Topics and Trends in Most Cited Ion channel regulation and function Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Ion channel regulation and function research in the Class of 2026?

Mechanosensitive ion channels and cryo-electron microscopy define the Class of 2026 ion channel cohort, led by structural gating insights into PIEZO1. PIEZO1, mechanosensitive currents, molecular dynamics simulations, and Nav1.8 rose sharply from the Class of 2025, while the relative share of static cryo-EM structures and PIEZO2 receded among top-cited papers.

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Updated July 22, 2026

At a glance

Field
Ion channel regulation and function
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
3,454
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Cryo-electron microscopy, Mechanosensitive ion channels, PIEZO1, mechanotransduction, Nav1.8
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
27–199
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved June 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 3,454
19918m citations

Mechanisms of mechanotransduction and physiological roles of PIEZO channels

Bailong XiaoNature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology202410.1038/s41580-024-00773-5

Bailong XiaoTsinghua University, China

Piezo channelsmechanotransductionMechanosensitive ion channelsPIEZO1PIEZO2mechanical force sensingIon channel gatingphysiological rolestouch sensationproprioceptionvascular developmentred blood cell volume regulationbaroreceptionMechanosensitive currentsStructure-function relationshipsensory transductioncellular mechanosensing
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#3 of 3,454
7418m citations

Structural biology and molecular pharmacology of voltage-gated ion channels

Jian Huang et al.Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology202410.1038/s41580-024-00763-7

Jian HuangPrinceton University, United States

voltage-gated ion channelsstructural biologyPharmacologyCryo-electron microscopyX-ray crystallographychannel gating mechanismsVoltage-sensing domainPore domainSodium channelsPotassium channelsCalcium channelsDrug binding sitechannel modulatorsStructure-function relationshipelectrophysiology
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#4 of 3,454
6018m citations

KCNK1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells by activating lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and up-regulating H3K18 lactylation

Xiangchan Hou et al.PLoS Biology202410.1371/journal.pbio.3002666

Xiangchan Hou, Jiawei Ouyang, Le Tang, Pan Wu, Xiangying Deng, Qijia Yan, Lei Shi, Songqing Fan, Chunmei Fan, Can Guo, Qianjin Liao, Yong Li, Wei Xiong, Guiyuan Li, Zhaoyang Zeng, Fuyan WangCentral South University, China

KCNK1breast cancer proliferationbreast cancer metastasisLactate dehydrogenase AH3K18 lactylationhistone lysine lactylationglycolysislactate productionKCNK1-LDHA bindingpositive feedback looptumor cell stiffnesstumor cell adhesionbreast cancer biomarkerbreast cancer prognosiscancer invasion
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#5 of 3,454
5018m citations

Endothelial Piezo1 channel mediates mechano-feedback control of brain blood flow

Xin Rui Lim, Mohammad M Abd-Alhaseeb et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-52969-0

Osama F. HarrazUniversity of Vermont, United States

PIEZO1endothelial mechanosensorhyperemiacerebral blood flow regulationneurovascular couplinghemodynamic forcesmechano-feedbackGenetically engineered mouse modelblood flow recoverymemory deficitsbrain perfusioncerebrovascular endothelial cellsneural activity-induced hyperemiamechanotransductionvascular response sculpting
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#6 of 3,454
4918m citations

A Non‐Invasive and DNA‐free Approach to Upregulate Mammalian Voltage‐Gated Calcium Channels and Neuronal Calcium Signaling via Terahertz Stimulation

Yuankun Sun et al.Advanced Science202410.1002/advs.202405436

Xiaodong Liu, Yubin Gong, Chao Chang, Yaxiong YangUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China

Voltage-gated calcium channelsCav1.2terahertz stimulation42.5 THz irradiationcalcium signalingneuronal excitabilityMolecular dynamics simulationselectivity filterCOO− stretching modecalcium conductanceelectrophysiological recordingscalcium imagingnon-thermal modulationCREB phosphorylationc-Fos expressionHEK293 cellsDNA-free approachnon-invasive neuromodulationsynaptic transmissionIon channel gating
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#7 of 3,454
4418m citations

Glutamate acts on acid-sensing ion channels to worsen ischaemic brain injury

Ke Lai, Zhen-Qi Liu et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07684-7

