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Structural Designs and Mechanogating Mechanisms of the Mechanosensitive Piezo Channels

Journal

TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES
Volume 46, Issue 6, Pages 472-488

Publisher

CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.01.008

Keywords

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Funding

  1. National Natural Science Foundation of China [31630090, 31825014]
  2. National Key R&D Program of China [2016YFA0500402, 2015CB910102]
  3. National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars

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The evolutionarily conserved Piezo channel family, including Piezo1 and Piezo2 in mammals, acts as versatile mechanotransducers in various cell types, regulating fundamental pathophysiological processes. The unique structural designs and elegant mechanogating mechanisms of Piezo channels contribute to their exquisite mechanosensitivity.
The evolutionarily conserved Piezo channel family, including Piezo1 and Piezo2 in mammals, serves as versatile mechanotransducers in various cell types and consequently governs fundamental pathophysiological processes ranging from vascular development to the sense of gentle touch and tactile pain. Piezo1 /2 possess a unique 38-transmembrane (TM) helix topology and form a homotrimeric propeller-sh aped structure comprising a central ionconducting pore and three peripheral mechanosensing blades. The unusually curved TM region of the three blades shapes a signature nano-bowl configuration with potential to generate large in-plane membrane area expansion, which might confer exquisite mechanosensitivity to Piezo channels. Here, we review the current understanding of Piezo channels with a particular focus on their unique structural designs and elegant mechanogating mechanisms.

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