Mechanosensitive ion channels (MS channels) represent a diverse population of ion channels. Other membrane-associated proteins with different biophysical properties apart from ion channels, specialized cytoskeletal proteins, cell junction molecules and G-protein-coupled receptors and kinases, among many others are also considered mechanosensitive¹. MS channels integrate a variety of mechanical stimuli such as shear stress, tension, torsion, and compression and translate them into short-term effects (i.e. changes in ion concentrations and voltage) and long-term effects via changes in gene expression². 

MS channels are detected throughout evolution, from bacteria to higher order organisms including mammals³.

Two primary models have been proposed for mechanogating: the lipid bilayer stretch model evidenced by microbial MS channels and the more sophisticated tether model of eukaryotes by which tethers pull open the transduction channel⁴.

Recent studies have demonstrated that defects in mechanosensing potentially lead to diverse diseases and disorder, such as hearing loss, cardiomyopathies, muscular dystrophies, chronic pain, and cancer⁵.