Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Casas, Karl D. Murray, Keiko Hino, Nicholas C. Vierra, Sergi Simo, James S. Trimmer, Rose E. Dixon, Eamonn J. Dickson
Summary: The loss of NPC1 function alters the nanoscale distribution and function of ion channels, leading to abnormal calcium entry, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neurotoxicity. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms connecting NPC1 loss to NPC-associated neuropathology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fan Jiang, Kunlun Yin, Kun Wu, Mingmin Zhang, Shiqiang Wang, Heping Cheng, Zhou Zhou, Bailong Xiao
Summary: The Piezo1 channel serves as a key cardiac mechanotransducer for converting mechanical stretch of cardiomyocytes into Ca2+ and ROS signaling to maintain normal heart function.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Susu Chen, Wenyan Wang, Qilong Cao, Shen Wu, Ningli Wang, Lixia Ji, Wei Zhu
Summary: The study found that cationic mechanosensitive channels (CMCs) play a key role in mediating the trabecular meshwork (TM) responses to mechanical forces and influence aqueous humor outflow. Inhibiting CMCs significantly affected several biochemical pathways, including calcium channel activity, microtubule cytoskeleton, Toll-like receptor signaling, and neuron cell fate specification.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ziyi Wang, Jiyuan Chen, Aleksandra Babicheva, Pritesh P. Jain, Marisela Rodriguez, Ramon J. Ayon, Keeley S. Ravellette, Linda Wu, Francesca Balistrieri, Haiyang Tang, Xiaomin Wu, Tengteng Zhao, Stephen M. Black, Ankit A. Desai, Joe G. N. Garcia, Xin Sun, John Y-J Shyy, Daniela Valdez-Jasso, Patricia A. Thistlethwaite, Ayako Makino, Jian Wang, Jason X-J Yuan
Summary: The upregulation of Piezo1 in PAH and PH may impact the cell signaling pathways in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells, leading to pulmonary vascular remodeling, and the findings from the study provide new insights for potential therapeutic approaches.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Scott D. Barnett, Hazik Asif, Iain L. O. Buxton
Summary: This study identifies a mechanosensitive cation channel, Piezo1, in the uterine smooth muscle and microvascular endothelium of pregnant myometrium. Activation of Piezo1 relaxes the uterine tissue and its effects are associated with myocyte and endothelial nitric oxide signaling. These findings highlight the importance of stretch-activated channels in pregnancy maintenance and parturition.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Darkow, Dilmurat Yusuf, Sridharan Rajamani, Rolf Backofen, Peter Kohl, Ursula Ravens, Remi Peyronnet
Summary: The mechanical environment of cardiac cells changes with each heartbeat and in various cardiac diseases. Cells sense and respond to mechanical cues through specialized mechano-sensors that initiate adaptive signaling cascades. By studying mechano-sensitive ion channels (MSC) in human hearts, we found differential mRNA expression of MSC genes in the atria and ventricles, as well as in different cardiac diseases. These differences may be involved in altered mechano-transduction in cardiac diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Elizabeth J. Akin, Joydeep Aoun, Connor Jimenez, Katie Mayne, Julius Baeck, Michael D. Young, Brennan Sullivan, Kenton M. Sanders, Sean M. Ward, Simon Bulley, Jonathan H. Jaggar, Scott Earley, Iain A. Greenwood, Normand Leblanc
Summary: In pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, ANO1, Ca(V)1.2, and IP3R play a role in generating vascular tone by regulating Ca2+ release and oscillations. These channels are involved in the stable contraction and intracellular Ca2+ signaling in response to agonists.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chien-Wen S. Kuo, Sara Dobi, Caglar Goek, Ana Da Silva Costa, Alice Main, Olivia Robertson-Gray, Daniel Baptista-Hon, Krzysztof J. Wypijewski, Hannah Costello, Tim G. Hales, Niall MacQuaide, Godfrey L. Smith, William Fuller
Summary: The α1C subunit of L-type Ca2+ channels, responsible for transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes, undergoes reversible palmitoylation in rat, rabbit, and human ventricular myocytes. The sites of palmitoylation are found in the N terminus and the linker between domains I and II of the channel. Unpalmitoylated α1C subunit leads to reduced voltage sensitivity of Ca2+ channels.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nan Zhou, Hui Li, Jie Xu, Zhong-Shan Shen, Mingxi Tang, Xiao-Hui Wang, Wan-Xin Su, Masahiro Sokabe, Zhe Zhang, Qiong-Yao Tang
