We study how cells sense and respond to their environment at the molecular level — from temperature to pain, from membrane channels to organellar signaling.
Our work bridges electrophysiology, biophysics, and cutting-edge imaging to understand the activation and modulation of molecular sensors, the evolution of ion transport proteins, and the role of intracellular ion channels in cellular physiology.
"Science powered by curiosity — understanding how molecular sensors detect environmental signals and how cells encode their context."
— BrauchiLab · Valdivia, Chile
Published in Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, this study uses structural bioinformatics to place GPR89 in a conserved protein superfamily.
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Published in The Journal of Physiology — reveals lysosomal membrane conductance components using novel optical approaches in living cells.
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Landmark paper in Cell — describes a novel serotonergic axon-cilium synapse that drives nuclear signaling to alter chromatin accessibility.
Read paper →Our work spans molecular biophysics, electrophysiology, evolutionary biology, and advanced imaging — united by a fascination with how bioelectrical signals work in coordination.
We have been doing steady progress on TRP channel biophysics since our original articles proposing the allosteric nature of temperature dependent TRP channels. Single molecule imaging accomplished by expanding the genetic code with fluorescent amino acids shed light on the coupling between the pore and ligand binding. We recently performed a thorough structural analysis that unveiled a small number of evolutionary conserved positions within the TRP channel family.
Beyond the plasma membrane — we explore ion channels in lysosomes, the ER, and other organelles. We develop optical sensors to image organellar membrane potentials in living cells in real time.
We are interested in evolutionary analyses of membrane proteins across the tree of life, from unicellular eukaryotes to mammals. Electrical signaling is common to all life forms and we have been interested in exploring the role of electrical signals in the navigation of single cell algae and the root hairs of plants. In recent years, this line of research has taken us to study the molecular evolution of TRP channels and GPCRs in vascular plants.
Our laboratory invests efforts in providing tools and experimental protocols and making them available to the community. We have designed enzymes, probes to follow local H⁺ exiting cells, and developed imaging protocols for single molecule approaches and to image organellar voltage. The laboratory also generates code for analysis, and blueprints for laboratory equipment (e.g. perfusion systems, magnetic tweezers), all available through Github.
We are always looking for highly motivated PhD students and postdoctoral researchers excited about cellular biophysics, ion channels, and cutting-edge imaging techniques. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.
Our research is made possible by the generous support of national and international funding agencies and institutions.
BrauchiLab brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds united by curiosity about how cells work at the molecular level.
Two decades of curiosity-driven science.
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~80 peer-reviewed publications · 3,443 citations · journals including Cell, PNAS, eLife, Science Advances, Nature Communications, Plant Cell
Principal Investigator · Head of Department · Instituto de Fisiología · Universidad Austral de Chile
Dr. Brauchi received his degree in Biochemistry in 2001 from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile, where he worked on olfactory physiology with Dr. Juan G. Reyes.
In 2006, he received his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, studying the biophysics of thermoTRP channels under the supervision of Dr. Ramón Latorre.
Dr. Brauchi was awarded a prestigious PEW Fellowship and conducted his postdoctoral training with Dr. David E. Clapham at Harvard Medical School, where he worked on TRPM7's role in cholinergic vesicle fusion.
Sebastian joined the Instituto de Fisiología at Universidad Austral de Chile as an Investigator in 2008 and currently serves as Head of Department. To date his lab has produced near 80 peer-reviewed publications with 3,443 citations, appearing in journals such as Cell, PNAS, eLife, Science Advances, Nature Communications, and Plant Cell.
Interested in collaborations, student positions, or have questions about our research? We'd love to hear from you.