Abstract

Mechanotransduction couples mechanical stimulation with ion flux, which is critical for normal biological processes involved in neuronal cell development, pain sensation, and red blood cell volume regulation. Although they are key mechanotransducers, mechanosensitive ion channels in mammals have remained difficult to identify. In 2010, Coste and colleagues revealed a novel family of mechanically activated cation channels in eukaryotes, consisting of Piezo1 and Piezo2 channels. These have been proposed as the long-sought-after mechanosensitive cation channels in mammals. Piezo1 and Piezo2 exhibit a unique propeller-shaped architecture and have been implicated in mechanotransduction in various critical processes, including touch sensation, balance, and cardiovascular regulation. Furthermore, several mutations in Piezo channels have been shown to cause multiple hereditary human disorders, such as autosomal recessive congenital lymphatic dysplasia. Notably, mutations that cause dehydrated hereditary xerocytosis alter the rate of Piezo channel inactivation, indicating the critical role of their kinetics in normal physiology. Given the importance of Piezo channels in understanding the mechanotransduction process, this review focuses on their structural details, kinetic properties and potential function as mechanosensors. We also briefly review the hereditary diseases caused by mutations in Piezo genes, which is key for understanding the function of these proteins.

Details

Title
Structure, kinetic properties and biological function of mechanosensitive Piezo channels
Author
Xiang-Zhi Fang; Zhou, Ting; Ji-Qian, Xu; Ya-Xin, Wang; Miao-Miao, Sun; Ya-Jun, He; Shang-Wen, Pan; Xiong, Wei; Zhe-Kang, Peng; Xue-Hui, Gao; Shang, You  VIAFID ORCID Logo 
Pages
1-20
Section
Review
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
20453701
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2478820788
Copyright
© 2021. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.