Featured Publications
Mechanotransduction events at the physiological site of touch detection
Ziolkowski L, Gracheva E, Bagriantsev S. Mechanotransduction events at the physiological site of touch detection. ELife 2023, 12: e84179. PMID: 36607222, PMCID: PMC9833821, DOI: 10.7554/elife.84179.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSensational channels
Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. Sensational channels. Cell 2021, 184: 6213-6216. PMID: 34942094, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.11.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLamellar cells in Pacinian and Meissner corpuscles are touch sensors
Nikolaev YA, Feketa VV, Anderson EO, Schneider ER, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. Lamellar cells in Pacinian and Meissner corpuscles are touch sensors. Science Advances 2020, 6: eabe6393. PMID: 33328243, PMCID: PMC7744075, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe6393.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLamellar cellsR-type voltage-gated calcium channelsMeissner corpusclesAction potentialsChannel-dependent action potentialsPacinian corpusclesVoltage-gated calcium channelsSensory afferent neuronsNon-neuronal cellsBill skinAfferent neuronsNeuronal afferentsCalcium channelsElectrophysiological recordingsTactile stimuliCorpusclesIon channelsCellsSkinFirst evidenceTactile organsAfferentsNeuronsPiezo2 Integrates Mechanical and Thermal Cues in Vertebrate Mechanoreceptors
Nikolaev Y, Zheng W, Gracheva E, Bagriantsev S. Piezo2 Integrates Mechanical and Thermal Cues in Vertebrate Mechanoreceptors. Biophysical Journal 2020, 118: 396a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.11.2254.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPiezo2 integrates mechanical and thermal cues in vertebrate mechanoreceptors
Zheng W, Nikolaev YA, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. Piezo2 integrates mechanical and thermal cues in vertebrate mechanoreceptors. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 17547-17555. PMID: 31413193, PMCID: PMC6717272, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1910213116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Cross-Species Analysis Reveals a General Role for Piezo2 in Mechanosensory Specialization of Trigeminal Ganglia from Tactile Specialist Birds
Schneider ER, Anderson EO, Feketa VV, Mastrotto M, Nikolaev YA, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. A Cross-Species Analysis Reveals a General Role for Piezo2 in Mechanosensory Specialization of Trigeminal Ganglia from Tactile Specialist Birds. Cell Reports 2019, 26: 1979-1987.e3. PMID: 30784581, PMCID: PMC6420409, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.01.100.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTrigeminal ganglionPiezo2 ion channelsExpression of moleculesExpression of factorsPiezo2 expressionSomatosensory neuronsNeuronal subtypesSomatosensory systemSuch neuronsSpecialist birdsBird speciesMolecular variationFamily AnatidaeForaging behaviorTactile specializationNeuronsMechanoreceptorsSpecies analysisGangliaGeneral roleBehavioral phenotypesIon channelsGeneral mechanismTactile specialistsFunction of mechanoreceptors3D architecture and a bicellular mechanism of touch detection in mechanosensory corpuscle
Nikolaev Y, Ziolkowski L, Pang S, Li W, Feketa V, Xu C, Gracheva E, Bagriantsev S. 3D architecture and a bicellular mechanism of touch detection in mechanosensory corpuscle. Science Advances 2023, 9: eadi4147. PMID: 37703368, PMCID: PMC10499330, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4147.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
Hypothalamic hormone deficiency enables physiological anorexia in ground squirrels during hibernation
Mohr S, Dai Pra R, Platt M, Feketa V, Shanabrough M, Varela L, Kristant A, Cao H, Merriman D, Horvath T, Bagriantsev S, Gracheva E. Hypothalamic hormone deficiency enables physiological anorexia in ground squirrels during hibernation. Nature Communications 2024, 15: 5803. PMID: 38987241, PMCID: PMC11236985, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49996-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypothalamic feeding centersHormone deficiencyHypothalamic arcuate nucleus neuronsArcuate nucleus neuronsThyroid hormone deficiencyFeeding centerEffects of ghrelinAnorexigenic effectNucleus neuronsPhysiological anorexiaThyroid hormonesNormal physiological functionsGround squirrelsInterbout arousalAnorexiaThirteen-lined ground squirrelsProlonged periodReduced sensitivityPhysiological functionsDeficiencyFrequency-modulated timer regulates torpor–arousal cycles during hibernation in distinct small mammalian hibernators
Gibo S, Yamaguchi Y, Gracheva E, Bagriantsev S, Tokuda I, Kurosawa G. Frequency-modulated timer regulates torpor–arousal cycles during hibernation in distinct small mammalian hibernators. Npj Biological Timing And Sleep 2024, 1: 3. DOI: 10.1038/s44323-024-00002-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTorpor-arousal cycleMolecular mechanisms of hibernationMammalian hibernationGround squirrelsHibernation patternsTb fluctuationsBiological processesHarsh seasonsHibernating speciesDeep torporMolecular mechanismsConstant laboratory conditionsSyrian hamstersHibernationTB dataEndogenous periodEuthermic levelsTorporPhysiological conditionsMechanisms of hibernationBasal metabolismAmbient levelsCircannual rhythmPeriods of arousalSquirrelsNeural control of fluid homeostasis is engaged below 10°C in hibernation
