Ion channel signalling articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    This study demonstrates that the curvature of the cell membrane directly regulates the spatial distribution of Piezo1, a widely expressed mechanosensitive ion channel. Piezo1 may flatten upon activation and can mechanically inhibit membrane dynamics

    • Shilong Yang
    • , Xinwen Miao
    •  & Zheng Shi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The plasma membrane’s electrical potential is maintained by ion channels, though the impact of this potential on cell fate has not been clearly elucidated. Here they show that changes in membrane potential can affect calcium levels and mTOR in pluripotent stem cells, altering their transition from pluripotency to differentiation.

    • Emily Sempou
    • , Valentyna Kostiuk
    •  & Mustafa K. Khokha

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The intercalated disc (ICD) is a membrane structure of the cardiac muscle involved in normal heart function. Here the authors report that knockdown of the ICD-bound transmembrane protein 65 results in impaired ICD structure, abnormal cardiac electrophysiology and cardiomyopathy in mice.

    • Allen C. T. Teng
    • , Liyang Gu
    •  & Anthony O. Gramolini

  • Article
    | Open Access

    TPC2 is a lysosomal ion channel permeable to both calcium and sodium ions. Here, the authors show that TPC2 can selectively increase its calcium permeability when simultaneously challenged by both its natural activators- NAADP and PI(3,5)P2.

    • Yu Yuan
    • , Dawid Jaślan
    •  & Sandip Patel

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Supplementation of magnesium (Mg2+) or its inclusion in biomaterials has beneficial effects for bone formation, but it has also been reported that it can have detrimental effects. Here, the authors analyse dose- and time-dependent effects of Mg2+ on bone regeneration and show that it can stimulate monocyte-macrophage lineage cells to support bone formation in the early phases of repair, but inhibit bone repair and mineralization in later stages by promoting a pro-inflammatory environment.

    • Wei Qiao
    • , Karen H. M. Wong
    •  & Kelvin W. K. Yeung

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Molecular mechanisms by which glucose modulates L-type Ca2+ channel activity and vascular reactivity are unclear. Here the authors report a nanocomplex orchestrated by AKAP5 that facilitates local purinergic stimulation of L-type Ca2+ channels and vasoconstriction during diabetic hyperglycemia.

    • Maria Paz Prada
    • , Arsalan U. Syed
    •  & Madeline Nieves-Cintrón

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Pulmonary hypertension is a devastating disease with elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and related to abnormal calcium signalling. Here, the authors show that suppression or stabilization of the calcium channel ryanodine receptor 2 may be a potential treatment approach for this disease.

    • Lin Mei
    • , Yun-Min Zheng
    •  & Yong-Xiao Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    ORAI1 constitutes the store-operated Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel, but how this channel is turned off through Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) remained unclear. Here the authors identify a spatially-restricted Ca2+/cAMP signaling crosstalk critical for mediating CDI which in turn regulates cellular Ca2+ signals and NFAT activation.

    • Xuexin Zhang
    • , Trayambak Pathak
    •  & Mohamed Trebak

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Natural killer (NK) cells are functionally calibrated against self MHC during a process termed education. Here the authors show that NK cell education is associated with the accumulation of dense-core secretory lysosomes for expedited release of granzyme B and Ca2+ flux upon target recognition and NK cell activation.

    • Jodie P. Goodridge
    • , Benedikt Jacobs
    •  & Karl-Johan Malmberg

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The ion channel TRPV4 senses many environmental cues, but its role in virus infection is not known. Here, Doñate-Macián et al. show that Zika virus induces TRPV4-mediated Ca2+ influx into cells, resulting in the nuclear accumulation of the DDX3X RNA helicase, which increases virus replication.

    • P. Doñate-Macián
    • , J. Jungfleisch
    •  & M. A. Valverde

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Insulin secretion by β-cells is stimulated by glucose and is dependent on the induction of β-cell membrane depolarization, mainly driven by the closure of KATP channels, which in turn promotes voltage-gated Ca2+ channel opening. Here the authors show that LRRC8 volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs) modulate glucose-stimulated calcium increase and insulin secretion.

    • Till Stuhlmann
    • , Rosa Planells-Cases
    •  & Thomas J. Jentsch

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Insulin secretion by β-cells is stimulated by glucose and is dependent on the induction of β-cell membrane depolarization, mainly driven by the closure of KATP channels, which in turn promotes voltage-gated Ca2+ channel opening. Here Kang et al. show that the volume-regulated anion channel, SWELL1, is involved in glucose-stimulated calcium increase and insulin secretion.

    • Chen Kang
    • , Litao Xie
    •  & Rajan Sah

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mechanosensitive Piezo channels are important for a wide range of mechanotransduction processes. Here the authors show that Piezos interact with sarcoplasmic /endoplasmic-reticulum Ca2+ ATPases (SERCA) and give mechanistic insights into mechanogating and SERCA2-mediated regulation of Piezo1.

    • Tingxin Zhang
    • , Shaopeng Chi
    •  & Bailong Xiao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+(CRAC) channels are essential for protective immunity, but the immunological functions of the three ORAI homologues that form CRAC channels are unclear. Here the authors show that ORAI1 and ORAI2 form heteromeric CRAC channels, which fine-tune T cell activation and immune responses.

    • Martin Vaeth
    • , Jun Yang
    •  & Stefan Feske

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Potassium channels are essential for modulating T-cell functions. Here, by characterizing rat models and analysing human T cells, the authors identify differential requirements of two potassium channel proteins, Kv1.3 and KCa3.1, for the induction of conventional versus autoreactive T-cell responses.

    • Eugene Y. Chiang
    • , Tianbo Li
    •  & Jane L. Grogan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting (CSF-c) cells line the central canal of the vertebrate spinal cord yet their function remains unknown. Here, Javaland et al. show that CSF-c neurons in the lamprey respond to mechanical stimulation and lowered pH, effects likely mediated by ASIC3-channels.

    • Elham Jalalvand
    • , Brita Robertson
    •  & Sten Grillner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nav1.7 channels are known to regulate pain perception in humans and mice. Here, the authors provide evidence that Nav1.7 deletion leads to transcriptional upregulation of opioid peptides in sensory neurons, and that treatment with the opioid blocker naloxone helps reverse analgesia in mice and human Nav1.7 nulls.

    • Michael S. Minett
    • , Vanessa Pereira
    •  & John N. Wood

  • Article
    | Open Access

    STIM1, the endoplasmic reticulum calcium sensor, is activated in response to calcium store depletion and translocates to the ER–plasma membrane junctions to activate Orai1 channels. Here the authors present a new model of unimolecular coupling between STIM1 and Orai1 whereby STIM1 dimers may be involved in crosslinking Orai1 channels.

    • Yandong Zhou
    • , Xizhuo Wang
    •  & Donald L. Gill

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