Abstract

Perception of force is a key component in our sense of e.g. touch, hearing, blood pressure and pain. Central to these concepts is that force translates into electrical conductance through the activity of mechanosensitive ion channels that sense membrane disturbances. Conceptually, this is perfectly conceivable, but fundamental knowledge about what occurs in a lipid membrane stimulated by force, and how bilayer responses are sensed by channels, is currently lacking. I demonstrate new surprising insights to these theories through single channel recordings of mechanosensitive TREK-2 channels. 

Short bio

Michael Voldsgaard Clausen is a trained molecular biologist with a specialization in electrophysiology. After studying sodium pump isoforms for several years Michael turned his interest toward ion channels and became particularly fascinated by the many difficult and unresolved biophysical questions that dominate mechanosensitivity research. Michael received his PhD from Aarhus University in 2012, and subsequently held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Oxford before starting his AIAS fellowship in 2016.

Michael Voldsgaard Clausen's project at AIAS

What is a Fellows' Seminar?

The AIAS Fellows' Seminar is a session of seminars held by the AIAS fellow or by other speakers proposed by the fellows. In each seminar, one fellow will present and discuss his/her current research and research project, closing off with a question and discussion session.

All seminars are held in English and open to the public. Registration to the seminar is not necessary.  Read more about the AIAS Fellows' Seminar here.