Isaac García
Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Valparaíso
Director Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (AtekLab), Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de Valparaíso
Bs Science University of Chile (2003);
Medical Technologist, University of Chile (2007); PhD in Neuroscience, University of Valparaiso, Chile (2010-2014)
Investigation area: Molecular physiology, electrophysiology, biophysics, ion channels, dental nociception and orofacial pain, oral cancer
Contact Information:
E-mail: isaac.garcia@uv.cl
Subida Carvallo 211, Playa Ancha, Valparaíso.
Phone: (56)-(32)-2508555
The focus of my lab (Laboratory of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics) involves the study of structural and functional properties of connexin hemichannels and their regulation by voltage and calcium. We also exploring the molecular mechanism of diseases originated by mutations in connexins, and the role of connexin and pannexin hemichannels in dental nociception and orofacial pain. Biophysical properties of connexins, pannexins, innexins and CALMH1 channels are also focus of my lab. Cell culture, biochemistry, molecular biology, IHC/ICC, high resolution microscopy, electrophysiology (TEVC and patch clamp) and molecular dynamic simulations (in collaboration) are routine techniques we are running in AtekLab.
- García IE., Maripillán J., Jara O., Ceriani R., Palacios-Muñoz A., Ramachandran J., et al. (2015) Keratitis-Ichthyosis-Deafness syndrome-associated Cx26 mutants produce nonfunctional gap junctions but hyperactive hemichannels when co-expressed with wild type Cx43. J Invest Dermatol. 2015 May;135(5):1338-47. doi: 10.1038/jid.2015.20. Epub 2015 Jan 27
- García IE., Bosen F., Pupo A., Mujica P., Flores-Muñoz, C., Jara, O., González, C., Willecke K., Martínez AD (2016) From hyperactive Connexin26 hemichannels to impairments in epidermal calcium gradient and permeability barrier in the Keratitis-Ichthyosis-Deafness syndrome. J Invest Dermatol. 2016 Mar;136(3):574-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2015.11.017. Epub 2016 Jan 8. Review
- García IE., Prado, P., Pupo A., Jara, O., Rojas, D., Mujica, P., Flores-Muñoz, C., Gonzalez, J., Soto, C., Pinto, B., Retamal, MA., Gonzalez, C., Martínez AD (2016) Conexinopathies: a structural and functional glimpse. BMC Cell Biol; May 24;17 Suppl 1:17. doi: 10.1186/s12860-016-0092-x
- García IE., Villanelo F., Contreras GF., Pupo A., Pinto BI., Contreras JE., Pérez-Acle T., Alvarez A., Latorre R., Martínez AD., González C (2018) The syndromic deafness mutation G12R impairs fast and slow gating in Cx26 hemichannels. J Gen Physiol Apr 11. Pii: jgp.201711782.doi: 10.1085/jgp.201711782
- Valdez Capuccino JM, Chatterjee P, García IE, Botello-Smith W, Zhang H, Harris AL, Luo Y, Contreras (2019) The connexin26 mutation N14K disrupts cytosolic inter-subunit interactions and promotes channel opening. J Gen Physiol Mar 4; 151(3): 328-341. doi: 10.1085/jgp.201812219 Epub 2018 Dec 7.
