# Chemical mapping of protein networks that sense cellular force

> **NIH NIH F32** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2021 · $65,994

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The body’s ability to sense and respond to mechanical forces, or mechanosensation, is critical to a variety
of physiological processes from macroscopic processes like regulation of blood pressure and breathing to small-
scale processes like cell migration, cell fate determination, and cell alignment during tissue development. Despite
the importance of mechanosensation in human heath, the details governing pressure sensing in different tissues
and organs remain unknown. Mechanosensitive ion channels called PIEZO channels that respond to stretching
or compression of the plasma membrane are now known to play an important role in mechanical signaling within
cells, but the ability of PIEZO channels to tune their response over a vast dynamic range of forces in different
cell types is still a mystery. Evidence points to the existence of distinct PIEZO interaction networks in different
cell types (e.g., attachments to the cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, and/or interactions with other protein
auxiliary subunits) that enable calibration of PIEZO mechanotransduction. Reliable identification of such
interactions has faced significant obstacles due to gaps in technology for studying ion channels.
 This proposal will aim to address these gaps by developing a new proteomic mass spectrometry-based
approach for mapping PIEZO protein networks that sense cellular force. Success of this project will provide
insight into many mechanically mediated processes that are poorly understood in human health and disease and
provide a generalizable new technique for defining of ion channel interaction networks on the cell surface. The
research training for this project will be conducted with joint mentorship in the Patapoutian and Cravatt labs at
the Scripps Research Institute, two well-equipped laboratories with expertise in ion channel physiology and
chemical biology/proteomic mass spectrometry, respectively. Regularly occurring joint meetings with the sponsor
and co-sponsor will provide an adequate training environment to learn new techniques and facilitate career
development goals for the duration of the fellowship.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10232622
- **Project number:** 1F32GM142205-01
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna Katherine Koster
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $65,994
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-05 → 2023-04-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10232622

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10232622, Chemical mapping of protein networks that sense cellular force (1F32GM142205-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10232622. Licensed CC0.

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