Sensory modalities are important for survival but the molecular mechanisms remain challenging due to the polymodal functionality of sensory neurons. Here, we report the C. elegans outer labial lateral(OLL) sensilla se...Sensory modalities are important for survival but the molecular mechanisms remain challenging due to the polymodal functionality of sensory neurons. Here, we report the C. elegans outer labial lateral(OLL) sensilla sensory neurons respond to touch and cold. Mechanosensation of OLL neurons resulted in cell-autonomous mechanically-evoked Ca~(2+) transients and rapidly-adapting mechanoreceptor currents with a very short latency.Mechanotransduction of OLL neurons might be carried by a novel Na~+ conductance channel, which is insensitive to amiloride. The bona fide mechano-gated Na~+ -selective degenerin/epithelial Na~+ channels, TRP-4, TMC, and Piezo proteins are not involved in this mechanosensation.Interestingly, OLL neurons also mediated cold but not warm responses in a cell-autonomous manner. We further showed that the cold response of OLL neurons is not mediated by the cold receptor TRPA-1 or the temperaturesensitive glutamate receptor GLR-3. Thus, we propose the polymodal functionality of OLL neurons in mechanosensation and cold sensation.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31471023, 31771113, and 31800878)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M671695, 2020T130592, 2019T120505, and 2018M640551)。
文摘Sensory modalities are important for survival but the molecular mechanisms remain challenging due to the polymodal functionality of sensory neurons. Here, we report the C. elegans outer labial lateral(OLL) sensilla sensory neurons respond to touch and cold. Mechanosensation of OLL neurons resulted in cell-autonomous mechanically-evoked Ca~(2+) transients and rapidly-adapting mechanoreceptor currents with a very short latency.Mechanotransduction of OLL neurons might be carried by a novel Na~+ conductance channel, which is insensitive to amiloride. The bona fide mechano-gated Na~+ -selective degenerin/epithelial Na~+ channels, TRP-4, TMC, and Piezo proteins are not involved in this mechanosensation.Interestingly, OLL neurons also mediated cold but not warm responses in a cell-autonomous manner. We further showed that the cold response of OLL neurons is not mediated by the cold receptor TRPA-1 or the temperaturesensitive glutamate receptor GLR-3. Thus, we propose the polymodal functionality of OLL neurons in mechanosensation and cold sensation.
