Touch, Tension, and Transduction - The Function and Regulation of Piezo Ion Channels
Jason Wu, Amanda H Lewis, Jörg Grandl
Mechanotransductionpiezo
Key takeaways
- 01
Piezo channels are the primary molecular sensors that translate physical tension and touch into biological signals within our tissues.
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 has opened the floodgates for studying a vast number of mechanotransduction processes. Over the past 6 years, groundbreaking research has identified Piezos as ion channels that sense light touch, proprioception, and vascular blood flow, ruled out roles for Piezos in several other mechanotransduction processes, and revealed the basic structural and functional properties of the channel. Here, we review these findings and discuss the many aspects of Piezo function that remain mysterious, including how Piezos convert a variety of mechanical stimuli into channel activation and subsequent inactivation, and what molecules and mechanisms modulate Piezo function.
The episode was first published on The Fascia Guide YouTube channel on February 5, 2025. In this inspiring episode, we meet Deanna Hansen — founder of Block Therapy™ and a pioneer…
The episode was first published on the Swedish podcast Fasciaguiden on June 5, 2025. In this thought-provoking conversation, we meet Dr. Neil Theise — liver pathologist, fascia re…