1
|
Koehler M, Benthin J, Karanth S, Wiesenfarth M, Sebald K, Somoza V. Biophysical investigations using atomic force microscopy can elucidate the link between mouthfeel and flavour perception. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:281-287. [PMID: 38605131 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00958-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Food texture, along with taste and odour, is an important factor in determining food flavour. However, the physiological properties of oral texture perception require greater examination and definition. Here we explore recent trends and perspectives related to mouthfeel and its relevance in food flavour perception, with an emphasis on the biophysical point of view and methods. We propose that atomic force microscopy, combined with other biophysical techniques and more traditional food science approaches, offers a unique opportunity to study the mechanisms of mouthfeel at cellular and molecular levels. With this knowledge, food composition could be modified to develop healthier products by limiting salt, sugar, fat and calories while maintaining sensory qualities and consumer acceptance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Koehler
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
- TUM Junior Fellow at the Chair of Nutritional Systems Biology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
| | - Julia Benthin
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- TUM Graduate School, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Sanjai Karanth
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Marina Wiesenfarth
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- TUM Graduate School, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Karin Sebald
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Veronika Somoza
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chair of Nutritional Systems Biology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bai X, Smith HE, Romero LO, Bell B, Vásquez V, Golden A. A mutation in F-actin polymerization factor suppresses the distal arthrogryposis type 5 PIEZO2 pathogenic variant in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2024; 151:dev202214. [PMID: 38349741 PMCID: PMC10911111 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
The mechanosensitive PIEZO channel family has been linked to over 26 disorders and diseases. Although progress has been made in understanding these channels at the structural and functional levels, the underlying mechanisms of PIEZO-associated diseases remain elusive. In this study, we engineered four PIEZO-based disease models using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. We performed an unbiased chemical mutagen-based genetic suppressor screen to identify putative suppressors of a conserved gain-of-function variant pezo-1[R2405P] that in human PIEZO2 causes distal arthrogryposis type 5 (DA5; p. R2718P). Electrophysiological analyses indicate that pezo-1(R2405P) is a gain-of-function allele. Using genomic mapping and whole-genome sequencing approaches, we identified a candidate suppressor allele in the C. elegans gene gex-3. This gene is an ortholog of human NCKAP1 (NCK-associated protein 1), a subunit of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)-verprolin homologous protein (WAVE/SCAR) complex, which regulates F-actin polymerization. Depletion of gex-3 by RNAi, or with the suppressor allele gex-3(av259[L353F]), significantly increased brood size and ovulation rate, as well as alleviating the crushed oocyte phenotype of the pezo-1(R2405P) mutant. Expression of GEX-3 in the soma is required to rescue the brood size defects in pezo-1(R2405P) animals. Actin organization and orientation were disrupted and distorted in the pezo-1 mutants. Mutation of gex-3(L353F) partially alleviated these defects. The identification of gex-3 as a suppressor of the pathogenic variant pezo-1(R2405P) suggests that the PIEZO coordinates with the cytoskeleton regulator to maintain the F-actin network and provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of DA5 and other PIEZO-associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Bai
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Harold E. Smith
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luis O. Romero
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Briar Bell
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Valeria Vásquez
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38103, USA
| | - Andy Golden
