Abstract

Mechanosensation such as touch, hearing and proprioception, is functionally regulated by mechano-gated ion channels through the process of transduction. Mechano-gated channels are a subtype of gated ion channels engaged in converting mechanical stimuli to chemical or electrical signals thereby modulating sensation. To date, a few families of mechano-gated channels (DEG/ENaC, TRPN, K₂P, TMC and Piezo) have been identified in eukaryotes. Using a tractable genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the molecular mechanism of mechanosensation have been the focus of much research to comprehend the process of mechanotransduction. Comprising of almost all metazoans classes of ion channels, transporters and receptors, C. elegans is a powerful genetic model to explore mechanosensitive behaviors such as touch sensation and proprioception. The nematode relies primarily on its sensory abilities to survive in its natural environment. Genetic screening, calcium imaging and electrophysiological analysis have established that ENaC proteins and TRPN channel (TRP-4 protein) can characterize mechano-gated channels in C. elegans. A recent study reported that TMCs are likely the pore-forming subunit of a mechano-gated channel in C. elegans. Nevertheless, it still remains unclear whether Piezo as well as other candidate proteins can form mechano-gated channels in C. elegans.

摘要

机械感应，如触摸，听觉和本体感觉，在转导过程中受机械化离子通道的功能调节。机械门控通道是门控离子通道的一种类型，可将机械刺激转换为化学或电信号从而调节感觉。迄今为止，在真核生物中已经发现了一些机械门通道家族（DEG / ENaC，TRPN，K ₂ P，TMC和Piezo）。使用易处理的遗传模型秀丽隐杆线虫，机械感觉的分子机制已经成为理解机械转导过程的许多研究的焦点。包含几乎所有的后生动物类别的离子通道，转运蛋白和受体，秀丽隐杆线虫是探索机械敏感行为（如触觉和本体感觉）的强大遗传模型。线虫主要依靠其在自然环境中生存的感觉能力。遗传筛选，钙成像和电生理分析已确定ENaC蛋白和TRPN通道（TRP-4蛋白）可以表征秀丽隐杆线虫的机械门控通道。最近的一项研究报道，TMC可能是秀丽隐杆线虫机械门通道的成孔亚基。尽管如此，压电和其他候选蛋白是否可以在秀丽隐杆线虫中形成机械门控通道仍不清楚。