# Molecular Structure and Function of the Piezo1 Ion Channel

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $402,993

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The long-term objective of this project is to understand how an ion channel called Piezo1 endows
living cells with the ability to sense mechanical forces in their environment. This ability underlies a
wide range of physiological processes that are essential to life, including the control of cell size and
shape, the coalescence of cells into an organ system, and blood pressure control. The experiments are
designed on the principle that to understand we must first see what Piezo1 looks like in its various
forms. To this end the electron microscope will be used. We must also observe the functional
properties of Piezo1 under conditions in which we understand every component present. Then, by
comparing the functional properties, that is, how much the channel opens and closes under known
quantities of applied force, with the structures, we can construct a physics-based model to explain the
observable properties of Piezo1. Because we know that biology is complex, in a final stage of this
project we aim to determine structures of Piezo1 in the cell membrane. There, we cannot yet know all
the components that are present, but we hope to further understand how the more complex
environment of the cell regulates the behavior of Piezo1.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10311549
- **Project number:** 5R01GM043949-31
- **Recipient organization:** ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RODERICK MACKINNON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $402,993
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-04-01 → 2024-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10311549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10311549, Molecular Structure and Function of the Piezo1 Ion Channel (5R01GM043949-31). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10311549. Licensed CC0.

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