Data for: The energetics of rapid mechanotransduction

Cells throughout the human body detect mechanical forces. While it is
known that the rapid (millisecond) detection of mechanical forces is
mediated by force-gated ion channels, a detailed quantitative
understanding of cells as sensors of mechanical energy is still lacking.
Here, we combine atomic force microscopy with patch-clamp
electrophysiology to determine the physical limits of cells expressing the
force-gated ion channels Piezo1, Piezo2, TREK1, and TRAAK. We find that,
depending on the ion channel expressed, cells can function either as
proportional or non-linear transducers of mechanical energy, detect
mechanical energies as little as ~100 fJ, and with a resolution of up to
~1 fJ. These specific energetic values depend on cell size, channel
density, and cytoskeletal architecture. We also make the surprising
discovery that cells can transduce forces either nearly instantaneously
(<1 ms), or with substantial time delay (~10 ms). Using a chimeric
experimental approach and simulations we show how such delays can emerge
from channel-intrinsic properties and the slow diffusion of tension in the
membrane. Overall, our experiments reveal the capabilities and limits of
cellular mechanosensing and provide insights into molecular mechanisms
that different cell types may employ to specialize for their distinct
physiological roles.