Proton conductivity in ampullae of Lorenzini jelly

Josberger, Erik E.; Hassanzadeh, Pegah; Deng, Yingxin; Sohn, Joel J.; Rego, Michael J.; Amemiya, Chris T.; Rolandi, Marco

doi:10.1126/sciadv.1600112

Cited by 98 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The sensory hair cells of the chondrichthyan ampullary organs function as passive electroreceptors that are stimulated by weak cathodal currents, or electrical stimuli that induce a negative charge at the pore, lumen and apical end of the receptor cell (Bodznick & Montgomery, ; Murray, , ). The glycoprotein hydrogel inside the ampullary canals conducts protons (Josberger et al, ) that allow charges that accumulate at the skin surface to be detected by the sensory receptors located several cm away within a subdermal ampulla. Electroreceptors, like other sensory hair cells, constantly release neurotransmitter and the associated afferent nerve fibres exhibit a resting discharge of action potentials (Bodznick & Montgomery, ).…”

Section: Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroreception in marine fishes: chondrichthyans

Newton

Gill

Kajiura

2019

Journal of Fish Biology

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Electroreception in marine fishes occurs across a variety of taxa and is best understood in the chondrichthyans (sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras). Here, we present an up‐to‐date review of what is known about the biology of passive electroreception and we consider how electroreceptive fishes might respond to electric and magnetic stimuli in a changing marine environment. We briefly describe the history and discovery of electroreception in marine Chondrichthyes, the current understanding of the passive mode, the morphological adaptations of receptors across phylogeny and habitat, the physiological function of the peripheral and central nervous system components, and the behaviours mediated by electroreception. Additionally, whole genome sequencing, genetic screening and molecular studies promise to yield new insights into the evolution, distribution, and function of electroreceptors across different environments. This review complements that of electroreception in freshwater fishes in this special issue, which provides a comprehensive state of knowledge regarding the evolution of electroreception. We conclude that despite our improved understanding of passive electroreception, several outstanding gaps remain which limits our full comprehension of this sensory modality. Of particular concern is how electroreceptive fishes will respond and adapt to a marine environment that is being increasingly altered by anthropogenic electric and magnetic fields.

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Section: Physiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Electroreception in marine fishes: chondrichthyans

Newton

Gill

Kajiura

2019

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…While the electrophysiology of voltage-gated ion channels in the alveolar electrosensory cells has been the subject of active investigation, the actual physico-chemical mechanism by which the signals are first detected at the pores and traverse through the hydrogel within the canals still remains to be worked out [7,8]. We and our collaborators have previously shown that the AoL hydrogel is extremely proton-conductive [9], and that this property may putatively contribute to the electrosensing mechanism by providing an electrical environment that is markedly more conductive than the surrounding seawater. The role of chitin in this overall scheme is enigmatic as it does not have a chemical structure that is conductive and it is insoluble in aqueous solutions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Chitin in the Ampullae of Lorenzini of Chondrichthyan Fishes

Phillips

Tang

Hassan³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Chitin is produced by a variety of organisms using enzymes called chitin synthases and was recently discovered in certain vertebrates. In our ongoing investigations into the presence of vertebrate chitin, we unexpectedly found it within the electrosensory organs, known as Ampullae of Lorenzini, of diverse cartilaginous fishes. We used histochemical reagents, chemical analyses, and enzymatic digestions to confirm our findings. Further, in situ hybridization with a sequence from the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) revealed that chitin synthase expression is localized to cells inside the organs. These findings indicate that cartilaginous fishes endogenously synthesize chitin and beg further investigation into the function of chitin in the electrosensory system.

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“…Ampullae of Lorenzini are electroreceptive sensory organs capable of detecting nanovolt gradients in seawater [10,11]. Canals filled with highly electroconductive keratan sulfate jelly [12] originate anterior to gill slits and terminate in ampullary outpouchings of epithelia, from which the sensory nerve derives. Each ampulla opens into seven alveoli consisting of epithelial sheets of conical electroreceptor cells with apical kinocilia facing the lumen, intercalated between supporting cells that form electrically tight junctions to the receptor cells [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nuclear localization of calcium-activated BK channels in skate ampullary electroreceptors

Chen

Shi

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Ampullae of Lorenzini are sensory organs capable of detecting microvolt gradients in seawater. Electroreception involves interplay between voltage-dependent calcium channels CaV1.3 and big conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels in apical membranes of receptor cells. Expression of BK (kcnma1) and CaV1.3 (cacna1d) channels in skate (Leucoraja erinacea) ampullary electroreceptors was studied by in situ confocal microscopy. BK and CaV1.3 channels colocalize in plasma membranes, ribbon synapses and kinocilia. BK channels additionally colocalize with chromatin and nuclear lamins in electroreceptor cells. Bioinformatic sequence analysis identified an alternatively spliced bipartite nuclear localization sequence (NLS) in kcnma1 (at site of mammalian STREX exon). Skate kcnma1 wild type cDNA transfected into HEK293 cells localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. Mutations in the NLS (KRàAA or SVLSàAVLA) independently attenuated nuclear translocation from endoplasmic reticulum. BK channel localization may be controlled by splicing or phosphorylation to tune electroreception and modulate gene expression.

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Proton conductivity in ampullae of Lorenzini jelly

Abstract: Researchers find the proton conductivity of jelly found in the Ampullae of Lorenzini of sharks and skates to be unusually high.

Cited by 98 publications

References 30 publications

Electroreception in marine fishes: chondrichthyans

Electroreception in marine fishes: chondrichthyans

Evidence of Chitin in the Ampullae of Lorenzini of Chondrichthyan Fishes

Nuclear localization of calcium-activated BK channels in skate ampullary electroreceptors

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