Haibo Shi, Lu‐Yang Wang, Shankai YinShanghai Sixth People's Hospital, China

glutamateAcid-sensing ion channelsASIC1aNMDA receptorl-AP5Ischemic strokeacidosis-induced neurotoxicityPositive allosteric modulatorsglutamate-binding cavitysite-directed mutagenesisStructure-based drug designcomputational drug screeningLK-2ASIC1a knockoutInfarct volumeBehavioral recoveryproton affinityopen probability
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#9 of 3,454
4118m citations

Molecular mechanism of ligand gating and opening of NMDA receptor

Tsung-Han Chou et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07742-0

Hiro FurukawaCold Spring Harbor Laboratory, United States

NMDA receptorLigand gatingreceptor opening mechanismGlutamate receptorChannel activationagonist bindingConformational changeAllosteric modulationglycine co-agonistTransmembrane domainligand-binding domainstructural dynamicsChannel openingglutamate bindingreceptor activation
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#11 of 3,454
3618m citations

Interplay of Nav1.8 and Nav1.7 channels drives neuronal hyperexcitability in neuropathic pain

Dmytro V Vasylyev et al.The Journal of General Physiology202410.1085/jgp.202413596

Dmytro V VasylyevYale University, United States

Nav1.8Nav1.7dorsal root ganglion neuronsneuronal hyperexcitabilityneuropathic paindynamic clampNav1.7L848HGain-of-function mutationinherited erythromelalgiaaction potential thresholdchannel open-probabilityrheobasesubthreshold membrane potential oscillationsfiring probabilitykinetic modelNav1.8 conductance reductionsmall DRG neuronselectrogenesisVoltage-gated sodium channels
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#12 of 3,454
3518m citations

Structural basis of TRPV1 modulation by endogenous bioactive lipids

William R Arnold et al.Nature Structural & Molecular Biology202410.1038/s41594-024-01299-2

David Julius, Yifan ChengUniversity of California San Francisco, United States

TRPV1phosphoinositide lipidslysophosphatidic acidlipid regulatory pocketcapsaicinThermal activationinflammatory paintransmembrane corenegative modulationagonist-like statelipid binding modeschemical stimulipro-algesic agentsendogenous lipidTRP channelslipid ejection mechanism
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#13 of 3,454
3418m citations

Allosteric modulation and G-protein selectivity of the Ca2+-sensing receptor

Feng He, Cheng-Guo Wu, Yang Gao, Sabrina N Rahman et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07055-2

Georgios SkiniotisStanford University, United States

Allosteric modulationG-protein selectivityCalcium-sensing receptorallosteric modulatorsG-protein couplingGPCR signalingPositive allosteric modulatorsnegative allosteric modulatorscalcimimeticscalcilyticsGq signalingGi signalingbiased signalingstructural basis of allostery
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#14 of 3,454
3318m citations

TRPV3 activation by different agonists accompanied by lipid dissociation from the vanilloid site

Kirill D Nadezhdin et al.Science Advances202410.1126/sciadv.adn2453

Alexander I. SobolevskyColumbia University, United States

TRPV3Cryo-electron microscopytetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV)2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (2-APB)vanilloid siteS1-S4 base binding siteARD-TMD linker sitelipid dissociationChannel openingchannel inactivationallosteric pathwaysligand-activated TRP channelTemperature-gated ion channelscannabinoid agonistsynthetic agonist
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#16 of 3,454
3018m citations

The mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel exacerbates myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating caspase-8-mediated PANoptosis

Pang-Bo Li et al.International Immunopharmacology202410.1016/j.intimp.2024.112664

Pang-Bo Li, Hui-Hua Li, Chunmin LiCapital Medical University, China

PIEZO1Mechanosensitive ion channelsMyocardial ischemia-reperfusion injurycaspase-8PANoptosiscardiomyocytesmechanical stresscell death pathwaycardiac injuryapoptosisnecroptosispyroptosisRIPK1RIPK3MLKLGSDMDinflammasomecardioprotectionPiezo1 inhibition
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#18 of 3,454
2918m citations

