Overexpression of osmosensitive Ca2+-activated channel TMEM63B promotes migration in HEK293T cells

Abstract

The recent discovery of the osmosensitive calcium (Ca2+) channel OSCA has revealed the potential mechanism by which plant cells sense diverse stimuli. Osmosensory transporters and mechanosensitive channels can detect and respond to osmotic shifts that play an important role in active cell homeostasis. TMEM63 family of proteins are described as the closest homologues of OSCAs. Here, we characterize TMEM63B, a mammalian homologue of OSCAs, recently classified as mechanosensitive. In HEK293T cells TMEM63B localizes to the plasma membrane and is associated to F-actin. This Ca2+-activated channel specifically induces Ca2+ influx across the membrane in response to extracellular Ca2+ concentration and hyperosmolarity. In addition, overexpression of TMEM63B in HEK293T cells significantly enhanced cell migration and wound healing. The link between Ca2+ osmosensitivity and cell migration might help to establish TMEM63Bs pathogenesis, for example in cancer in which it is frequently overexpressed.