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qu M, Zhao X, Wang Q, Xu X, Chen H, Wang Y. PIEZO mediates a protective mechanism for nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in response to nanoplastics caused dopaminergic neurotoxicity at environmentally relevant concentrations. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 269:115738. [PMID: 38056120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Studies have probed nanoplastic toxicity on environmental organisms, but the regulatory role of animal PIEZO-type mechanosensitive ion channel component (PIEZO) remains unclear. Herein, we identified the sole PIEZO in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), utilizing amino acid homology analysis and Trans-Membrane prediction using Hidden Markov Models (TMHMM). In C. elegans, RNAi knockdown of pezo-1 had no impact on lifespan, body length, lethality, locomotion behaviors, or oxidative response (P > 0.05). However, exposure to 15 μg/L nanopolystyrene in the pezo-1 RNAi group resulted in severe locomotion changes: head trashes (P < 0.01), body bends (P < 0.05), forward turns (P < 0.05), backward turns (P < 0.01), and impaired sensory perception, including abnormal chemotaxis to NaCl (P < 0.01) and diacetyl (P < 0.01), as well as aversive responses (P < 0.05) to nanopolystyrene compared to the wild-type group. Dopaminergic neuron damage explains these behaviors, with GST-4 (P < 0.01) and SKN-1/Nrf2 (P < 0.01) activation mitigating nanoplastic-induced damage. Our results emphasize that even at the environmentally relevant concentrations (ERC), nanoplastics can impact neurotoxicity-related endpoints, with PIEZO mediating the regulation of oxidative and antioxidative systems in response to these effects. PIEZO may be applied for assessing the neurotoxicity or oxidative stress induced by other environmental toxicants besides nanoplastics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Qu
- School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Xiao Zhao
- School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Qingao Wang
- School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - Xuan Xu
- School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China
| | - He Chen
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to the School of Clinical Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Komandur A, Fazyl A, Stein W, Vidal-Gadea AG. The mechanoreceptor pezo-1 is required for normal crawling locomotion in the nematode C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.001085. [PMID: 38188418 PMCID: PMC10765246 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The discovery in 2010 of the PIEZO family of mechanoreceptors revolutionized our understanding of the role of proprioceptive feedback in mammalian physiology. Much remains to be elucidated. This study looks at the role this receptor plays in normal locomotion. Like humans, the nematode C. elegans expresses PIEZO-type channels (encoded by the pezo-1 gene) throughout its somatic musculature. Here we use the unbiased automated behavioral software Tierpsy to characterize the effects that mutations removing PEZO-1 from body wall musculature have on C. elegans crawling. We find that loss of PEZO-1 results in disrupted locomotion and posture, consistent with phenotypes associated with loss of PIEZO2 in human musculature. C. elegans is thus an amenable system to study the role of mechanoreception on muscle physiology and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adina Fazyl
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States
| | - Wolfgang Stein
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States
| | - Andrés G. Vidal-Gadea
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bai X, Smith HE, Romero LO, Bell B, Vásquez V, Golden A. Mutation in F-actin Polymerization Factor Suppresses Distal Arthrogryposis Type 5 (DA5) PIEZO2 Pathogenic Variant in Caenorhabditis elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.24.550416. [PMID: 37546771 PMCID: PMC10402071 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.24.550416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The mechanosensitive PIEZO channel family has been linked to over 26 disorders and diseases. Although progress has been made in understanding these channels at the structural and functional levels, the underlying mechanisms of PIEZO-associated diseases remain elusive. In this study, we engineered four PIEZO-based disease models using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. We performed an unbiased chemical mutagen-based genetic suppressor screen to identify putative suppressors of a conserved gain-of-function variant pezo-1[R2405P] that in human PIEZO2 causes distal arthrogryposis type 5 (DA5; p. R2718P). Electrophysiological analyses indicate that pezo-1(R2405P) is a gain-of-function allele. Using genomic mapping and whole genome sequencing approaches, we identified a candidate suppressor allele in the C. elegans gene gex-3. This gene is an ortholog of human NCKAP1 (NCK-associated protein 1), a subunit of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP)-verprolin homologous protein (WAVE/SCAR) complex, which regulates F-actin polymerization. Depletion of gex-3 by RNAi, or with the suppressor allele gex-3(av259[L353F]) , significantly restored the small brood size and low ovulation rate, as well as alleviated the crushed oocyte phenotype of the pezo-1(R2405P) mutant. Auxin-inducible degradation of GEX-3 revealed that only somatic-specific degradation of GEX-3 restored the reduced brood size in the pezo-1(R2405P) mutants. Additionally, actin organization and orientation were disrupted and distorted in the pezo-1 mutants. Mutation of gex-3(L353F) partially alleviated these defects. The identification of gex-3 as a suppressor of the pathogenic variant pezo-1(R2405P) suggests that the cytoskeleton plays an important role in regulating PIEZO channel activity and provides insight into the molecular mechanisms of DA5 and other PIEZO-associated diseases.
Collapse
|
6
|
Bergen J, Karasova M, Bileck A, Pignitter M, Marko D, Gerner C, Del Favero G. Exposure to dietary fatty acids oleic and palmitic acid alters structure and mechanotransduction of intestinal cells in vitro. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1659-1675. [PMID: 37117602 PMCID: PMC10182945 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03495-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal cells are continuously exposed to food constituents while adapting to peristaltic movement and fluid shear stress. Oleic acid (OA) and palmitic acid (PA) are among the most prevalent fatty acids with respect to dietary lipids. Despite the central importance of dietary lipids for a balanced diet, awareness about potential detrimental effects related to excessive consumption is increasing; this includes toxicity, metabolic deregulation, and, particularly for cancer cells, a benefit from the uptake of fatty acids related to promotion of metastasis. Expanding on this, we started elucidating the effects of OA and PA (25-500 µM) on non-transformed human intestinal epithelial cells (HCEC-1CT) in comparison to colon carcinoma cells (HCT116), with regard to the mechanosensory apparatus. Hence, intestinal cells' motility is on the one side essential to ensure adaption to peristaltic movement and barrier function, but also to enable metastatic progression. Incubation with both OA and PA (≥ 25 µM) significantly decreased membrane fluidity of HCT116 cells, whereas the effect on HCEC-1CT was more limited. Application of rhodamine-labelled PA demonstrated that the fatty acid is incorporated into the plasma membrane of HCT116, which could not be observed in the non-tumorigenic cell line. Down-streaming into the intracellular compartment, a pronounced rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton was evident in both cell lines (OA and PA; 25 and 100 µM). This was accompanied by a variation of translocation efficiency of the mechanosensitive co-transcription factor YAP1, albeit with a stronger effect seen for PA and the cancer cells. Untargeted proteomic analysis confirmed that exposure to OA and PA could alter the response capacity of HCT116 cells to fluid shear stress. Taken together, OA and PA were able to functionally modulate the mechanosensory apparatus of intestinal cells, implying a novel role for dietary fatty acids in the regulation of intestinal pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janice Bergen
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Karasova
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Bileck
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marc Pignitter
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Doris Marko
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher Gerner
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 38-42, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Vasileva V, Chubinskiy-Nadezhdin V. Regulation of PIEZO1 channels by lipids and the structural components of extracellular matrix/cell cytoskeleton. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:918-930. [PMID: 36947588 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
PIEZO1 is a mechanosensitive channel widely presented in eukaryotic organisms. Although the PIEZO family was discovered in 2010, main questions related to the molecular structure as well as to specific activation mechanisms and regulating pathways remain open. Two hypotheses of PIEZO1 gating were formulated: the first, as a dominant hypothesis, through the plasma membrane (force-from-lipids) and the second, via the participation of the cytoskeleton and the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) (force-from-filaments). Many researchers provide convincing evidence for both hypotheses. It was demonstrated that PIEZO1 has a propeller-like shape forming a membrane curvature within the lipid bilayer. That suggests the participation of lipids in channel modulation, and many studies demonstrate the critical role of lipids and compounds that modify the lipid bilayer in the regulation of PIEZO1 properties. At the same time, the components of ECM and cortical cytoskeleton can be affected by the membrane curvature and thus have an impact on PIEZO1 properties. In living cells, PIEZO1 properties are reported to be critically dependent on channel microenvironment that is on combinatorial influence of plasma membrane, cytoskeleton and ECM. Thus, it is necessary to understand which factors can affect PIEZO1 and consider them when interpreting the role of PIEZO1 in various physiological processes. This review summarizes the current knowledge about regulation of Piezo1 by lipids and the components of ECM and cytoskeleton.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Vasileva
- Group of Ionic Mechanisms of Cell Signalling, Department of Intracellular Signalling and Transport, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladislav Chubinskiy-Nadezhdin
- Group of Ionic Mechanisms of Cell Signalling, Department of Intracellular Signalling and Transport, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Goodman MB, Haswell ES, Vásquez V. Mechanosensitive membrane proteins: Usual and unusual suspects in mediating mechanotransduction. J Gen Physiol 2023; 155:e202213248. [PMID: 36696153 PMCID: PMC9930137 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This Viewpoint, which accompanies a Special Issue focusing on membrane mechanosensors, discusses unifying and unique features of both established and emerging mechanosensitive (MS) membrane proteins, their distribution across protein families and phyla, and current and future challenges in the study of these important proteins and their partners. MS membrane proteins are essential for tissue development, cellular motion, osmotic homeostasis, and sensing external and self-generated mechanical cues like those responsible for touch and proprioception. Though researchers' attention and this Viewpoint focus on a few famous ion channels that are considered the usual suspects as MS mechanosensors, we also discuss some of the more unusual suspects, such as G-protein coupled receptors. As the field continues to grow, so too will the list of proteins suspected to function as mechanosensors and the diversity of known MS membrane proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam B. Goodman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Haswell
- Department of Biology, Center for Engineering Mechanobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Valeria Vásquez
