Response to Mechanical Stress Is Mediated by the TRPA Channel Painless in the Drosophila Heart

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001088
• Publication Date: 2010-09-02T20:04:03Z
• Authors: Sébastien Sénatore; Vatrapu Rami Reddy; Michel Sémériva; Laurent Perrin; Nathalie Lalevée
• Keywords: Mechanotransduction; mechanobiology; Heart beat; Piezo1

Mechanotransduction modulates cellular functions as diverse migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. It is crucial for organ development homeostasis leads to pathologies when defective. However, despite considerable efforts made in the past, molecular basis of mechanotransduction remains poorly understood. Here, we have investigated genetic Drosophila. We show that fly heart senses responds mechanical forces by regulating cardiac activity. In particular, pauses activity are observed under acute constraints vivo. further confirm a variety situ tests these arrests constitute biological force-induced response. order identify components pathway, carried out screen based on dependence upon identified Painless, TRPA channel. observe clear absence vivo arrest following inactivation painless demonstrate autonomously required mediate response stress. Furthermore, direct activation Painless sufficient produce heartbeat, mimicking pressure-induced thus constitutes part mechanosensitive pathway adjusts muscle constraints. This first demonstration channel can mechanotransduction. establishing high-throughput system players involved cardiovascular system, our study paves way understanding mechanisms underlying pathway.