More Than Just Closed and Open: Unraveling a Mechanosensor

Vanessa J Flegler; Tim Rasmussen; Bettina Böttcher

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2021.04.002

More Than Just Closed and Open: Unraveling a Mechanosensor

Trends Biochem Sci. 2021 Aug;46(8):623-625. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.04.002. Epub 2021 Apr 17.

Authors

Vanessa J Flegler¹, Tim Rasmussen¹, Bettina Böttcher²

Affiliations

¹ Biocenter and Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum, Universität Würzburg, Haus D15, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
² Biocenter and Rudolf-Virchow-Zentrum, Universität Würzburg, Haus D15, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address: bettina.boettcher@uni-wuerzburg.de.

PMID: 33879366
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2021.04.002

Abstract

The bacterial mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) is a well-studied model of how mechanical forces from the membrane can be sensed by an embedded protein. A recent study by Zhang et al. visualizes how MscS behaves under membrane tension, entering a desensitized state when it loses all coordinated lipids.

Keywords: desensitized state; gating; mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS); membrane tension; subconducting state.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Escherichia coli / metabolism
Escherichia coli Proteins* / metabolism
Ion Channels / metabolism
Mechanotransduction, Cellular
Models, Molecular

Substances

Escherichia coli Proteins
Ion Channels