Tamara Rojas

Ms. Tamara Rojas

University of Talca, Talca, Maule, Chile

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 July 2022 in Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RZRafael Zuniga
Rafael Zuniga
DMDaniel Mancilla
Daniel Mancilla
TRTamara Rojas
Tamara Rojas
FVFernando Andrés Vergara-Valladares
Fernando Andrés Vergara-Valladares
WGWendy González
Wendy González
LZLeandro Zuñiga
Leandro Zuñiga
Two pore domain potassium channels (K2P) are strongly expressed in the nervous system (CNS), where they play a central role in excitability. These channels give rise to background K+ currents, also known as IKSO (standing-outward potassium current). We detected the expression in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) of TWIK-1 (K2P1), TASK-1 (K2P3), TASK-3 (K2P9), and TRESK (K2P18) channels by immunocytochemistry and their association with lipid rafts using the specific lipids raft markers flotillin-2 and caveolin-1. At the functional level, methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD, 5 mM) reduced IKSO currents by ~40% in CGN cells. To dissect out this effect, we heterologously expressed the human TWIK-1, TASK-1, TASK-3, and TRESK channels in HEK-293 cells. MβCD directly blocked TASK-1 and TASK-3 channels and the covalently concatenated heterodimer TASK-1/TASK-3 currents. Conversely, MβCD did not affect TWIK-1- and TRESK-mediated K+ currents. On the other hand, the cholesterol-depleting agent filipin III did not affect TASK-1/TASK-3 channels. Together, the results suggest that neuronal background K+ channels are associated to lipid raft environments whilst the functional activity is independent of the cholesterol membrane organization.