title: Molecular cloning of a non-inactivating proton-gated Na+ channel specific for sensory neurons.
abstract: We have cloned and expressed a novel proton-gated Na+ channel subunit that is specific for sensory neurons. In COS cells, it forms a Na+ channel that responds to a drop of the extracellular pH with both a rapidly inactivating and a sustained Na+ current. This biphasic kinetic closely resembles that of the H+-gated current described in sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia (1). Both the abundance of this novel H+-gated Na+ channel subunit in sensory neurons and the kinetics of the channel suggest that it is part of the channel complex responsible for the sustained H+-activated cation current in sensory neurons that is thought to be important for the prolonged perception of pain that accompanies tissue acidosis (1, 2).
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, 660 route des Lucioles, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bassilana
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Weille
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Champigny
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heurteaux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazdunski
mesh_terms: D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D062626:Degenerin Sodium Channels; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C568424:ASIC2 protein, human; C112231:ASIC3 protein, human; D062565:Acid Sensing Ion Channels; C568425:Asic2 protein, rat; D062626:Degenerin Sodium Channels; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015222:Sodium Channels