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Demystifying Mechanosensitive Piezo Ion Channels

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Abstract

Mechanosensitive channels mediate touch, hearing, proprioception, and blood pressure regulation. Piezo proteins, including Piezo1 and Piezo2, represent a new class of mechanosensitive channels that have been reported to play key roles in most, if not all, of these modalities. The structural architecture and molecular mechanisms by which Piezos act as mechanosensitive channels, however, remain mysterious. Two new studies have now provided critical insights into the atomic structure and molecular basis of the ion permeation and mechano-gating properties of the Piezo1 channel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Life Sciences Institute and Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    X. Z. Shawn Xu

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  1. X. Z. Shawn Xu
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Correspondence to X. Z. Shawn Xu.

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Xu, X.Z.S. Demystifying Mechanosensitive Piezo Ion Channels. Neurosci. Bull. 32, 307–309 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-016-0033-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-016-0033-x

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