Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

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...

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

DNA repair drives cisplatin-induced neuronal death.

Cell·2026

Same author

Persistent interferon signaling causes sensory neuron plasticity and pain before and during arthritis.

Nature neuroscience·2026

Same author

Structures of invertebrate PEZO-1 isoforms with a compact architecture and a dispensable pore-distal N-terminal blade.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Pericyte-tumor crosstalk facilitates metastatic tumor cell latency through PIEZO1-activated lysophospholipid transfer.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

Nociceptors use multiple neurotransmitters to drive pain.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Same author

A distributed coding logic for thermosensation and inflammatory pain.

Nature·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 1, 2025

A Standard and Reliable Method to Fabricate Two-Dimensional Nanoelectronics

A Standard and Reliable Method to Fabricate Two-Dimensional Nanoelectronics

Published on: August 28, 2018

The Form and Function of PIEZO2.

Marcin Szczot^1,2, Alec R Nickolls¹, Ruby M Lam^1,3

¹National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA;

Annual Review of Biochemistry

|June 21, 2021

Summary

The discovery of PIEZO proteins revolutionized our understanding of mechanosensation, the biological process of detecting touch. PIEZO2 channels are key to how we sense pressure and stretch, impacting touch and other sensory systems.

Keywords:

PIEZO2 ion channel mechanosensation mechanotransduction proprioception somatosensation touch

More Related Videos

Fabrication and Characterization of Thickness Mode Piezoelectric Devices for Atomization and Acoustofluidics

Fabrication and Characterization of Thickness Mode Piezoelectric Devices for Atomization and Acoustofluidics

Published on: August 5, 2020

A Polymer-based Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester with a 3D Meshed-Core Structure

A Polymer-based Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester with a 3D Meshed-Core Structure

Published on: February 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 1, 2025

A Standard and Reliable Method to Fabricate Two-Dimensional Nanoelectronics

A Standard and Reliable Method to Fabricate Two-Dimensional Nanoelectronics

Published on: August 28, 2018

Fabrication and Characterization of Thickness Mode Piezoelectric Devices for Atomization and Acoustofluidics

Fabrication and Characterization of Thickness Mode Piezoelectric Devices for Atomization and Acoustofluidics

Published on: August 5, 2020

A Polymer-based Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester with a 3D Meshed-Core Structure

A Polymer-based Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester with a 3D Meshed-Core Structure

Published on: February 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Molecular Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Mechanosensation, the detection of mechanical stimuli like pressure and stretch, is crucial for biological processes, including the sense of touch.
The molecular mechanisms underlying touch detection remained largely unknown until the discovery of PIEZO proteins in 2010.
PIEZO proteins are mechanically activated ion channels essential for cellular mechanotransduction.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the functional roles and mechanisms of PIEZO proteins, focusing on PIEZO2.
To summarize advancements in understanding touch detection at molecular, cellular, and systems levels over the past decade.
To explore novel insights into mechanosensation beyond cutaneous touch.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on PIEZO proteins published in the last 10 years.
Analysis of research at molecular, cellular, and systems levels.
Synthesis of findings related to PIEZO2 function and mechanosensation.

Main Results:

PIEZO proteins are fundamental to mechanosensation, with PIEZO2 playing a critical role in touch perception.
Decade-long research has elucidated PIEZO2's function in various cell types and physiological processes.
PIEZO2's role extends beyond skin mechanosensation, revealing broader implications in sensory biology.

Conclusions:

PIEZO2 is a key molecular player in mammalian touch sensation.
Research on PIEZO2 has significantly advanced the field of mechanobiology and sensory neuroscience.
Understanding PIEZO2 opens new avenues for investigating diverse mechanosensory modalities.