Stretchactivated
Stretch-activated channels are ion channels that open in response to mechanical deformation of the cell membrane, such as stretch, tension, or shear. They are found across bacteria, plants, and animals and typically mediate rapid ion fluxes that alter membrane potential and intracellular signaling, often via calcium.
Gating is thought to arise from changes in membrane tension that modulate channel conformation. Some channels
Notable stretch-activated channels include bacterial MscL and MscS that protect against osmotic lysis; plant OSCA channels;
Physiological roles are diverse: in mammals they contribute to touch and proprioception, vascular responses to shear
Advances in structural biology, particularly cryo-electron microscopy, have revealed the architectures of several stretch-activated channels, aiding