title: DEG/ENaC but not TRP channels are the major mechanoelectrical transduction channels in a C. elegans nociceptor.
abstract: Many nociceptors detect mechanical cues, but the ion channels responsible for mechanotransduction in these sensory neurons remain obscure. Using in vivo recordings and genetic dissection, we identified the DEG/ENaC protein, DEG-1, as the major mechanotransduction channel in ASH, a polymodal nociceptor in Caenorhabditis elegans. But DEG-1 is not the only mechanotransduction channel in ASH: loss of deg-1 revealed a minor current whose properties differ from those expected of DEG/ENaC channels. This current was independent of two TRPV channels expressed in ASH. Although loss of these TRPV channels inhibits behavioral responses to noxious stimuli, we found that both mechanoreceptor currents and potentials were essentially wild-type in TRPV mutants. We propose that ASH nociceptors rely on two genetically distinct mechanotransduction channels and that TRPV channels contribute to encoding and transmitting information. Because mammalian and insect nociceptors also coexpress DEG/ENaCs and TRPVs, the cellular functions elaborated here for these ion channels may be conserved.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors: Shana L
authors: SL
authors: Geffeney
authors: Juan G
authors: JG
authors: Cueva
authors: Dominique A
authors: DA
authors: Glauser
authors: Joseph C
authors: JC
authors: Doll
authors: Tim Hau-Chen
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Misty
authors: M
authors: Montoya
authors: Snetu
authors: S
authors: Karania
authors: Arman M
authors: AM
authors: Garakani
authors: Beth L
authors: BL
authors: Pruitt
authors: Miriam B
authors: MB
authors: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C094927:Deg-1 protein, C elegans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium