Piezo1 Channels Are Inherently Mechanosensitive

Cell Reports

Ardem Patapoutian¹  Ruhma Syeda¹  Jennifer M. Kefauver¹  Maria N. Florendo¹  Jose S. Santos²  Charles D. Cox³  Boris Martinac³ 

[1] Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA;Section of Neurobiology, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Lowy Packer Building, 405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia;

关键词: mechanosensitive ion channel;    Piezo1;    lipid bilayer;    membrane tension;    membrane asymmetry;    mechanotransduction;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.celrep.2016.10.033

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The conversion of mechanical force to chemical signals is critical for many biological processes, including the senses of touch, pain, and hearing. Mechanosensitive ion channels play a key role in sensing the mechanical stimuli experienced by various cell types and are present in organisms from bacteria to mammals. Bacterial mechanosensitive channels are characterized thoroughly, but less is known about their counterparts in vertebrates. Piezos have been recently established as ion channels required for mechanotransduction in disparate cell types in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of Piezos in heterologous cells gives rise to large mechanically activated currents; however, it is unclear whether Piezos are inherently mechanosensitive or rely on alternate cellular components to sense mechanical stimuli. Here, we show that mechanical perturbations of the lipid bilayer alone are sufficient to activate Piezo channels, illustrating their innate ability as molecular force transducers.

【 授权许可】

Unknown