The MEC-4 DEG/ENaC channel of Caenorhabditis elegans touch receptor neurons transduces mechanical signals

O’Hagan, Robert; Chalfie, Martin; Goodman, Miriam B.

doi:10.1038/nn1362

Cited by 459 publications

(613 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…These data are consistent with the fact that in vivo, mec-4 (d) produces strong degeneration independent of mec-10, while mec-10(d) degeneration is less frequent and requires mec-4, and suggest that MEC-4 and MEC-10 have functional differences [38]. Finally, in vivo electrophysiology recordings of touch receptor neurons demonstrate that MEC-4 and MEC-10 transduce gentle touch stimuli ( [57], see below).…”

Section: Proteins Required For Mechanosensationsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…2) [44]. The second transmembrane domain (TMII) and the sequence preceding it are thought to contribute to the pore of the channel; mutations in these regions cause constitutive channel activity, blockage of the constitutive activity, or changes in ion selectivity [36,37,57]. The mutations that cause constitutive channel activity were first identified as changes in MEC-4, MEC-10, and other C. elegans degenerins that cause neurodegeneration [16,21,38].…”

Section: Proteins Required For Mechanosensationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using techniques developed for patch-clamp recording from C. elegans neurons [32,52], PLM neurons were recorded from while mechanical stimuli were applied to the posterior body wall [57]. The onset of stimuli produced a mechanoreceptor current (MRC) that peaked rapidly and then decayed during continued force; removal of force produced an additional MRC of equal amplitude (Fig.…”

Section: Mechanoreceptor Current and Calcium Influxmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Touch sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Bounoutas

Chalfie

2007

Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol

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The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was the first organism for which touch insensitive mutants were obtained. The study of the genes defective in these mutants has led to the identification of components of a mechanosensory complex needed for specific cells to sense gentle touch to the body. Multiple approaches using genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and electrophysiology have characterized a channel complex, containing two DEG/ENaC pore-forming subunits and several other proteins, that transduces the touch response. Other mechanical responses, sensed by other cells using a variety of other components, are less well understood in C. elegans. Many of these other senses may use TRP channels, although DEG/ENaC channels have also been implicated.

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Section: Proteins Required For Mechanosensationsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Proteins Required For Mechanosensationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mechanoreceptor Current and Calcium Influxmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Touch sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Bounoutas

Chalfie

2007

Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol

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“…Mechanical forces are known to play a direct role in triggering signal transduction pathways in C. elegans (16,17). Because the adult worm has only 22 specialized nerve cells for mechanotransduction, the bulk mechanical properties of the organism will determine how mechanical stimuli are distributed across these A B specialized cells-mechanical coupling thus allows short timescale coupling of different mechanosensory neurons (52).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The importance of C. elegans mechanics is highlighted by previous studies suggesting that the worm's locomotory patterns and foraging behaviors are strongly dependent on mechanical and osmotic stresses (13)(14)(15). Indeed, external mechanical forces lead to the activation of known mechanosensory signal transduction pathways (16,17). Moreover, C. elegans is known to occupy diverse habitats-ranging from decaying compost to freshwater lake beds-in which it encounters a wide variety of mechanical loads (18).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Worms under Pressure: Bulk Mechanical Properties of C. elegans Are Independent of the Cuticle

Gilpin

Uppaluri

Brangwynne

2015

Biophysical Journal

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The mechanical properties of cells and tissues play a well-known role in physiology and disease. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans exhibits mechanical properties that are still poorly understood, but are thought to be dominated by its collagen-rich outer cuticle. To our knowledge, we use a novel microfluidic technique to reveal that the worm responds linearly to low applied hydrostatic stress, exhibiting a volumetric compression with a bulk modulus, k ¼ 140 5 20 kPa; applying negative pressures leads to volumetric expansion of the worm, with a similar bulk modulus. Surprisingly, however, we find that a variety of collagen mutants and pharmacological perturbations targeting the cuticle do not impact the bulk modulus. Moreover, the worm exhibits dramatic stiffening at higher stresses-behavior that is also independent of the cuticle. The stress-strain curves for all conditions can be scaled onto a master equation, suggesting that C. elegans exhibits a universal elastic response dominated by the mechanics of pressurized internal organs.

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