PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS:

• Alejandro Cerrada de Dueñas, PhD (Postdoctoral researcher, contracted by ERC project until September 2019, ULL)
• Aravind Kshatri, PhD (“Juan de la Cierva” researcher, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, ULL)
• David Bartolomé Martín, PhD (Postdoctoral researcher, contracted by ERC project, ULL)
• Ricardo Gómez García, PhD (Postdoctoral researcher, contracted by ERC project, ULL)
• Laura E. Maglio, PhD (Postdoctoral researcher, contracted by ERC Project, ULL)
• Belinda Rivero, PhD (Postdoctoral researcher, «Agustín de Betencourt» programme, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, ULL)

PHD STUDENTS AND TRAINEES:

• Alberto J. González Hernández (funded by FPU, ULL)
• Elva Martín Batista (funded by FPU, ULL)
• Rebeca Martínez Lázaro (Master’s project and PhD student)

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF:

• Nair Mesejo Nores (Project manager, contracted by ERC Project, ULL)

RESEARCH LINES:

Teresa Giráldez’s group is interested in the structure-function of ion channels involved in controlling neuronal excitability, and on their role in different neurological and psychiatric diseases (epilepsy, fragile X syndrome, autism, etc.). They employ cellular and molecular biology, and biochemical techniques, as well as advanced microscopy and fluorescence methods (confocal and super-resolution microscopy). These methods are combined with conventional and novel electrophysiological approaches, such as patch-clamp, two electrode voltage clamp and patch-clamp fluorimetry. In the mid-term, the group’s objectives are: (i) to reveal novel regulatory mechanisms of calcium nanodomains using different sources of Ca²⁺ (presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels and postsynaptic NMDAR receptors); (ii) to understand the role of NMDAR-BK complexes in neuronal plasticity and the development of seizures; (iii) to establish new animal models bearing endogenous calcium sensor nanodomains based on “big” potassium channels (BK) previously developed in our laboratory.

FUNDED PROJECTS:

• Optoelectrical dynamics of ion channel activation and calcium nanodomains (NANOPDICS; ERC-CoG-2014). PI: Teresa Giráldez. European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant; 2015-2020, 1,999,742 €).
• Pathophysiological roles of NMDAR-BK complexes in the brain (NeuroGluNBK, RTI2018-098768-B-C21). IPI: Teresa Giráldez. National I+D+i (R+D+I) programme directed at challenges in society. MINECO (2019-2021, 190,000 € + 1 PhD studentship FPI)
• Molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective and anti-seizure activity of the neuronal SGK1.1 kinase through Kv7 ion channels (SGK-EPIK; BFU2015-66490-R – “Mecanismos moleculares subyacentes al papel neuroprotector y anticonvulsionante de la quinasa neuronal SGK1.1 mediante regulación de canales iónicos Kv7”). PI: Teresa Giráldez. MINECO (National I+D+i (R+D+I) programme directed at challenges in society; 2016-2019 157,300 €+ 1 PhD studentship FPI).
• National “Ramón y Cajal” Programme. Postdoctoral contracts for Research and Development centres (RYC-2012-11349). PI: Teresa Giráldez. MINECO (Ramón y Cajal Sub-programme; 2014-2019, 268,600 € 5 year salary + 40,000 € Research Project).

PUBLICATIONS 2019:

• Armas-Capote N, Maglio LE, Pérez-Atencio L, Martin-Batista E, Reboreda A, Barios JA, Hernandez G, Alvarez de la Rosa D, Lamas JA, Barrio LC, Giraldez T. SGK1.1 Reduces Kainic Acid-Induced Seizure Severity and Leads to Rapid Termination of Seizures. Cereb Cortex. 2019 Dec 9. pii: bhz302. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhz302
• Noriega-Prieto JA,Maglio LE,Gallero-Salas Y,Fernández de Sevilla D. Nitric Oxide-Dependent LTD at Infralimbic Cortex. 2019 Oct 15;418:149-156. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.08.029
• Bartolomé-Martín D, Ibáñez I, Piniella D, Martínez-Blanco E, Pelaz SG, Zafra F. Identification of potassium channel proteins Kv7.2/7.3 as common partners of the dopamine and glutamate transporters DAT and GLT-1. Neuropharmacology. 2019 Dec 15;161:107568. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.03.011
• Ibáñez I, Bartolomé-Martín D, Piniella D, Giménez C, Zafra F. Activity dependent internalization of the glutamate transporter GLT-1 requires calcium entry through the NCX sodium/calcium exchanger. Neurochem Int. 2019 Feb;123:125-132. doi: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.03.012
• Rampérez A, Bartolomé-Martín D, García-Pascual A, Sánchez-Prieto J, Torres M. Photoconversion of FM1-43 Reveals Differences in Synaptic Vesicle Recycling and Sensitivity to Pharmacological Disruption of Actin Dynamics in Individual Synapses. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2019 Apr 17;10(4):2045-2059. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00712

OTHER SELECTED PUBLICATIONS FROM THE LAST 10 YEARS:

• Miranda P, Holmgren M, Giráldez T. Voltage-dependent dynamics of the BK channel cytosolic gating ring are coupled to the membrane-embedded voltage sensor. Elife. 2018. 11;7. pi: e40664. doi: 10.7554/eLife.40664
• Miranda P, Giráldez T, Holmgren M. Interactions of divalent cations with calcium binding sites of BK channels reveal independent motions within the gating ring. Proc Natl Acad Sci U. S. A. 2016 Dec 6;113(49):14055-14060. doi: 1073/pnas.1611415113
• Gonzalez-Montelongo R, Barros F, Álvarez de la Rosa D, Giráldez T. Plasma membrane insertion of epithelial sodium channels occurs with dual kinetics. Pflugers Arch. 2016 May;468(5):859-70. doi: 10.1007/s00424-016-1799-4.
• Miranda P, Contreras JE, Plested AJ, Sigworth FJ, Holmgren M, Giráldez T. State-dependent FRET reports calcium-and voltage-dependent gatingring motions in BK channels. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 2013 Mar 26;110(13):5217-22. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219611110
• Miranda P, Cadaveira-Mosquera A, Gonzalez-Montelongo R, Villaroel A, González-Hernández T, Lamas JA, Álvarez de la Rosa D, Giráldez T. The neuronal serum and glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1.1 reduces neuronal excitability and protects against seizures through upregulation of the M-current. J Neurosci. 2013 Feb 6;33(6):2684-96. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3442-12.2013