Mammalian Mechanoelectrical Transduction: Structure and Function of Force-Gated Ion Channels

The conversion of force into an electrical cellular signal is mediated by the opening of different types of mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs), including TREK/TRAAK K2P channels, Piezo1/2, TMEM63/OSCA, and TMC1/2. Mechanoelectrical transduction plays a key role in hearing, balance, touch, and proprioception and is also implicated in the autonomic regulation of blood pressure and breathing. Thus, dysfunction of MSCs is associated with a variety...