Junkins M, Feng N, Murphy L, Curtis G, Merriman D, Bagriantsev S, Gracheva E. Neural control of fluid homeostasis is engaged below 10°C in hibernation. Current Biology 2024, 34: 923-930.e5. PMID: 38325375, PMCID: PMC11232715, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.035.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressinSupraoptic nucleusFluid homeostasisC-Fos immunohistochemistryControl of fluid homeostasisHeart rateHypothalamic supraoptic nucleusReduced plasma levelsHormone arginine vasopressinPlasma hormone levelsSlow heart rateSON neuronsArginine vasopressinMassive fluid lossPlasma levelsPosterior pituitaryHormone levelsFiber photometryC-fosBlood pressureNeuronal activityHormonal responsesThirteen-lined ground squirrelsOxytocinInterbout arousal3D architecture and mechanism of touch detection by mechanosensory corpuscles
Bagriantsev S. 3D architecture and mechanism of touch detection by mechanosensory corpuscles. Biophysical Journal 2024, 123: 468a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.11.2830.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Ground squirrels – experts in thermoregulatory adaptation
Feketa V, Bagriantsev S, Gracheva E. Ground squirrels – experts in thermoregulatory adaptation. Trends In Neurosciences 2023, 46: 505-507. PMID: 37188617, DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.04.008.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsHuman TRPV1 structure and inhibition by the analgesic SB-366791
Neuberger A, Oda M, Nikolaev Y, Nadezhdin K, Gracheva E, Bagriantsev S, Sobolevsky A. Human TRPV1 structure and inhibition by the analgesic SB-366791. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 2451. PMID: 37117175, PMCID: PMC10147690, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38162-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSB-366791Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channelsPotential ion channelsPain pathwaysPain therapyPain treatmentPsychiatric disordersOpioid crisisTherapy targetTRPV1 inhibitorElectrophysiological recordingsHuman TRPV1TRP channelsTRPV1New drugsDisease conditionsVanilloid subfamilyIon channelsTreatmentInhibitorsOpioidsPainTherapyDiseaseCryo-electron microscopy structure
2020
CNGA3 acts as a cold sensor in hypothalamic neurons
Feketa VV, Nikolaev YA, Merriman DK, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. CNGA3 acts as a cold sensor in hypothalamic neurons. ELife 2020, 9: e55370. PMID: 32270761, PMCID: PMC7182431, DOI: 10.7554/elife.55370.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2019
Osmolyte Depletion and Thirst Suppression Allow Hibernators to Survive for Months without Water
Feng NY, Junkins MS, Merriman DK, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Osmolyte Depletion and Thirst Suppression Allow Hibernators to Survive for Months without Water. Current Biology 2019, 29: 3053-3058.e3. PMID: 31495581, PMCID: PMC6759396, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.038.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPiezo2 Underlies Slowly-Inactivating Mechano-Current in Sensory Neurons from Tactile Specialist Birds
Bagriantsev S, Schneider E, Anderson E. Piezo2 Underlies Slowly-Inactivating Mechano-Current in Sensory Neurons from Tactile Specialist Birds. Biophysical Journal 2019, 116: 305a. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.11.1654.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA hydrophobic gate in the inner pore helix is the major determinant of inactivation in mechanosensitive Piezo channels
Zheng W, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. A hydrophobic gate in the inner pore helix is the major determinant of inactivation in mechanosensitive Piezo channels. ELife 2019, 8: e44003. PMID: 30628892, PMCID: PMC6349400, DOI: 10.7554/elife.44003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPiezo channelsLining inner helixIon channelsMechanosensitive Piezo channelsInner pore helixImportance of inactivationMouse Piezo1Disease-causing mutationsHydrophobic gateInner helixPore helixPhysiological processesMechanism of inactivationStimulation triggersInactivationInactivation gatePiezo1Normal functionHelixHydrophobic barrierFast inactivationPhysical constrictionSecondary gateRate of inactivationMajor determinant
2018
Somatosensory Neurons Enter a State of Altered Excitability during Hibernation
Hoffstaetter LJ, Mastrotto M, Merriman DK, Dib-Hajj SD, Waxman SG, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Somatosensory Neurons Enter a State of Altered Excitability during Hibernation. Current Biology 2018, 28: 2998-3004.e3. PMID: 30174191, PMCID: PMC6173314, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSomatosensory neuronsAction potentialsPeripheral somatosensory neuronsVoltage-gated sodium channelsTherapeutic hypothermiaAltered excitabilityFunctional deficitsCase of neuronsSensory functionFiring patternsNeuronsCold exposureInput resistanceSodium channelsRapid restorationBody temperatureHypometabolismHypothermiaDevelopment of strategiesSensory informationProlonged periodAdaptive responseArousalCNSExcitabilityTMEM150C/Tentonin3 Is a Regulator of Mechano-gated Ion Channels
Anderson EO, Schneider ER, Matson JD, Gracheva EO, Bagriantsev SN. TMEM150C/Tentonin3 Is a Regulator of Mechano-gated Ion Channels. Cell Reports 2018, 23: 701-708. PMID: 29669276, PMCID: PMC5929159, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.03.094.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2017
Molecular Prerequisites for Diminished Cold Sensitivity in Ground Squirrels and Hamsters
Matos-Cruz V, Schneider ER, Mastrotto M, Merriman DK, Bagriantsev SN, Gracheva EO. Molecular Prerequisites for Diminished Cold Sensitivity in Ground Squirrels and Hamsters. Cell Reports 2017, 21: 3329-3337. PMID: 29262313, PMCID: PMC5741102, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.083.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransmembrane domainCold toleranceCold sensitivityGround squirrelsRat orthologMolecular adaptationsMammalian hibernatorsReciprocal mutationsAmino acidsFunctional significanceOrthologsSquirrelsMolecular prerequisitesActive stateHibernatorsTRPM8Somatosensory neuronsTolerancePoor activationSpeciesDomainMutationsResiduesHibernationCells