Summary: This study discovered two short peptides derived from GsMTx4 that inhibit the stretch-activated big potassium channel in the heart. One peptide (Pept 01) demonstrated comparable efficacy to GsMTx4, while the other peptide (Pept 02) showed even stronger inhibitory effects. Mutagenesis analysis helped identify important sequences required for peptide function, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed common structural features involved in channel-lipid interactions. The findings suggest that these short peptides may inhibit the big potassium channel through specific modifications to the mechanogate.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Yin He, Zhifu Sun, Xiaonan He, Yuhong Mi
Summary: Patients with long-lasting hypertension often suffer from atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. A short-term increase in blood pressure leads to a rise in tachyarrhythmias in patients with hypertension. The increased stiffness of ventricular myocytes caused by hypertension leads to hypersensitivity of cellular calcium flow to mechanical stimuli, which is one of the mechanisms that cause arrhythmias. This study provides new techniques and ideas for developing new anti-arrhythmic drugs.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Hirosato Kanda, Koichi Noguchi, Yi Dai
Summary: Saltatory conduction allows fast propagation of action potentials along myelinated nerves by utilizing the node of Ranvier. The K2P channels TREK-1 and TRAAK were found to be highly expressed in the node of Ranvier and play a crucial role in action potential repolarization. In this study, membrane stretch was shown to increase single-channel event numbers and open probability, as well as decrease membrane excitability. Blockage of TREK-1/TRAAK channels reversed these changes, suggesting their activation suppresses neuronal excitability following axonal stretch. These findings indicate that TREK-1/TRAAK channels may prevent ectopic action potential discharge during intense mechanical nerve stretch.
Article
Neurosciences
Robin N. Stringer, Leos Cmarko, Gerald W. Zamponi, Michel De Waard, Norbert Weiss
Summary: T-type calcium channelopathies are a group of human disorders caused or exacerbated by mutations in genes encoding T-type calcium channels. A new mutation in the CACNA1H gene encoding the Ca(v)3.2 T-type calcium channel was found in a patient with epilepsy and hearing loss, the first CACNA1H mutation associated with a sensorineural hearing condition. This mutation results in minor gating alterations and enhanced sensitivity to external pH change in the channel.
Article
Physiology
Seyed Mohammadreza Ghodsi, MacKenzie Walz, Toni Schneider, Slobodan M. Todorovic
Summary: This study demonstrates that the endogenous amino acid l-cysteine can modulate Ca(V)2.3 channels and plays an important role in visceral pain processing. The results also reveal contrasting roles of Ca(V)2.3 channels in mediating visceral nociception in the peripheral and central pain pathways.
PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xing Gao, Chien-Wen Kuo, Alice Main, Elaine Brown, Francisco J. Rios, Livia De Lucca Camargo, Sheon Mary, Krzysztof Wypijewski, Caglar Gok, Rhian M. Touyz, William Fuller
Summary: This study identifies a new mechanism for regulating TrpM7 through palmitoylation. Palmitoylation controls the exit of TrpM7 from the endoplasmic reticulum and its distribution between the cell surface and intracellular vesicles. Palmitoylation is closely related to the ion channel activity and trafficking of TrpM7.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marena Montera, Aleyah Goins, Leos Cmarko, Norbert Weiss, Karin N. Westlund, Sascha R. A. Alles
Summary: The study demonstrates the involvement of the Ca(v)3.3 T-type voltage-gated calcium channel subtype in chronic trigeminal neuropathic pain and suggests that blocking or attenuating its function may be an effective strategy for treatment. Furthermore, the results indicate that targeting Ca(v)3.3 could be more effective in female mice with trigeminal neuropathic pain in the FRICT-ION model.