In Vivo Imaging of C. elegans Mechanosensory Neurons Demonstrates a Specific Role for the MEC-4 Channel in the Process of Gentle Touch Sensation

In the nematode C. elegans, genes encoding components of a putative mechanotransducing channel complex have been identified in screens for light-touch-insensitive mutants. A long-standing question, however, is whether identified MEC proteins act directly in touch transduction or contribute indirectl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2003-09, Vol.39 (6), p.1005-1017
Main Authors: Suzuki, Hiroshi, Kerr, Rex, Bianchi, Laura, Frøkjær-Jensen, Christian, Slone, Dan, Xue, Jian, Gerstbrein, Beate, Driscoll, Monica, Schafer, William R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Caenorhabditis elegans - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans - physiology
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins - physiology
Calcium Channels, L-Type - physiology
Cell culture
Cells, Cultured
Genes
Mechanoreceptors - physiology
Mechanotransduction, Cellular - genetics
Mechanotransduction, Cellular - physiology
Membrane Potentials - physiology
Membrane Proteins - genetics
Membrane Proteins - physiology
Nematodes
Neurons
Neurons - physiology
Sucrose
Touch - genetics
Touch - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the nematode C. elegans, genes encoding components of a putative mechanotransducing channel complex have been identified in screens for light-touch-insensitive mutants. A long-standing question, however, is whether identified MEC proteins act directly in touch transduction or contribute indirectly by maintaining basic mechanoreceptor neuron physiology. In this study, we used the genetically encoded calcium indicator cameleon to record cellular responses of mechanosensory neurons to touch stimuli in intact, behaving nematodes. We defined a gentle touch sensory modality that adapts with a time course of approximately 500 ms and primarily senses motion rather than pressure. The DEG/ENaC channel subunit MEC-4 and channel-associated stomatin MEC-2 are specifically required for neural responses to gentle mechanical stimulation, but do not affect the basic physiology of touch neurons or their in vivo responses to harsh mechanical stimulation. These results distinguish a specific role for the MEC channel proteins in the process of gentle touch mechanosensation.
ISSN:0896-6273
1097-4199
DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2003.08.015