tmc-1 encodes a sodium-sensitive channel required for salt chemosensation in C. elegans
- Authors
- Chatzigeorgiou, Marios; Bang, Sangsu; Hwang, Sun Wook; Schafer, William R.
- Issue Date
- 7-2월-2013
- Publisher
- NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
- Citation
- NATURE, v.494, no.7435, pp.95 - 99
- Indexed
- SCIE
SCOPUS
- Journal Title
- NATURE
- Volume
- 494
- Number
- 7435
- Start Page
- 95
- End Page
- 99
- URI
- https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/103975
- DOI
- 10.1038/nature11845
- ISSN
- 0028-0836
- Abstract
- Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) genes encode a broadly conserved family of multipass integral membrane proteins in animals(1,2). Human TMC1 and TMC2 genes are linked to human deafness and required for hair-cell mechanotransduction; however, the molecular functions of these and other TMC proteins have not been determined(3-6). Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans tmc-1 gene encodes a sodium sensor that functions specifically in salt taste chemosensation. tmc-1 is expressed in the ASH polymodal avoidance neurons, where it is required for salt-evoked neuronal activity and behavioural avoidance of high concentrations of NaCl. However, tmc-1 has no effect on responses to other stimuli sensed by the ASH neurons including high osmolarity and chemical repellents, indicating a specific role in salt sensation. When expressed in mammalian cell culture, C. elegans TMC-1 generates a predominantly cationic conductance activated by high extracellular sodium but not by other cations or uncharged small molecules. Thus, TMC-1 is both necessary for salt sensation in vivo and sufficient to generate a sodium-sensitive channel in vitro, identifying it as a probable ionotropic sensory receptor.
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Collections - Graduate School > Department of Biomedical Sciences > 1. Journal Articles
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