Role of the membrane for mechanosensing by tethered channels

TL;DR

This paper investigates how membrane tension, force, and channel deformation interact to influence gating in tethered membrane channels, revealing that small deformations can significantly affect energy release and channel interactions can enhance force sensitivity.

Contribution

It provides a generic characterization of the interplay between force, membrane tension, and channel deformation, highlighting the impact of small deformations and channel interactions on gating.

Findings

Minute conical deformations lead to significant energy release during channel opening

Channel-channel interactions can amplify force sensitivity

Membrane mechanics critically influence tethered channel gating

Abstract

Biologically important membrane channels are gated by force at attached tethers. Here, we generically characterize the non-trivial interplay of force, membrane tension, and channel deformations that can affect gating. A central finding is that minute conical channel deformation under force leads to significant energy release during opening. We also calculate channel-channel interactions and show that they can amplify force sensitivity of tethered channels.