Mechanoperception is one of the fundamental physiological functions in many cell types. The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Cation channels are one of the major families of mechanically-gated ion channels in eukaryotes. However, the research of TRP channels mechanosensitivity in multicellular organisms is usually hindered by their complexity. It brings forwards to the needs of unicellular eukaryotic models for mechanobiological research. Dinoflagellates are groups of mechanically sensitive phytoplankton and were among the first unicellular model used for mechanobiology research. They are notorious for being the major causative agents of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which commonly occurs near the calm marine costal region. Many other cellular processes, such as growth, cell s...[ Read more ]

Mechanoperception is one of the fundamental physiological functions in many cell types. The Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Cation channels are one of the major families of mechanically-gated ion channels in eukaryotes. However, the research of TRP channels mechanosensitivity in multicellular organisms is usually hindered by their complexity. It brings forwards to the needs of unicellular eukaryotic models for mechanobiological research. Dinoflagellates are groups of mechanically sensitive phytoplankton and were among the first unicellular model used for mechanobiology research. They are notorious for being the major causative agents of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which commonly occurs near the calm marine costal region. Many other cellular processes, such as growth, cell size regulation, toxin production and bioluminescence, of this group of unicellular organisms are also susceptible to turbulence and fluid-flow, which are associated with Ca²⁺ signaling.

Pharmacologically, we demonstrated TRP channels activities are involved in mechanically-induced [Ca²⁺]_i elevation in dinoflagellate cells, which provides a handle for dinoflagellates mechanobiological studies. AP18, a TRPA specific antagonist, can alter the cell size of dinoflagellates after a period of incubation, similar to the effect of mechanically-induced cell cycles arrest. We further reported the possible role of dinoflagellates toxins in cell proliferation and cell size regulation. Furthermore, we have identified the partial sequence of a putative dino-TRPM protein which may act as the potential mechanically-gated ion channels in dinoflagellates.