to vote..” That’s not how it happened… Change doesn’t come from Washington. It comes to Washington.

BREAKING: Supreme Court temporarily blocks removal of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act