Donghee Kim, PhD., Professor, Physiology and Biophysics

Current Research Areas:  

Molecular physiology and pharmacology of K_2P channels:  Role of K_2P3 (TASK) in oxygen sensing by chemoreceptors;  Role of K_2P10 (TREK2) and K_2P15 (TRESK) in sensory transduction in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia.    

Recent Publications (from 2006)  

• Kang DW, Kim D. TREK-1 and TRESK are two major background K channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Am J Physiol Jul;291(1):C138-46, 2006.

• Kang DW. Han JH, Kim D. Mechanism of inhibition of TREK-2 by acetylcholine via Gq. Am J Physiol Oct; 291(4):C649-56, 2006.

• Kang, DW, Choe C, Cavanaugh EJ, Kim D. Properties of Single TREK-2 (K2P10.1) Channels Expressed in Mammalian cells. J. Physiol. 583.1: 57-69, 2007.

• Kim D, Cavanaugh EJ. Requirement of a cytosolic factor for activation of TRPA1: role of inorganic polyphosphates. J. Neurosci. 27:6500-6509, 2007.

• Cavanaugh EJ, Simkin D, Kim D. Activation of transient receptor potential A1 channels by mustard oil, tetrahydrocannabinol, and Ca reveals different functional channel states. Neuroscience 154:1467-1476, 2008.

• Kim D, Cavanaugh EJ, Simkin D. Inhibition of transient receptor potential A1 by phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 295:C920C99, 2008.

• Cruz-Orengo L, Dhaka A, Heuermann RJ, Yong TJ, Montana MC, Cavanaugh EJ, Kim D, Story GM. Cutaneous nociception evoked by 15-delta PGJ2 via activation of ion channel TRPA1. Molecular Pain 4:30 (1-9), 2008.

• Simkin D, Cavanaugh EJ, Kim D. Control of single channel conductance of K2P10.1 (TREK-2) by the amino terminus: role of alternative translation initiation. J. Physiol. 586.23, 5651-5663, 2008.

• Kim D, Cavanaugh EJ, Kim I, Carroll JC.   Heteromeric TASK-1/3 is the major oxygen-sensitive background K channel in rat carotid body glomus cells. J. Physiol. 587, 2963-2975, 2009. 

• Kang D, and Kim D.  Mammalian K2P channel family.  In: Structure and function of ion channels.  Oxford University Press. Chapter 2,  2009.

• Chen J, Kim D, Bianchi BR, Cavanaugh EJ, Faltynek CR, Kym PR, Reilly RM.  Pore dilation occurs in TRPA1 but not in TRPM8 channels.  Molecular Pain 5:3-12, 2009.

• Kim D, Papreck JR, Kim IS, Donnelly DF, Carroll JL. Changes in oxygen sensitivity of TASK in carotid body glomus cells during early postnatal development, Respiratory Physiol and Neurobiol, 177: 228-235, 2011.

• Kim D, Kim IS, Papreck JR, Donnelly DF, Carroll JL. Characterization of the ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel in the rat carotid body glomus cells, Respiratory Physiol and Neurobiol, 177:245-255, 2011