BACKGROUND While sodium is attractive at low and aversive at high concentrations in most studied species, including Caenorhabditis elegans, the molecular mechanisms behind transduction remain poorly understood. Additionally, past studies with C. elegans provide evidence that the nematode's innate behavior can be altered by previous experiences. Here we investigated the molecular aspects of both innate and conditioned responses to salts. Transmembrane channel-like 1 (tmc-1) has been suggested to encode a sodium-sensitive channel required for sodium chemosensation in C. elegans, but its specific role remains unclear. RESULTS We report that TMC-1 is necessary for sodium attraction, but not aversion in the nematode. We show that TMC-1 contributes to the nematode's lithium induced attraction behavior, but not potassium or magnesium attraction thus clarifying the specificity of the response. In addition, we show that sodium conditioned aversion is dependent on TMC-1 and disrupts not only sodium induced attraction, but also lithium. CONCLUSIONS These findings represent the first time a role for TMC-1 has been described in sodium and lithium attraction in vivo, as well as in sodium conditioned aversion. Together this clarifies TMC-1's importance in sodium hedonics and offer molecular insight into salt chemotaxis learning.

中文翻译：

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线虫钠趋化性和钠条件厌恶中的TMC-1的表征。

背景技术虽然在大多数研究的物种（包括秀丽隐杆线虫）中，钠在低浓度下是有吸引力的，而在高浓度下是厌恶的，但对转导背后的分子机制的了解仍然很少。此外，过去对秀丽隐杆线虫的研究提供了证据，表明线虫的先天行为可以被先前的经历所改变。在这里，我们研究了先天和条件对盐的响应的分子方面。跨膜通道样1（tmc-1）已被建议编码线虫中钠化学传感所需的钠敏感通道，但其具体作用仍不清楚。结果我们报告TMC-1对钠的吸引是必需的，但在线虫中不是厌恶的。我们证明TMC-1有助于线虫的锂诱导的吸引行为，但没有钾或镁的吸引力，因此阐明了反应的特异性。此外，我们表明钠条件厌恶依赖于TMC-1，不仅破坏钠诱导的吸引力，而且破坏锂。结论这些发现代表了TMC-1在体内钠和锂吸引以及钠条件性厌恶中的作用首次被描述。这些共同阐明了TMC-1在钠享乐学中的重要性，并提供了对盐趋化性学习的分子认识。以及钠条件厌恶。这些共同阐明了TMC-1在钠享乐学中的重要性，并提供了对盐趋化性学习的分子认识。以及钠条件厌恶。这些共同阐明了TMC-1在钠享乐学中的重要性，并提供了对盐趋化性学习的分子认识。