Mechanotransduction refers to a physiological process by which mechanical forces, such as pressures exerted by ionized fluids on cell membranes and tissues, can trigger excitations of electrical natures that play impo...Mechanotransduction refers to a physiological process by which mechanical forces, such as pressures exerted by ionized fluids on cell membranes and tissues, can trigger excitations of electrical natures that play important role in the control of various sensory (i.e. stimuli-responsive) organs and homeostasis of living organisms. In this work, the influence of mechanotransduction processes on the generic mechanism of the action potential is investigated analytically, by considering a mathematical model that consists of two coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. One of these two equations is the Korteweg-de Vries equation governing the spatio-temporal evolution of the density difference between intracellular and extracellular fluids across the nerve membrane, and the other is Hodgkin-Huxley cable equation for the transmembrane voltage with a self-regulatory (i.e. diode-type) membrane capacitance. The self-regulatory feature here refers to the assumption that membrane capacitance varies with the difference in density of ion-carrying intracellular and extracellular fluids, thus ensuring an electromechanical feedback mechanism and consequently an effective coupling of the two nonlinear equations. The exact one-soliton solution to the density-difference equation is obtained in terms of a pulse excitation. With the help of this exact pulse solution the Hodgkin-Huxley cable equation is shown to transform, in steady state, to a linear eigenvalue problem some bound states of which can be obtained exactly. Few of such bound-state solutions are found analytically.展开更多
Piezo2,a mechanosensitive ion channel,serves as a crucial mechanotransducer in dental primary afferent(DPA)neurons and is potentially involved in hypersensitivity to mild mechanical irritations observed in dental pati...Piezo2,a mechanosensitive ion channel,serves as a crucial mechanotransducer in dental primary afferent(DPA)neurons and is potentially involved in hypersensitivity to mild mechanical irritations observed in dental patients.Given Piezo2’s widespread expression across diverse subpopulations of DPA neurons,this study aimed to characterize the mechanosensory properties of Piezo2-expressing DPA neurons with a focus on distinct features of voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs)and neuropeptide profiles.Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings,we observed mechanically activated action potentials(APs)and classified AP waveforms based on the presence or absence of a hump during the repolarization phase.Single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction combined with patch-clamp recordings revealed specific associations between AP waveforms and molecular properties,including tetrodotoxin-resistant VGSCs(NaV1.8 and NaV1.9)and TRPV1 expression.Reanalysis of the transcriptomic dataset of DPA neurons identified correlations between neuropeptides—including two CGRP isoforms(α-CGRP andβ-CGRP),Substance P,and Galanin—and the expression of NaV1.8 and NaV1.9,which were linked to defined AP subtypes.These molecular associations were further validated in Piezo2+DPA neurons using fluorescence in situ hybridization.Together,these findings highlight the electrophysiological and neurochemical heterogeneity of Piezo2-expressing DPA neurons and their specialized roles in distinct mechanosensory signal transmission.展开更多
Mechanosensory elastomers attract intense interests in the academic and industrial fields.However,molecular insight of macroscopic properties remains a significant challenge.Herein,we build up a correlation between th...Mechanosensory elastomers attract intense interests in the academic and industrial fields.However,molecular insight of macroscopic properties remains a significant challenge.Herein,we build up a correlation between the microscopic and macroscopic level by designing a mechanosensory elastomer with aggregation-induced emission luminogens(AIEgens)that monitors chain deformation in situ.The key constituents are the mechanosensory units,which are dynamic dimers bonded by ureidopyrimidinone(UPy)groups and tetraphenylethylene(TPE)for the fluorescence signal output.The photoluminescence(PL)technique successfully monitors elastomer chain deformation under external forces.The PL intensity increases linearly at low elongation,in excellent agreement with Hooke’s law for ideal chains.Strong deviation from linear PL intensity is measured at high elongation,which can be theoretically described by the Langevin function.A correlation between the microscopic and the macroscopic level is then built.展开更多
