title: Receptor guanylyl cyclase-G is a novel thermosensory protein activated by cool temperatures.
abstract: Transmembrane guanylyl cyclases (GCs), with activity regulated by peptide ligands and/or calcium-binding proteins, are essential for various physiological and sensory processes. The mode of activation of the GC subtype GC-G, which is expressed in neurons of the Grueneberg ganglion that respond to cool temperatures, has been elusive. In searching for appropriate stimuli to activate GC-G, we found that its enzymatic activity is directly stimulated by cool temperatures. In this context, it was observed that dimerization/oligomerization of GC-G, a process generally considered as critical for enzymatic activity of GCs, is strongly enhanced by coolness. Moreover, heterologous expression of GC-G in cultured cells rendered these cells responsive to coolness; thus, the protein might be a sensor for cool temperatures. This concept is supported by the observation of substantially reduced coolness-induced response of Grueneberg ganglion neurons and coolness-evoked ultrasonic vocalization in GC-G-deficient mouse pups. GC-G may be a novel thermosensory protein with functional implications for the Grueneberg ganglion, a sensory organ responding to cool temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuh-Charn
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany joergf@uni-hohenheim.de rbyang@ibms.sinica.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan joergf@uni-hohenheim.de rbyang@ibms.sinica.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ruey-Bing
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055503:Protein Multimerization / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C487900:GC-G protein, mouse; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase
keywords: Grueneberg ganglion; chemosensory; cyclic guanosine monophosphate; transmembrane guanylyl cyclase GC‐G; ultrasound vocalization