# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Ion channel regulation and function Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/ion-channel-regulation-and-function/2026*

## 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.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| 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

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Mechanisms of mechanotransduction and physiological roles of PIEZO channels | Bailong Xiao | Bailong Xiao | Tsinghua University, China | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology | 199 | 10.1038/s41580-024-00773-5 |
| 2 | Solvent-mediated analgesia via the suppression of water permeation through TRPV1 ion channels | Yuxia Liu, Yuanyuan He, Jiahuan Tong, Shengyang Guo, Xinyu Zhang, Zichao Luo, Linlin Sun, Chao Chang, Bilin Zhuang, Xiaogang Liu | Chao Chang, Bilin Zhuang, Xiaogang Liu | National University of Singapore, Singapore | Nature Biomedical Engineering | 104 | 10.1038/s41551-024-01288-2 |
| 3 | Structural biology and molecular pharmacology of voltage-gated ion channels | Jian Huang, Xiaojing Pan, Nieng Yan | Jian Huang | Princeton University, United States | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology | 74 | 10.1038/s41580-024-00763-7 |
| 4 | KCNK1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells by activating lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and up-regulating H3K18 lactylation | 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 Wang | 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 Wang | Central South University, China | PLoS Biology | 60 | 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002666 |
| 5 | Endothelial Piezo1 channel mediates mechano-feedback control of brain blood flow | Xin Rui Lim, Mohammad M Abd-Alhaseeb, Michael Ippolito, Masayo Koide, Amanda J Senatore, Curtis Plante, Ashwini Hariharan, Nick Weir, Thomas A Longden, Kathryn A Laprade, James M Stafford, Dorothea Ziemens, Markus Schwaninger, Jan Wenzel, Dmitry D Postnov, Osama F Harraz | Osama F. Harraz | University of Vermont, United States | Nature Communications | 50 | 10.1038/s41467-024-52969-0 |
| 6 | A Non‐Invasive and DNA‐free Approach to Upregulate Mammalian Voltage‐Gated Calcium Channels and Neuronal Calcium Signaling via Terahertz Stimulation | Yuankun Sun, Jinli Geng, Yu Fan, Yangmei Li, Yuan Zhong, Jing Cai, Xiaodong Liu, Shaomeng Wang, Yubin Gong, Chao Chang, Yaxiong Yang, Chunhai Fan | Xiaodong Liu, Yubin Gong, Chao Chang, Yaxiong Yang | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China | Advanced Science | 49 | 10.1002/advs.202405436 |
| 7 | Glutamate acts on acid-sensing ion channels to worsen ischaemic brain injury | Ke Lai, Iva Pritišanac, Zhen-Qi Liu, Han-Wei Liu, Li-Na Gong, Ming-Xian Li, Jian-Fei Lu, Xin Qi, Tian-Le Xu, Julie Forman-Kay, Hai-Bo Shi, Lu-Yang Wang, Shan-Kai Yin | Haibo Shi, Lu‐Yang Wang, Shankai Yin | Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, China | Nature | 44 | 10.1038/s41586-024-07684-7 |
| 8 | State-Dependent Inhibition of Nav1.8 Sodium Channels by VX-150 and VX-548 | Patric Vaelli, Akie Fujita, Sooyeon Jo, Han-Xiong Bear Zhang, Tomás Osorno, Xiao Ma, Bruce P Bean | Xiao Ma, Bruce P. Bean | Harvard Medical School, United States | Molecular Pharmacology | 42 | 10.1124/molpharm.124.000944 |
| 9 | Molecular mechanism of ligand gating and opening of NMDA receptor | Tsung-Han Chou, Max Epstein, Russell G Fritzemeier, Nicholas S Akins, Srinu Paladugu, Elijah Z Ullman, Dennis C Liotta, Stephen F Traynelis, Hiro Furukawa | Hiro Furukawa | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, United States | Nature | 41 | 10.1038/s41586-024-07742-0 |
