title: unc-8, a DEG/ENaC family member, encodes a subunit of a candidate mechanically gated channel that modulates C. elegans locomotion.
abstract: Mechanically gated ion channels are important modulators of coordinated movement, yet little is known of their molecular properties. We report that C. elegans unc-8, originally identified by gain-of-function mutations that induce neuronal swelling and severe uncoordination, encodes a DEG/ENaC family member homologous to subunits of a candidate mechanically gated ion channel. unc-8 is expressed in several sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons. unc-8 null mutants exhibit previously unrecognized but striking defects in the amplitude and wavelength of sinusoidal tracks inscribed as they move through an E. coli lawn. We hypothesize that UNC-8 channels could modulate coordinated movement in response to body stretch. del-1, a second DEG/ENaC family member coexpressed with unc-8 in a subset of motor neurons, might also participate in a channel that contributes to nematode proprioception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tavernarakis
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shreffler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009043:Motor Activity; D016296:Mutagenesis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C104078:unc-8 protein, C elegans