Topic: pain sensation

Mechanosensation is a process by which nerves encode physical stimuli such as cotton swab or pinprick into electrical signals that can be understood by the nervous system. But what is the molecular basis of mechanosensation, allowing this process to occur? New evidence suggests Elkin1 is an ion channel required for light touch sensation in mice and humans. Here, we explore its function in nociceptor physiology.Our results show that Elkin1-/- knockouts exhibit lowered mechanical sensitivity when tested in behavioral assays using a hindpaw stimulation. Electron microscopy showed no structural ch