Photo‐Controlled Calcium Overload from Endogenous Sources for Tumor Therapy

Jing-Jing Hu et al.Angewandte Chemie International Edition202410.1002/anie.202317578

Xiaoding Lou, Juyoung YoonChina University of Geosciences, China

Calcium overloadreactive calcium-based nanogeneratorsphoto-controlled calcium nanomodulatorendogenous calcium sourcesmesoporous silica nanoparticlesindocyanine greenphotodynamic therapyphotothermal therapyBNN-6nitric oxide donorhyaluronic acid coatingnear-infrared light irradiationreactive oxygen speciesTRPA1 channelcalcium influxRyanodine receptor type 2endoplasmic reticulum calcium releasetumor cell targeting
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#19 of 3,454
2918m citations

Structural basis for ryanodine receptor type 2 leak in heart failure and arrhythmogenic disorders

Marco C Miotto et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-51791-y

Marco Miotto, Andrew R. MarksColumbia University, United States

Ryanodine receptor type 2heart failurearrhythmogenic disordersCalcium leakCalstabin2hyperphosphorylationoxidationCryo-electron microscopyprimed stateRycal drugssudden cardiac deathcardiac contractilitygenetic mutationsClosed conformationOpen conformationsarcoplasmic reticulumarrhythmias
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#20 of 3,454
2718m citations

Amplifying Ca2+ overload by engineered biomaterials for synergistic cancer therapy

Jun-Long Liang et al.Biomaterials202410.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123027

Jun‐Long Liang, Bing Xiao, Jihong SunZhejiang University, China

Calcium overloadengineered biomaterialsCombination therapyCalcium dysregulationnanomaterial-mediated calcium deliveryapoptosis inductionmitochondrial dysfunctioncalcium-based therapeutic strategybiocompatible calcium carrierstumor microenvironment modulationintracellular calcium elevation
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Ion channel regulation and function

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in Ion Channel Regulation and Function is strongly anchored by high-resolution structural biology and mechanosensitive channel biophysics. Cryo-electron microscopy remains the single most dominant methodology, appearing in 20% of the top-cited papers (10 of 50 papers) and providing atomic-level insights into gating mechanisms and ligand binding. Mechanosensitive ion channels represent the primary functional cluster, led by general mechanosensation themes in 18% of papers and specific focus on PIEZO1 in 14% of top works. Foundational mechanotransduction mechanisms (10%) and mechanosensitive currents (8%) highlight growing interest in how physical forces translate into intracellular chemical signaling across vascular, somatosensory, and physiological systems. In parallel, computational and electrophysiological approaches feature prominently, with molecular dynamics simulation and Nav1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel studies each reaching 8% representation, alongside voltage-gated sodium channels overall (8%) and neuronal excitability (8%). Specialized structural features such as pore helices and voltage-sensing domains, together with pharmacological probes like positive allosteric modulators and hERG channel safety screening, round out a landscape driven by mechanobiology, neuronal signaling, and structure-guided channel modulation.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 (2023 publications) to the Class of 2026 (2024 publications) reveals a clear pivot toward force-sensing biophysics and computational-electrophysiological integration. PIEZO1 exhibited the largest normalized frequency gain (+0.08; rising from 6% to 14% representation), accompanied by sharp increases in mechanosensitive currents (from 2% to 8%) and mechanosensitive ion channels (from 12% to 18%). Computational molecular dynamics simulations and subtype-specific Nav1.8 channel studies emerged as major new focal points, both climbing from 0% in 2023 to 8% in 2024. Additional rising areas include patch-clamp recording, hERG channel profiling, positive allosteric modulation, and pore helix structural dynamics (each +0.06 gain). Conversely, while Cryo-electron microscopy remains the top technical approach, its relative share among high-impact papers contracted (-0.14; from 34% to 20%), reflecting a transition from purely static structural determination to dynamic functional validation. PIEZO2 (-0.08) and generic pore domain studies (-0.08) also receded, alongside minor declines in voltage-gated calcium channels (-0.04). Together, these trends signify a field advancing beyond initial cryo-EM structural snapshots toward mechanistic force-gating kinetics, targeted subtype neuropharmacology, and allosteric modulation.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Ion channel regulation and function Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/ion-channel-regulation-and-function/2026. Accessed 2026-07-22.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459