The ion channels to cytoskeleton connection as potential mechanism of mechanosensitivity

As biological force-sensing systems mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels present the best example of coupling molecular dynamics of membrane proteins to the mechanics of the surrounding cell membrane. In animal cells MS channels have over the past two decades been very much in focus of mechanotransduction research. In recent years this helped to raise awareness of basic and medical researchers about the role that abnormal MS channels may play in the pathophysiology of diseases, such as cardiac hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, muscular dystrophy or polycystic kidney disease. To date a large number of MS channels from organisms of diverse phylogenetic origins have been identified at the molecular level; however, the structure of only few of them has been determined. Although their function has extensively been studied in a great variety of cells and tissues by different experimental approaches it is, with exception of bacterial MS channels, very little known about how these channels sense mechanical force and which cellular components may contribute to their function. By focusing on MS channels found in animal cells this article discusses the ways in which the connections between cytoskeleton and ion channels may contribute to mechanosensory transduction in these cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Reciprocal influences between cell cytoskeleton and membrane channels, receptors and transporters. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Reciprocal influences between cell cytoskeleton and membrane channels, receptors and transporters. Guest Editor: Jean Claude Hervé.