title: Mechanisms of mechanosensing - mechanosensitive channels, function and re-engineering.
abstract: Sensing and responding to mechanical stimuli is an ancient behavior and ubiquitous to all forms of life. One of its players 'mechanosensitive ion channels' are involved in processes from osmosensing in bacteria to pain in humans. However, the mechanism of mechanosensing is yet to be elucidated. This review describes recent developments in the understanding of a bacterial mechanosensitive channel. Force from the lipid principle of mechanosensation, new methods to understand protein-lipid interactions, the role of water in the gating, the use of engineered mechanosensitive channels in the understanding of the gating mechanism and application of the accumulated knowledge in the field of drug delivery, drug design and sensor technologies are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.kocer@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Armagan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocer
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers