Papers of the Week

TRESK background K channel is expressed in sensory neurons and acts as a brake to reduce neuronal activation. Deletion of the channel enhances the excitability of nociceptors Skin nociceptive C-fibers show an enhanced activation by cold and mechanical stimulation in TRESK KO animals. Channel deletion selectively enhances mechanical and cold sensitivity in mice, without altering sensitivity to heat. These results indicate that the channel regulates the excitability of specific neuronal subpopulations involved in mechanosensitivity and cold-sensing.