Modified N-Linked Glycosylation Status Predicts Trafficking Defective Piezo1 Channel Mutations

Abstract

Mechanically-gated channels are essential integral membrane proteins that sense mechanical stimuli. The Piezo family of ion channels is ubiquitously expressed and important in both physiology and pathophysiology. Like all membrane proteins, they must go through biosynthetic quality control in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi that results in them reaching their destination at the plasma membrane. Here we show that N-linked glycosylation of two highly conserved asparagine residues in the cap of human Piezo1 are necessary for the mature protein to reach the plasma membrane.