Functional analysis of the guanylyl cyclase type D signaling system in the olfactory epithelium.
The mammalian olfactory system recognizes a wide range of chemical stimuli. The majority of cells in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) use a cAMP-mediated signaling system to transduce odor signals. However, a subset of MOE neurons instead expresses components of a cGMP signaling cascade, including the receptor guanylyl cyclase GC-D and the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel subunit CNGA3. We used a combination of molecular biological, physiological, and imaging approaches to characterize this neuronal population. Neurons expressing GC-D show excitatory responses to the natriuretic peptide hormones uroguanylin and guanylin, as well as to stimuli present in urine, that are dependent on both GC-D and CNGA3. Though all GC-D-expressing neurons are highly sensitive to these stimuli, individual cells are differentially tuned to either one or both of the peptides. Together, these findings suggest that neurons expressing GC-D are part of a specialized olfactory subsystem that is responsive to semiochemicals.
Cockerham
Renee E
RE
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Leinders-Zufall
Trese
T
Munger
Steven D
SD
Zufall
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D006162:Guanylate Cyclase
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