Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Ion Channels01:19

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow specific...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels01:26

Voltage-gated Ion Channels

Voltage-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that open and close in response to changes in the membrane potential. They are present on the membranes of all electrically excitable cells such as neurons, heart, and muscle cells.
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation01:19

The Role of Ion Channels in Neuronal Computation

A postsynaptic neuron usually receives numerous impulses from several other presynaptic neurons. The axon hillock of the postsynaptic neuron integrates all these signals and determines the likelihood of firing an action potential.
Sometimes a single EPSP is strong enough to induce an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron. However, multiple presynaptic inputs must often create EPSPs around the same time for the postsynaptic neuron to be sufficiently depolarized to fire an action potential.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Author Correction: Adipose-targeted triiodothyronine therapy counteracts obesity-related metabolic complications and atherosclerosis with negligible side effects.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

TMEM33 deletion potentiates anti-tumor CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell immunity.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Piezo1 activation suppresses bone marrow adipogenesis to prevent osteoporosis by inhibiting a mechanoinflammatory autocrine loop.

Signal transduction and targeted therapy·2025
Same author

Potentiation of macrophage Piezo1 by atherogenic 7-ketocholesterol.

Cell reports·2025
Same author

Piezo1 in PASMCs: Critical for Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension Development.

Circulation research·2025
Same author

<i>In vivo</i> evaluation of monoclonal antibody M4M using a humanised rat model of stroke demonstrates attenuation of reperfusion injury via blocking human TRPM4 channel.

Journal of drug targeting·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing
05:57

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing

Published on: March 17, 2023

Sensing pressure with ion channels.

Bernd Nilius1, Eric Honoré

  • 1Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, Department of Cell and Molecular Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit-KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O&N 1, Herestraat 49-Bus 802, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Trends in Neurosciences
|May 25, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Recent discoveries reveal Piezo1 and Piezo2 as key components of stretch-activated ion channels (SACs), crucial for mechanotransduction. The structure of TRAAK channels also advances understanding of stretch-activated potassium channels (SAKs).

More Related Videos

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
09:54

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Published on: November 19, 2015

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing
05:57

Microfluidic Channel-Based Soft Electrodes and Their Application in Capacitive Pressure Sensing

Published on: March 17, 2023

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers
09:54

Multifunctional, Micropipette-based Method for Incorporation And Stimulation of Bacterial Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Droplet Interface Bilayers

Published on: November 19, 2015

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording
13:07

One-channel Cell-attached Patch-clamp Recording

Published on: June 9, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Mechanosensory transduction relies on stretch-activated ion channels (SACs).
  • The molecular identity of mammalian SACs has been a long-standing enigma.
  • Recent breakthroughs are illuminating the molecular underpinnings of mechanotransduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding the molecular basis of SACs.
  • To highlight the roles of Piezo1 and Piezo2 in mechanosensation.
  • To discuss new insights into stretch-activated potassium channels (SAKs).

Main Methods:

  • Genetic studies identifying Piezo1 and Piezo2 as essential SAC components.
  • Biophysical reconstitution of purified Piezo1 into artificial bilayers.
  • Structural determination of the TRAAK potassium channel.

Main Results:

  • Piezo1 and Piezo2 are confirmed as critical components of distinct SACs.
  • Purified Piezo1 forms functional cationic channels in artificial membranes.
  • dPiezo plays a role in Drosophila mechanical nociception.
  • The 3D structure of TRAAK provides insights into SAKs' gating and pharmacology.

Conclusions:

  • Recent findings have significantly advanced the understanding of SACs' molecular identity.
  • The structure and function of Piezo channels and TRAAK channels are key to mechanotransduction.
  • These discoveries provide a foundation for further research into cellular mechanosensation.