The mechanism for transmission of sensory information concerning a specific sensory modality or submodality can be called a sensory channel, including the receptors, sensory pathways and the parts of the central nervo...The mechanism for transmission of sensory information concerning a specific sensory modality or submodality can be called a sensory channel, including the receptors, sensory pathways and the parts of the central nervous system that further process the sensory information . A certain sensory channel can be activated by a suitable stimulus. Sensory information is transduced by sensory receptor and is further transferred into central nervous system. The characteristics of a modality or submodality are mainly determined by the properties of the corresponding sensory receptors. However, besides the receptor properties, are there any other factors which have influence on the properties of a sensory modality? Is there a kind of gating mechanism existing which could selectively control the inputs of sensory information based on different sensory channels? Here we are trying to answer the above questions by studying the functional relationships between different mechanosensory modalities of leech.展开更多
Mechanosensitive channels mediate touch,hearing,proprioception,and blood pressure regulation.Piezo proteins,including Piezo1 and Piezo2,represent a new class of mechanosensitive channels that have been reported to pla...Mechanosensitive channels mediate touch,hearing,proprioception,and blood pressure regulation.Piezo proteins,including Piezo1 and Piezo2,represent a new class of mechanosensitive channels that have been reported to play key roles in most,if not all,of these modalities.The structural architecture and molecular mechanisms by which Piezos act as mechanosensitive channels,however,remain mysterious.Two new studies have now provided critical insights into the atomic structure and molecular basis of the ion permeation and mechano-gating properties of the Piezo1 channel.展开更多
Flow measurement is critical in various sectors,including industry,agriculture,medicine,and environmental monitoring.There is a growing need for compact,sensitive,scalable,and energy-efficient flow sensors,particularl...Flow measurement is critical in various sectors,including industry,agriculture,medicine,and environmental monitoring.There is a growing need for compact,sensitive,scalable,and energy-efficient flow sensors,particularly for applications in unmanned aerial vehicles,unmanned underwater vehicles,biomedicine,and bionic robotics.Inspired by biological mechanosensory structures,artificial hair and hair cell flow sensors have emerged as promising solutions.This study offers a comprehensive review of the progress,underlying principles,performance optimization techniques,and applications of hair flow sensors.We provide an overview of the biological mechanisms of hair as mechanical receptors.Subsequently,we explain the design and fabrication techniques of artificial hair flow sensors,highlighting the challenges associated with replicating and integrating hair structures.The study further explores strategies for sensor enhancement and their diverse applications.Finally,we conclude by outlining the challenges and prospects of hair sensor technology,along with its potential to address specific flow-sensing requirements.While most applications of artificial hair cell flow sensors are still in the research stage,they offer substantial potential for flow measurement.Future progress in materials science,structural design,and sensing mechanisms is anticipated to drive the development of these sensors,opening up new avenues for scientific research and commercial applications.展开更多
文摘Mechanotransduction refers to a physiological process by which mechanical forces, such as pressures exerted by ionized fluids on cell membranes and tissues, can trigger excitations of electrical natures that play important role in the control of various sensory (i.e. stimuli-responsive) organs and homeostasis of living organisms. In this work, the influence of mechanotransduction processes on the generic mechanism of the action potential is investigated analytically, by considering a mathematical model that consists of two coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. One of these two equations is the Korteweg-de Vries equation governing the spatio-temporal evolution of the density difference between intracellular and extracellular fluids across the nerve membrane, and the other is Hodgkin-Huxley cable equation for the transmembrane voltage with a self-regulatory (i.e. diode-type) membrane capacitance. The self-regulatory feature here refers to the assumption that membrane capacitance varies with the difference in density of ion-carrying intracellular and extracellular fluids, thus ensuring an electromechanical feedback mechanism and consequently an effective coupling of the two nonlinear equations. The exact one-soliton solution to the density-difference equation is obtained in terms of a pulse excitation. With the help of this exact pulse solution the Hodgkin-Huxley cable equation is shown to transform, in steady state, to a linear eigenvalue problem some bound states of which can be obtained exactly. Few of such bound-state solutions are found analytically.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation(NRF)of Korea(grant number:RS-2022-NR072217 to P.RL,RS-2021-NR059709,RS-2023-00264409,and RS-2024-00441103)funded by the Korean government(MSIT).
