Importance of the CNGA4 channel gene for odor discrimination and adaptation in behaving mice

Abstract

Odor stimulation of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) leads to both the activation and subsequent desensitization of a heteromultimeric cyclic-nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel present in these cells. The native olfactory CNG channel consists of three distinct subunits: CNGA2, CNGA4, and CNGB1b. Mice in which the CNGA4 gene has been deleted display defective Ca 2؉ ͞calmodulin-dependent inhibition of the CNG channel, resulting in a striking reduction in adaptation of the odor-induced electrophysiological response i…