MDFIC2 is a sensory neuron-specific PIEZO channel auxiliary subunit

Abstract

PIEZO channels are critical for sensory mechanotransduction. While MyoD-family inhibitor proteins were identified as PIEZO1 auxiliary subunits, their broader regulatory roles, particularly in sensory cells, remained unclear. Here we demonstrate native MDFIC and MDFI regulate endogenous PIEZO channel currents in various non-sensory cell types. However, neither MDFIC nor MDFI are expressed in primary sensory neurons. In these cell types we identified an uncharacterised member of this family, Mdfic2/Gm765, that shares the ability to physically bind to PIEZO1 and PIEZO2. MDFIC2 is selectively expressed in subsets of mechanosensitive neurons, including dorsal root ganglia, trigeminal ganglia, and vagal sensory neurons. Like its paralogues, MDFIC2 alters PIEZO1/2 mechanosensitivity and inactivation kinetics, converting them into high-threshold slowly inactivating mechanoreceptors. Extensive cryo-EM reveals a conserved binding pocket for these auxiliary subunits in the pore modules of both PIEZO1 and PIEZO2 mediated by the post-translationally modified distal C-termini of MyoD-family inhibitor proteins. This provides a comprehensive structural and functional characterisation of MyoD-family inhibitor proteins as PIEZO1/2 channel regulators and offers new insights into sensory physiology and mechanical pain mechanisms.