| New research has identified mechanisms involved in sensing the presence of food in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and controlling the transit of GI contents. The findings demonstrate a key role for the protein PIEZO2 in controlling GI motility, a process critical for proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste removal. This research, conducted jointly by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Scripps Research Institute, and other collaborating institutions, was published in a recent issue of the journalCell. Mechanical sensing of the presence of material in the GI tract is believed to be essential for regulating motility to enable the orderly breakdown of food, absorption of its components, and elimination of waste. This study examined the role of PIEZO2, a mechanically gated ion channel, in regulating GI motility. PIEZO2 is involved intouch sensation and proprioception(awareness of ones body in space), and recent research has shown that it also has critical functions in interoception (sensing and responding to signals from within the body), including sensing lung inflation andbladder filling. | 