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brugman KI, Susoy V, Whittaker AJ, Palma W, Nava S, Samuel ADT, Sternberg PW. PEZO-1 and TRP-4 mechanosensors are involved in mating behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac213. [PMID: 36712331 PMCID: PMC9802279 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Male mating in Caenorhabditis elegans is a complex behavior with a strong mechanosensory component. C. elegans has several characterized mechanotransducer proteins, but few have been shown to contribute to mating. Here, we investigated the roles of PEZO-1, a piezo channel, and TRP-4, a mechanotransducing TRPN channel, in male mating behavior. We show that pezo-1 is expressed in several male-specific neurons with known roles in mating. We show that, among other neurons, trp-4 is expressed in the Post-Cloacal sensilla neuron type A (PCA) sensory neuron, which monitors relative sliding between the male and the hermaphrodite and inhibits neurons involved in vulva detection. Mutations in both genes compromise many steps of mating, including initial response to the hermaphrodite, scanning, turning, and vulva detection. We performed pan-neuronal imaging during mating between freely moving mutant males and hermaphrodites. Both pezo-1 and trp-4 mutants showed spurious activation of the sensory neurons involved in vulva detection. In trp-4 mutants, this spurious activation might be caused by PCA failure to inhibit vulva-detecting neurons during scanning. Indeed, we show that without functional TRP-4, PCA fails to detect the relative sliding between the male and hermaphrodite. Cell-specific TRP-4 expression restores PCA's mechanosensory function. Our results demonstrate new roles for both PEZO-1 and TRP-4 mechanotransducers in C. elegans mating behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Allyson J Whittaker
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Wilber Palma
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Stephanie Nava
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Aravinthan D T Samuel
- Department of Physics and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yoda1's energetic footprint on Piezo1 channels and its modulation by voltage and temperature. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2202269119. [PMID: 35858335 PMCID: PMC9303978 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202269119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Piezo1 channels are essential mechanically activated ion channels in vertebrates. Their selective activation by the synthetic chemical activator Yoda1 opened new avenues to probe their gating mechanisms and develop novel pharmaceuticals. Yet, the nature and extent of Piezo1 functions modulated by this small molecule remain unclear. Here we close this gap by conducting a comprehensive biophysical investigation of the effects of Yoda1 on mouse Piezo1 in mammalian cells. Using calcium imaging, we first show that cysteine bridges known to inhibit mechanically evoked Piezo1 currents also inhibit activation by Yoda1, suggesting Yoda1 acts by energetically modulating mechanosensory domains. The presence of Yoda1 alters single-channel dwell times and macroscopic kinetics consistent with a dual and reciprocal energetic modulation of open and shut states. Critically, we further discovered that the electrophysiological effects of Yoda1 depend on membrane potential and temperature, two other Piezo1 modulators. This work illuminates a complex interplay between physical and chemical modulators of Piezo1 channels.
Collapse
|
11
|
Hughes K, Shah A, Bai X, Adams J, Bauer R, Jackson J, Harris E, Ficca A, Freebairn P, Mohammed S, Fernández EM, Bainbridge C, Brocco M, Stein W, Vidal-Gadea AG. Distinct mechanoreceptor pezo-1 isoforms modulate food intake in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:jkab429. [PMID: 35100363 PMCID: PMC9210275 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Two PIEZO mechanosensitive cation channels, PIEZO1 and PIEZO2, have been identified in mammals, where they are involved in numerous sensory processes. While structurally similar, PIEZO channels are expressed in distinct tissues and exhibit unique properties. How different PIEZOs transduce force, how their transduction mechanism varies, and how their unique properties match the functional needs of the tissues they are expressed in remain all-important unanswered questions. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has a single PIEZO ortholog (pezo-1) predicted to have 12 isoforms. These isoforms share many transmembrane domains but differ in those that distinguish PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 in mammals. We used transcriptional and translational reporters to show that putative promoter sequences immediately upstream of the start codon of long pezo-1 isoforms predominantly drive green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in mesodermally derived tissues (such as muscle and glands). In contrast, sequences upstream of shorter pezo-1 isoforms resulted in GFP expression primarily in neurons. Putative promoters upstream of different isoforms drove GFP expression in different cells of the same organs of the digestive system. The observed unique pattern of complementary expression suggests that different isoforms could possess distinct functions within these organs. We used mutant analysis to show that pharyngeal muscles and glands require long pezo-1 isoforms to respond appropriately to the presence of food. The number of pezo-1 isoforms in C. elegans, their putative differential pattern of expression, and roles in experimentally tractable processes make this an attractive system to investigate the molecular basis for functional differences between members of the PIEZO family of mechanoreceptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kiley Hughes
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Ashka Shah
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Xiaofei Bai
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jessica Adams
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Rosemary Bauer
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Janelle Jackson
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Emily Harris
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Alyson Ficca
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Ploy Freebairn
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Shawn Mohammed
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Eliana M Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires 1650, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) San Martín, Buenos Aires 1650, Argentina
| | - Chance Bainbridge
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | - Marcela Brocco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de San Martín (UNSAM), Buenos Aires 1650, Argentina
| | - Wolfgang Stein
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Short B. Worms find PEZO-1's function easy to swallow. J Gen Physiol 2022; 154:e202113063. [PMID: 34889959 PMCID: PMC8669497 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202113063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
JGP study finds that the C. elegans orthologue of the PIEZO family is a mechanosensitive ion channel that regulates pharyngeal pumping and food sensation.
Collapse
|