Visualizing PIEZO1 localization and activity in hiPSC-derived single cells and organoids with HaloTag technology

Gabriella A. Bertaccini, Ignasi Casanellas, Elizabeth L. Evans, Jamison L. Nourse, George D. Dickinson, Gaoxiang Liu, Sayan Seal, Alan T. Ly, Jesse R. Holt, Tharaka D. Wijerathne, Shijun Yan, Elliot E. Hui, Jerome J. Lacroix, Mitradas M. Panicker, Srigokul Upadhyayula, Ian Parker and Medha M. Pathak ()
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Gabriella A. Bertaccini: University of California
Ignasi Casanellas: University of California
Elizabeth L. Evans: University of California
Jamison L. Nourse: University of California
George D. Dickinson: University of California
Gaoxiang Liu: University of California
Sayan Seal: University of California
Alan T. Ly: University of California
Jesse R. Holt: University of California
Tharaka D. Wijerathne: Western University of Health Sciences
Shijun Yan: University of California
Elliot E. Hui: University of California
Jerome J. Lacroix: Western University of Health Sciences
Mitradas M. Panicker: University of California
Srigokul Upadhyayula: University of California
Ian Parker: University of California
Medha M. Pathak: University of California

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract PIEZO1 is critical to numerous physiological processes, transducing diverse mechanical stimuli into electrical and chemical signals. Recent studies underscore the importance of visualizing endogenous PIEZO1 activity and localization to understand its functional roles. To enable physiologically and clinically relevant studies on human PIEZO1, we genetically engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to express a HaloTag fused to endogenous PIEZO1. Combined with advanced imaging, our chemogenetic platform allows precise visualization of PIEZO1 localization dynamics in various cell types. Furthermore, the PIEZO1-HaloTag hiPSC technology facilitates the non-invasive monitoring of channel activity across diverse cell types using Ca2+-sensitive HaloTag ligands, achieving temporal resolution approaching that of patch clamp electrophysiology. Finally, we use lightsheet microscopy on hiPSC-derived neural organoids to achieve molecular scale imaging of PIEZO1 in three-dimensional tissue. Our advances establish a platform for studying PIEZO1 mechanotransduction in human systems, with potential for elucidating disease mechanisms and targeted drug screening.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59150-1

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