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The Role of DEG/ENaC Ion Channels in Sensory Mechanotransduction

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Molecular Sensors for Cardiovascular Homeostasis

Abstract

All living organisms have the capacity to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli permeating their environment. Mechanosensory signaling constitutes the basis for the senses of touch and hearing and contributes fundamentally to development and homeostasis. Intense genetic, molecular, and elecrophysiological studies in organisms ranging from nematodes to mammals have highlighted members of the DEG/ENaC family of ion channels as strong candidates for the elusive metazoan mechanotransducer. These channels have also been implicated in several important processes including pain sensation, gametogenesis, sodium re-absorption, blood pressure regulation, and learning and memory. In this chapter, we review the evidence linking DEG/ENaC ion channels to mechanotransduction and discuss the emerging conceptual framework for a metazoan mechanosensory apparatus.

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  1. Dafni Bazopoulou
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  2. Giannis Voglis
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  3. Nektarios Tavernarakis
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  1. Department of Medicine, Neuroscience, and Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824–1313, USA

    Donna H. Wang

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© 2007 Springer

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Bazopoulou, D., Voglis, G., Tavernarakis, N. (2007). The Role of DEG/ENaC Ion Channels in Sensory Mechanotransduction. In: Wang, D.H. (eds) Molecular Sensors for Cardiovascular Homeostasis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-47530-1_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-47530-1_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-47528-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-47530-1

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