Abstract of The Cells and Molecules Underlying Mechanosensation, by Ruby Minh Lam, Ph.D., Brown University, May 2024. The somatosensory system provides us with a window into the physical world. This perception of physical information is vital for the survival of many animals including humans and mice. However, the specifics of which cells, what molecules they express, and what functional roles these cells and molecules have in different body functions remain an active field of investigation. For example, the mechanosensitive ion channel PIEZO2 is responsible for translating touch and vibrations into useful neural impulses in the central nervous system. In this thesis, I use a combination of functional calcium imaging, in situ hybridizations, anatomical tracing, histological preparations, and behavioral assays to define important roles for the molecule Piezo2 in specific cell types which are vital for a range of bodily functions including gentle touch perception, sexual reproduction, and gastrointestinal motility.
