Caenorhabditis elegans mechanoreceptors located in ASG sensory neurons have been found to sense ambient temperature, which is a key trait for animal survival. Here, we show that experimental loss of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH-1) function in AIN and AVJ interneurons results in reduced cold tolerance and atypical neuronal response to changes in temperature. These interneurons connect with upstream neurons such as the mechanoreceptor-expressing ASG. Ca2+ imaging revealed that ASG neurons respond to warm temperature via the mechanoreceptor DEG-1, a degenerin/epithelial Na+ channel (DEG/ENaC), which in turn affects downstream AIN and AVJ circuits. Ectopic expression of DEG-1 in the ASE gustatory neuron results in the acquisition of warm sensitivity, while electrophysiological analysis revealed that DEG-1 and human MDEG1 were involved in warm sensation. Taken together, these results suggest that cold tolerance is regulated by mechanoreceptor-mediated circuit calculation.

中文翻译：

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机械感受器 DEG-1 调节秀丽隐杆线虫的耐寒性。

已发现位于 ASG 感觉神经元中的秀丽隐杆线虫机械感受器可以感知环境温度，这是动物生存的关键特征。在这里，我们表明 AIN 和 AVJ 中间神经元中黄嘌呤脱氢酶 (XDH-1) 功能的实验性丧失导致耐寒性降低和对温度变化的非典型神经元反应。这些中间神经元与上游神经元连接，例如表达机械感受器的 ASG。Ca2+ 成像显示 ASG 神经元通过机械感受器 DEG-1（一种退化蛋白/上皮 Na+ 通道 (DEG/ENaC)）对温暖的温度作出反应，进而影响下游 AIN 和 AVJ 电路。DEG-1 在 ASE 味觉神经元中的异位表达导致获得温暖的敏感性，而电生理分析显示 DEG-1 和人类 MDEG1 参与了温暖的感觉。