In 2010, two proteins, Piezo1 and Piezo2, were identified as the long-sought molecular
carriers of an excitatory mechanically activated current found in many cells. This discovery …

Mechanotransduction, the conversion of physical forces into biochemical signals, is
essential for various physiological processes such as the conscious sensations of touch and …

Many ion channels have been described as mechanosensitive according to various criteria.
Most broadly defined, an ion channel is called mechanosensitive if its activity is controlled by …

Uniquely among human senses, hearing is not simply a passive response to stimulation.
Our auditory system is instead enhanced by an active process in cochlear hair cells that …

GsMTx4 is a spider venom peptide that inhibits cationic mechanosensitive channels (MSCs).
It has six lysine residues that have been proposed to affect membrane binding. We …

Piezo proteins have recently been identified as ion channels mediating mechanosensory
transduction in mammalian cells. Characterization of these channels has yielded important …

Biological cells are well known to respond to a multitude of chemical signals. In the nervous
system, chemical signaling has been shown to be crucially involved in development, normal …

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) caused by trauma, chronic disease and other factors may lead
to partial or complete loss of sensory, motor and autonomic functions, as well as neuropathic …

Bacteria thrive both in liquids and attached to surfaces. The concentration of bacteria on
surfaces is generally much higher than in the surrounding environment, offering bacteria …

The ability to sense and respond to a wide variety of mechanical stimuli—gravity, touch,
osmotic pressure, or the resistance of the cell wall—is a critical feature of every plant cell …