The ins and outs of intracellular chloride in olfactory receptor neurons.
Stimulation of olfactory receptor neurons with odors culminates in opening of a ciliary Ca2+-activated Cl- channel. Because intracellular Cl- ([Cl-]i) is above electrochemical equilibrium in these cells, the result is cell depolarization that triggers action potentials that carry information to the olfactory bulb. In this issue of Neuron, Reisert and coworkers use combined pharmacological and mouse genetic approaches to show that the transporter responsible for maintaining Cl- above electrochemical equilibrium is NKCC1, a (Na+)(2Cl-)(K+) cotransporter found in other tissues, including neurons.
Restrepo
Diego
D
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, School of Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters / Q000378:metabolism; D064506:Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 2
D018118:Chloride Channels; D002712:Chlorides; C578878:Slc12a2 protein, mouse; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D064506:Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 2; D002118:Calcium