Tavernarakis N, Shreffler W, Wang S, Driscoll M
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway 08855, USA.
Neuron. 1997 Jan;18(1):107-19. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)80050-7.
Mechanically gated ion channels are important modulators of coordinated movement, yet little is known of their molecular properties. We report that C. elegans unc-8, originally identified by gain-of-function mutations that induce neuronal swelling and severe uncoordination, encodes a DEG/ENaC family member homologous to subunits of a candidate mechanically gated ion channel. unc-8 is expressed in several sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons. unc-8 null mutants exhibit previously unrecognized but striking defects in the amplitude and wavelength of sinusoidal tracks inscribed as they move through an E. coli lawn. We hypothesize that UNC-8 channels could modulate coordinated movement in response to body stretch. del-1, a second DEG/ENaC family member coexpressed with unc-8 in a subset of motor neurons, might also participate in a channel that contributes to nematode proprioception.
机械门控离子通道是协调运动的重要调节因子，但其分子特性却鲜为人知。我们报告称，秀丽隐杆线虫的unc-8最初是通过功能获得性突变鉴定出来的，这些突变会导致神经元肿胀和严重的不协调，它编码一种DEG/ENaC家族成员，与候选机械门控离子通道的亚基同源。unc-8在几种感觉神经元、中间神经元和运动神经元中表达。unc-8基因敲除突变体在穿过大肠杆菌菌苔时所留下的正弦轨迹的振幅和波长方面表现出以前未被认识到但却很明显的缺陷。我们推测UNC-8通道可能会响应身体伸展来调节协调运动。del-1是另一个与unc-8在一部分运动神经元中共表达的DEG/ENaC家族成员，它也可能参与到一个有助于线虫本体感觉的通道中。
