TRPV channel-mediated calcium transients in nociceptor neurons are dispensable for avoidance behaviour.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Animals need to sense and react to potentially dangerous environments. TRP ion channels participate in nociception, presumably via Ca(2+) influx, in most animal species. However, the relationship between ion permeation and animals' nocifensive behaviour is unknown. Here we use an invertebrate animal model with relevance for mammalian pain. We analyse the putative selectivity filter of OSM-9, a TRPV channel, in osmotic avoidance behaviour of Caenorhabditis elegans. Using mutagenized OSM-9 expressed in the head nociceptor neuron, ASH, we study nocifensive behaviour and Ca(2+) influx. Within the selectivity filter, M(601)-F(609), Y604G strongly reduces avoidance behaviour and eliminates Ca(2+) transients. Y604F also abolishes Ca(2+) transients in ASH, while sustaining avoidance behaviour, yet it disrupts behavioral plasticity. Homology modelling of the OSM-9 pore suggests that Y(604) may assume a scaffolding role. Thus, aromatic residues in the OSM-9 selectivity filter are critical for pain behaviour and ion permeation. These findings have relevance for understanding evolutionary roots of mammalian nociception.
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Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Lindy, AS; Parekh, PK; Zhu, R; Kanju, P; Chintapalli, SV; Tsvilovskyy, V; Patterson, RL; Anishkin, A; van Rossum, DB; Liedtke, WB
Published Date
- September 2, 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 5 /
Start / End Page
- 4734 -
PubMed ID
- 25178952
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC4164786
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 2041-1723
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/ncomms5734
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England