Mechanosensitive PIEZO2 channels shape coronary artery development.

Coronary arteries develop under constant mechanical stress. However, the role of mechanosensitive ion channels in this process remains poorly understood. Here we show that the ion channel PIEZO2, which responds to mechanical stimuli, is expressed in specific coronary endothelial cell populations during a critical phase of coronary vasculature remodeling.

Piezo2 voltage-block regulates mechanical pain sensitivity.

PIEZO2 is a trimeric mechanically-gated ion channel expressed by most sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia. Mechanosensitive PIEZO2 channels are also genetically required for normal touch sensation in both mice and humans. We previously showed that PIEZO2 channels are also strongly modulated by membrane voltage.

Lack of evidence for participation of TMEM150C in sensory mechanotransduction.

The membrane protein TMEM150C has been proposed to form a mechanosensitive ion channel that is required for normal proprioceptor function. Here, we examined whether expression of TMEM150C in neuroblastoma cells lacking Piezo1 is associated with the appearance of mechanosensitive currents. Using three different modes of mechanical stimuli, indentation, membrane stretch, and substrate deflection, we could not evoke mechanosensitive currents in cells expressing TMEM150C.

Oral fatty acid taste sensitivity in healthy young individuals of both sexes is related to body mass index and soluble CD36 serum levels.

Introduction: CD36 is a membrane protein that functions as a lingual receptor for lipids. The soluble CD36 fraction (sCD36) may correlate oral fatty acid fat taste sensitivity to body mass index (BMI) and adiposity. Objectives: to determine if the oral fatty acid taste sensitivity in healthy young individuals of both sexes is related to serum sCD36 levels, adiposity and BMI.