文摘Piezo2,a mechanosensitive ion channel,serves as a crucial mechanotransducer in dental primary afferent(DPA)neurons and is potentially involved in hypersensitivity to mild mechanical irritations observed in dental patients.Given Piezo2’s widespread expression across diverse subpopulations of DPA neurons,this study aimed to characterize the mechanosensory properties of Piezo2-expressing DPA neurons with a focus on distinct features of voltage-gated sodium channels(VGSCs)and neuropeptide profiles.Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings,we observed mechanically activated action potentials(APs)and classified AP waveforms based on the presence or absence of a hump during the repolarization phase.Single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction combined with patch-clamp recordings revealed specific associations between AP waveforms and molecular properties,including tetrodotoxin-resistant VGSCs(NaV1.8 and NaV1.9)and TRPV1 expression.Reanalysis of the transcriptomic dataset of DPA neurons identified correlations between neuropeptides—including two CGRP isoforms(α-CGRP andβ-CGRP),Substance P,and Galanin—and the expression of NaV1.8 and NaV1.9,which were linked to defined AP subtypes.These molecular associations were further validated in Piezo2+DPA neurons using fluorescence in situ hybridization.Together,these findings highlight the electrophysiological and neurochemical heterogeneity of Piezo2-expressing DPA neurons and their specialized roles in distinct mechanosensory signal transmission.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(nos.21875009 and 51973227)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(nos.2017YFA0206904 and 2017YFA0206900)+1 种基金the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS(no.2020028)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Mechanosensory elastomers attract intense interests in the academic and industrial fields.However,molecular insight of macroscopic properties remains a significant challenge.Herein,we build up a correlation between the microscopic and macroscopic level by designing a mechanosensory elastomer with aggregation-induced emission luminogens(AIEgens)that monitors chain deformation in situ.The key constituents are the mechanosensory units,which are dynamic dimers bonded by ureidopyrimidinone(UPy)groups and tetraphenylethylene(TPE)for the fluorescence signal output.The photoluminescence(PL)technique successfully monitors elastomer chain deformation under external forces.The PL intensity increases linearly at low elongation,in excellent agreement with Hooke’s law for ideal chains.Strong deviation from linear PL intensity is measured at high elongation,which can be theoretically described by the Langevin function.A correlation between the microscopic and the macroscopic level is then built.
文摘The mechanism for transmission of sensory information concerning a specific sensory modality or submodality can be called a sensory channel, including the receptors, sensory pathways and the parts of the central nervous system that further process the sensory information . A certain sensory channel can be activated by a suitable stimulus. Sensory information is transduced by sensory receptor and is further transferred into central nervous system. The characteristics of a modality or submodality are mainly determined by the properties of the corresponding sensory receptors. However, besides the receptor properties, are there any other factors which have influence on the properties of a sensory modality? Is there a kind of gating mechanism existing which could selectively control the inputs of sensory information based on different sensory channels? Here we are trying to answer the above questions by studying the functional relationships between different mechanosensory modalities of leech.
文摘Mechanosensitive channels mediate touch,hearing,proprioception,and blood pressure regulation.Piezo proteins,including Piezo1 and Piezo2,represent a new class of mechanosensitive channels that have been reported to play key roles in most,if not all,of these modalities.The structural architecture and molecular mechanisms by which Piezos act as mechanosensitive channels,however,remain mysterious.Two new studies have now provided critical insights into the atomic structure and molecular basis of the ion permeation and mechano-gating properties of the Piezo1 channel.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2022YFB3203600)the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang(2024C03207)the ZJUI Institute startup fund.
文摘Flow measurement is critical in various sectors,including industry,agriculture,medicine,and environmental monitoring.There is a growing need for compact,sensitive,scalable,and energy-efficient flow sensors,particularly for applications in unmanned aerial vehicles,unmanned underwater vehicles,biomedicine,and bionic robotics.Inspired by biological mechanosensory structures,artificial hair and hair cell flow sensors have emerged as promising solutions.This study offers a comprehensive review of the progress,underlying principles,performance optimization techniques,and applications of hair flow sensors.We provide an overview of the biological mechanisms of hair as mechanical receptors.Subsequently,we explain the design and fabrication techniques of artificial hair flow sensors,highlighting the challenges associated with replicating and integrating hair structures.The study further explores strategies for sensor enhancement and their diverse applications.Finally,we conclude by outlining the challenges and prospects of hair sensor technology,along with its potential to address specific flow-sensing requirements.While most applications of artificial hair cell flow sensors are still in the research stage,they offer substantial potential for flow measurement.Future progress in materials science,structural design,and sensing mechanisms is anticipated to drive the development of these sensors,opening up new avenues for scientific research and commercial applications.
