Structure and mechanogating mechanism of the Piezo1 channel

Nature. 2018 Feb 22;554(7693):487-492. doi: 10.1038/nature25743. Epub 2018 Jan 22.

Abstract

The mechanosensitive Piezo channels function as key eukaryotic mechanotransducers. However, their structures and mechanogating mechanisms remain unknown. Here we determine the three-bladed, propeller-like electron cryo-microscopy structure of mouse Piezo1 and functionally reveal its mechanotransduction components. Despite the lack of sequence repetition, we identify nine repetitive units consisting of four transmembrane helices each-which we term transmembrane helical units (THUs)-which assemble into a highly curved blade-like structure. The last transmembrane helix encloses a hydrophobic pore, followed by three intracellular fenestration sites and side portals that contain pore-property-determining residues. The central region forms a 90 Å-long intracellular beam-like structure, which undergoes a lever-like motion to connect THUs to the pore via the interfaces of the C-terminal domain, the anchor-resembling domain and the outer helix. Deleting extracellular loops in the distal THUs or mutating single residues in the beam impairs the mechanical activation of Piezo1. Overall, Piezo1 possesses a unique 38-transmembrane-helix topology and designated mechanotransduction components, which enable a lever-like mechanogating mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy*
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Ion Channels / chemistry
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Ion Channels / ultrastructure*
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular*
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Movement
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Piezo1 protein, mouse