title: Protons as intercellular messengers.
abstract: Muscle contractions are driven by neurotransmitters released at neuromuscular junctions. In this issue, Beg et al. (2008) report that protons, in the absence of neurotransmitters and neurons, can stimulate muscle contractions involved in the defecation cycle of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. Their results identify protons as a new intercellular messenger and suggest that proton-mediated intercellular communication may be a widespread phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
authors.forename: Joanne S M
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011522:Protons; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011522:Protons