The purified mechanosensitive channel TREK-1 is directly sensitive to membrane tension

Mechanosensitive channels are detected in all cells and are speculated to play a key role in many functions including osmoregulation, growth, hearing, balance, and touch. In prokaryotic cells, a direct gating of mechanosensitive channels by membrane tension was clearly demonstrated because the purified channels could be functionally reconstituted in a lipid bilayer. No such evidence has been presented yet in the case of mechanosensitive channels from animal cells. TREK-1, a two-pore domain K(+) channel, was the first animal mechanosensitive channel identified at the molecular level. It is the target of a large variety of agents such as volatile anesthetics, neuroprotective agents, and antidepressants. We have produced the mouse TREK-1 in yeast, purified it, and reconstituted the protein in giant liposomes amenable to patch clamp recording. The protein exhibited the expected electrophysiological properties in terms of kinetics, selectivity, and pharmacology. Negative pressure (suction) applied through the pipette had no effect on the channel, but positive pressure could completely and reversibly close the channel. Our interpretation of these data is that the intrinsic tension in the lipid bilayer is sufficient to maximally activate the channel, which can be closed upon modification of the tension. These results indicate that TREK-1 is directly sensitive to membrane tension.