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Two Novel DEG/ENaC Channel Subunits Expressed in Glia Are Needed for Nose-Touch Sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  23325233     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Neuronal DEG/ENaC (degenerin and epithelial Na(+) channel) Na(+) channels have been implicated in touch sensation. For example, MEC-4 is expressed in touch neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans and mediates gentle-touch response. Similarly, homologous mammalian ASIC2 and ASIC3 are expressed in sensory neurons and produce touch phenotypes when knocked out in mice. Here, we show that novel DEG/ENaC subunits DELM-1 and DELM-2 (degenerin-like channel mechanosensory linked-1 and degenerin-like channel mechanosensory linked-2) are expressed in glia associated with touch neurons in C. elegans and that their knock-out causes defects in mechanosensory behaviors related to nose touch and foraging, which are mediated by OLQ and IL1 sensory neurons. Cell-specific rescue supports that DELM-1 and DELM-2 are required cell-autonomously in glia to orchestrate mechanosensory behaviors. Electron microscopy reveals that in delm-1 knock-outs, OLQ and IL1 sensory neurons and associated glia are structurally normal. Furthermore, we show that knock-out of DELM-1 and DELM-2 does not disrupt the expression or cellular localization of TRPA-1, a TRP channel needed in OLQ and IL1 neurons for touch behaviors. Rather, rescue of the delm-1 nose-touch-insensitive phenotype by expression of a K(+) channel in socket glia and of a cationic channel in OLQ neurons suggests that DELM channels set basal neuronal excitability. Together, our data show that DELM-1 and DELM-2 are expressed in glia associated with touch neurons where they are not needed for neuronal structural integrity or cellular distribution of neuronal sensory channels, but rather for their function.
Authors:
Lu Han; Ying Wang; Rachele Sangaletti; Giulia D'Urso; Yun Lu; Shai Shaham; Laura Bianchi
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience     Volume:  33     ISSN:  1529-2401     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Neurosci.     Publication Date:  2013 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2013-01-17     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8102140     Medline TA:  J Neurosci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  936-49     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, and Laboratory of Developmental Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.
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