First example of a room temperature discotic nematic liquid crystal made of gold nanoparticles.

The design and synthesis of three room-temperature discotic nematic (N ) liquid crystals (LCs) is presented. The LC consists of an azobenzene core attached to which are four pentaalkynylbenzene (PA) units through flexible alkyl spacers. The presence of a short azo linking group provides more disorder in the system, thereby reducing the packing efficiency among the PA units and resulting into the formation of a room-temperature N phase over a wide temperature range. Dielectric constant and birefringence studies were performed to gain further insights into the physical properties of the mesophase.

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Over the past few decades, a great deal of attention has been focused on discovering the protein partners that form mechanoelectrical transduction (MeT) channels in somatic mechanoreceptors. Two classes of ion channel proteins are leading candidates: amiloride-sensitive channel (ASCs) and transient receptor potential (TRP) channel proteins. Here, we surveyed the literature to establish that most, if not all mechanoreceptor neurons in mice express multiple ASC and TRP channel proteins. But, the landscape of ion channel co-expression in mechanoreceptor neurons is only beginning to be mapped. Future work aimed at refining such maps for mammalian mechanoreceptor neurons will be critical for deeper understanding. Also, each of these potential MeT channel subunits operates within a large company of other ion channel actors that increase the complexity, flexibility, and robustness of somatosensory neuron function. Recently, two additional classes of membrane proteins (Piezo and TMC) have been linked to mechano-transduction. This situation is likely to exist in other mechanoreceptor neurons, including those responsible for touch and pain sensation in mammals.

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