Abstract
Piezo2 is a membrane-embedded mechanosensitive ion channel which mediates gentle touch sensations, tactile pain and proprioception. Ubiquitous depletion of Piezo2 in mice leads to early postnatal death, likely due to respiratory insufficiency. Additionally, malfunction of Piezo2 is known to cause mechanically induced pain syndromes and respiratory issues. Activated by mechanical stimuli such as membrane stretch and fluid flow, Piezo2 opens to allow cations to enter the cell. The cryo-EM structures of Piezo2 and its homologue Piezo1 shows that they consist of three subunits, forming a triskelion shape with curved propellers extending out from a central pore towards the extracellular space.
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