Mechanically activated ion channels.

Abstract

The ability of cells to sense and respond to their physical environment is fundamental to a broad spectrum of biological processes. Cells express an array of force sensors that can transduce mechanical inputs into biochemical signals, including the mechanically activated ion channels PIEZO1, PIEZO2 and TRPV4. The identification and characterisation of mechanically activated ion channels has proven challenging, as has identifying their mode of activation and regulation in vivo. However, the diverse channelopathies associated with the known channels highlights their physiological importance.