| First Author | Ellefsen KL | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Commun Biol | Volume | 2 |
| Pages | 298 | PubMed ID | 31396578 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:289987 | Mgi Id | MGI:6433272 |
| Doi | 10.1038/s42003-019-0514-3 | Citation | Ellefsen KL, et al. (2019) Myosin-II mediated traction forces evoke localized Piezo1-dependent Ca(2+) flickers. Commun Biol 2:298 |
| abstractText | Piezo channels transduce mechanical stimuli into electrical and chemical signals to powerfully influence development, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. Studies on Piezo1 have largely focused on transduction of "outside-in" mechanical forces, and its response to internal, cell-generated forces remains poorly understood. Here, using measurements of endogenous Piezo1 activity and traction forces in native cellular conditions, we show that cellular traction forces generate spatially-restricted Piezo1-mediated Ca(2+) flickers in the absence of externally-applied mechanical forces. Although Piezo1 channels diffuse readily in the plasma membrane and are widely distributed across the cell, their flicker activity is enriched near force-producing adhesions. The mechanical force that activates Piezo1 arises from Myosin II phosphorylation by Myosin Light Chain Kinase. We propose that Piezo1 Ca(2+) flickers allow spatial segregation of mechanotransduction events, and that mobility allows Piezo1 channels to explore a large number of mechanical microdomains and thus respond to a greater diversity of mechanical cues. |
