A new putative cyclic nucleotide-gated channel gene, cng-3, is critical for thermotolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels encoded by tax-4 and tax-2 genes are required for chemo- and thermo-sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we report the identification and the characterization of cng-3, a new CNG channel gene, found in C. elegans. CNG-3 contains six putative transmembrane regions and a cyclic nucleotide-binding domain that show high homology with CNG channels of higher animals as well as TAX-4. The expression of cng-3 is detected from early stages in worm development and restricted in five sensory neurons of amphid including AFD neuron. While a cng-3 null mutant displays normal chemotaxis to volatile odorants, the mutant worms exhibit impaired thermal tolerance. These results indicate that CNG-3, a new member of CNG channel subunits, may play a critical role in sensation or response of thermal stress in C. elegans.
Cho
Suk-Woo
SW
Department of Life Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 500-712, Republic of Korea.
Choi
Kyu Yeong
KY
Park
Chul-Seung
CS
D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression; D040481:Genome Components / Q000235:genetics; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000502:physiology*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012903:Smell / Q000235:genetics; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
D000438:Alcohols; D000447:Aldehydes; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011719:Pyrazines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013844:Thiazoles; C424603:2,4,5-trimethylthiazole