Valeria Vásquez
University of Texas Health Science Center

Editorial Board Member
Biophysical Journal

What has been your most exciting discovery as a biophysicist? 

My most exciting discovery lies in demonstrating that dietary fatty acids, when enriched in the plasma membrane, modulate PIEZO2 function, impacting mechano-activated excitatory currents in sensory neurons. My group has shown its translational potential in counteracting mechanical sensitization by elucidating the mechanisms by which margaric acid (a saturated fatty acid) decreases PIEZO2 mechano-currents, even in the presence of proalgesic inflammatory mediators like bradykinin. Our research highlights the therapeutic potential of enhancing PIEZO2 function with a diet enriched in linoleic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid) in conditions such as Angelman syndrome, where PIEZO2 dysfunction contributes to symptoms like impaired walking. Furthermore, our findings regarding the effects of linoleic acid-enriched diets on PIEZO2 function provide promising avenues for addressing neurogenetic disorders. Our biophysical work underscores the critical role of dietary fatty acids in modulating PIEZO2 in vivo during inflammatory conditions and neurological disorders, offering potential therapeutic interventions.

At a cocktail party of non-scientists, how would you explain what you do?

In my lab, we study how our body senses touch, pain, balance, and other sensations. We are particularly interested in special channels in our cells that help us feel these sensations. These channels are like tiny gatekeepers, letting signals in and out of our cells. We are trying to understand how they work and how they are affected by certain natural substances called fatty acids (like fish oil). By understanding these channels better, we hope to learn more about how our body senses and responds to its environment.