title: Sensory biology: it takes Piezo2 to tango.
abstract: A trio of papers has resolved an outstanding controversy regarding the function of Merkel cells and their afferent nerve fiber partners. Merkel cells sense mechanical stimuli (through Piezo2), fire action potentials, and are sufficient to activate downstream sensory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vásquez
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scherrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: mbgoodman@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Miriam B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Goodman