Cutting edge Seminar

※  Zoom online/ Please check the URL on “HIGO Cutting-Edge Seminar” at Moodle

 

Speaker: Keiko Nonomura  (Assistant Professor, Division of Embryology, National Institute for Basic Biology)

Title：Mechanosensor channel PIEZOs support function of organs ~touch sensation, control of breathing patterns, lymphatic/venous valve formation

 

 

Date&Time: 18 Nov.  (Wed.) 2020, 12:00- 13:00

Venue:  Zoom online/ Please check the URL on “HIGO Cutting-Edge Seminar” at Moodle

 

Abstrct:

Mechanical stimuli applied to our body often serve as cues to trigger physiological responses. However, our understanding about physiological importance of mechanosensation has been limited partially because molecular identity of mechanosensors remained obscure until recently. PIEZO1/2 were identified in 2010 as mechanically activated cation channel. They have unique structure resembling a propeller with 3 blades and are activated when cell membrane is stretched. PIEZO2 is highly expressed in sensory neurons and functions as the key mechanotransducer for cutaneous touch sensation. In order to investigate the roles of mechanosensation among tissues/organs, I have analyzed mouse lines lacking PIEZO1/2 in specific cell type. In this talk, I’ll introduce our data about control of breathing patterns via PIEZO2-expressing sensory neurons innervating the airway and lymphatic/venous valve formation, which requires PIEZO1 in endothelial cells.

 

References

1. Nonomura K et al., Nature 541(7636): 176-181 (2017)

2. Nonomura K et al., PNAS 115(50): 12817-12822 (2018)

3. Ranade et al., Neuron 87(6): 1162-1179 (2015)