Piezos Thrive Under Pressure: Mechanically Activated Ion Channels in Health and Disease

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol

Specialties Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2017 Oct 5

PMID 28974772

Citations 234

Authors

Swetha E Murthy

Adrienne E Dubin

Ardem Patapoutian

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cellular mechanotransduction, the process of translating mechanical forces into biological signals, is crucial for a wide range of physiological processes. A role for ion channels in sensing mechanical forces has been proposed for decades, but their identity in mammals remained largely elusive until the discovery of Piezos. Recent research on Piezos has underscored their importance in somatosensation (touch perception, proprioception and pulmonary respiration), red blood cell volume regulation, vascular physiology and various human genetic disorders.

Citing Articles

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