Biophysical Sequence Analysis of Functional Differences of Piezo1 and Piezo2

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel sequence analysis method to compare Piezo1 and Piezo2 proteins, revealing large-scale similarities and differences that support an evolution-towards-criticality hypothesis.

Contribution

It presents a new hydropathic profile analysis technique that uncovers insights not accessible through traditional sequence or structural methods.

Findings

Identified large-scale similarities between Piezo1 and Piezo2

Detected significant differences supporting the evolution-towards-criticality

Demonstrated the effectiveness of the new sequence analysis method

Abstract

Because of their large size and widespread mechanosensitive interactions the only recently discovered titled transmembrane proteins have attracted much attention. Here we present and discuss their hydropathic profiles using a new method of sequence analysis. We find large-scale similarities and differences not obtainable by conventional sequence or structural studies. These differences support the evolution-towards-criticality conjecture popular among physicists.