PLoS Biology· 2026Q1
The mechanosensitive channel TMEM63B contributes to noxious heat sensation in the dorsal root ganglia
- 0citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
The mechanosensitive channel TMEM63B unexpectedly contributes to noxious heat sensation in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, reducing heat sensitivity and elevating action potential thresholds upon its deletion.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- TMEM63B, previously thought to be mechanosensitive, is involved in detecting noxious heat in DRG neurons.
- TMEM63B knockout significantly reduced heat-induced calcium responses in DRG neurons.
- Deletion of TMEM63B elevated the temperature threshold required for action potential initiation.
- TMEM63B's heat sensitivity is modulated by the membrane lipid environment, particularly arachidonic acid.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
In mammals, heat sensation is primarily mediated by thermosensitive channels, particularly transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. However, whether additional channels contribute to noxious heat detection remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the mechanosensitive cation channel TMEM63B in DRG neurons and unexpectedly discovered its involvement in noxious thermosensation rather than mechanosensation. TMEM63B was broadly expressed in DRG neurons, and its global knockout or DRG-specific conditional knockout markedly reduced heat sensitivity. Deletion of TMEM63B significantly attenuated heat-induced calcium responses and currents in DRG neurons and elevated the temperature threshold for action potential initiation. Recombinant TMEM63B exhibited moderate heat response in calcium imaging assays. Notably, in the presence of arachidonic acid, TMEM63B was strongly activated by heat, suggesting that its thermosensitivity is modulated by the membrane lipid environment. Together, these findings identify TMEM63B as a novel channel contributing to heat sensation and reveal a lipid-dependent modulation of its channel activity.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. PLoS Biology, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Sensory Systems
Sensory SystemsNeuroscience