Mechanosensitive channels: in touch with Piezo.
Mechanosensory transduction underlies touch, hearing and proprioception and requires mechanosensitive channels that are directly gated by forces; however, the molecular identities of these channels remain largely elusive. A new study has identified Piezo1 and Piezo2 as a novel class of mechanosensitive channels.
Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
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D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary
D007473:Ion Channels; C552920:Piezo1 protein, mouse; C552921:Piezo2 protein, mouse