Piezo Proteins: Regulators of Mechanosensation and Other Cellular Processes

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 289; no. 46; pp. 31673 - 31681
• Main Authors: Bagriantsev, Sviatoslav N., Gracheva, Elena O., Gallagher, Patrick G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 14.11.2014; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital - genetics; Animals; Electrophysiological Phenomena; Erythrocytes - cytology; Humans; Hydrops Fetalis - genetics; Ion Channels - chemistry; Ion Channels - physiology; Mice; Minireviews; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Neurons, Afferent - metabolism; Osteoclasts - cytology; Phylogeny; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Neuron; Genetic Disease; Mechanotransduction; Membrane Protein; Piezo2; Arthrogryposis; Ion Channel; Piezo1; Hereditary Xerocytosis; Gordon Syndrome; Somatosensation
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.R114.612697

Piezo proteins have recently been identified as ion channels mediating mechanosensory transduction in mammalian cells. Characterization of these channels has yielded important insights into mechanisms of somatosensation, as well as other mechano-associated biologic processes such as sensing of shear stress, particularly in the vasculature, and regulation of urine flow and bladder distention. Other roles for Piezo proteins have emerged, some unexpected, including participation in cellular development, volume regulation, cellular migration, proliferation, and elongation. Mutations in human Piezo proteins have been associated with a variety of disorders including hereditary xerocytosis and several syndromes with muscular contracture as a prominent feature.