| 10 | An intermediate open structure reveals the gating transition of the mechanically activated PIEZO1 channel | Sijia Liu, Xuzhong Yang, Xudong Chen, Xiaochun Zhang, Jinghui Jiang, Jingyi Yuan, Wenhao Liu, Li Wang, Heng Zhou, Kun Wu, Boxue Tian, Xueming Li, Bailong Xiao | Boxue Tian, Xueming Li, Bailong Xiao | Tsinghua University, China | Neuron | 37 | 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.11.020 |
| 11 | Interplay of Nav1.8 and Nav1.7 channels drives neuronal hyperexcitability in neuropathic pain | Dmytro V Vasylyev, Peng Zhao, Betsy R Schulman, Stephen G Waxman | Dmytro V Vasylyev | Yale University, United States | The Journal of General Physiology | 36 | 10.1085/jgp.202413596 |
| 12 | Structural basis of TRPV1 modulation by endogenous bioactive lipids | William R Arnold, Adamo Mancino, Frank R Moss, Adam Frost, David Julius, Yifan Cheng | David Julius, Yifan Cheng | University of California San Francisco, United States | Nature Structural & Molecular Biology | 35 | 10.1038/s41594-024-01299-2 |
| 13 | Allosteric modulation and G-protein selectivity of the Ca2+-sensing receptor | Feng He, Cheng-Guo Wu, Yang Gao, Sabrina N Rahman, Magda Zaoralová, Makaía M Papasergi-Scott, Ting-Jia Gu, Michael J Robertson, Alpay B Seven, Lingjun Li, Jesper M Mathiesen, Georgios Skiniotis | Georgios Skiniotis | Stanford University, United States | Nature | 34 | 10.1038/s41586-024-07055-2 |
| 14 | TRPV3 activation by different agonists accompanied by lipid dissociation from the vanilloid site | Kirill D Nadezhdin, Arthur Neuberger, Lena S Khosrof, Irina A Talyzina, Jeffrey Khau, Maria V Yelshanskaya, Alexander I Sobolevsky | Alexander I. Sobolevsky | Columbia University, United States | Science Advances | 33 | 10.1126/sciadv.adn2453 |
| 15 | Mechanisms of sensory adaptation and inhibition of the cold and menthol receptor TRPM8 | Ying Yin, Cheon-Gyu Park, Feng Zhang, Justin G Fedor, Shasha Feng, Yang Suo, Wonpil Im, Seok-Yong Lee | Seok‐Yong Lee | Duke University, United States | Science Advances | 30 | 10.1126/sciadv.adp2211 |
| 16 | The mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel exacerbates myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury by activating caspase-8-mediated PANoptosis | Pang-Bo Li, Jun-Qin Bai, Wen-Xi Jiang, Hui-Hua Li, Chun-Min Li | Pang-Bo Li, Hui-Hua Li, Chunmin Li | Capital Medical University, China | International Immunopharmacology | 30 | 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112664 |
| 17 | Structural switch in acetylcholine receptors in developing muscle | Huanhuan Li, Jinfeng Teng, Ryan E Hibbs | Ryan Hibbs | University of California San Diego, United States | Nature | 30 | 10.1038/s41586-024-07774-6 |
| 18 | Photo‐Controlled Calcium Overload from Endogenous Sources for Tumor Therapy | Jing-Jing Hu, Lizhen Yuan, Yunfan Zhang, Jing Kuang, Wen Song, Xiaoding Lou, Fan Xia, Juyoung Yoon | Xiaoding Lou, Juyoung Yoon | China University of Geosciences, China | Angewandte Chemie International Edition | 29 | 10.1002/anie.202317578 |
| 19 | Structural basis for ryanodine receptor type 2 leak in heart failure and arrhythmogenic disorders | Marco C Miotto, Steven Reiken, Anetta Wronska, Qi Yuan, Haikel Dridi, Yang Liu, Gunnar Weninger, Carl Tchagou, Andrew R Marks | Marco Miotto, Andrew R. Marks | Columbia University, United States | Nature Communications | 29 | 10.1038/s41467-024-51791-y |
| 20 | Amplifying Ca2+ overload by engineered biomaterials for synergistic cancer therapy | Jun-Long Liang, Yangyang Cao, Kaiwei Lv, Bing Xiao, Jihong Sun | Jun‐Long Liang, Bing Xiao, Jihong Sun | Zhejiang University, China | Biomaterials | 27 | 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123027 |

## Topic trends

### 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*

### 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*

## 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
```