Mechanosensitive ion channels and their mode of activation.
Mechanosensitive channels are ion channels whose activity is dependent on a mechanical stress on the membrane. They are believed to play a central role in mechanotransduction, the process by which mechanical energy is converted into electrical or chemical signals in biological cells. Recent progress, which has been made at the molecular level, is presented, and the two current models of activation of these channels are discussed.
Laboratoire des Biomembranes, ERS 571 CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
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Ghazi
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C
Berrier
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Ajouz
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Besnard
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels; C085942:MEC-10 protein, C elegans