Abstract
Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels encoded by tax-4 and tax-2 genes are required for chemo- and thermo-sensation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we report the identification and the characterization of cng-3, a new CNG channel gene, found in C. elegans. CNG-3 contains six putative transmembrane regions and a cyclic nucleotide-binding domain that show high homology with CNG channels of higher animals as well as TAX-4. The expression of cng-3 is detected from early stages in worm development and restricted in five sensory neurons of amphid including AFD neuron. While a cng-3 null mutant displays normal chemotaxis to volatile odorants, the mutant worms exhibit impaired thermal tolerance. These results indicate that CNG-3, a new member of CNG channel subunits, may play a critical role in sensation or response of thermal stress in C. elegans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alcohols / chemistry
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Alcohols / pharmacology
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Aldehydes / chemistry
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Aldehydes / pharmacology
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / chemistry
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Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
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Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
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Chemotaxis / genetics
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Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
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Gene Deletion
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Gene Expression
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Genome Components / genetics
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Heat-Shock Response / physiology*
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Ion Channels / chemistry
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Ion Channels / genetics*
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Ion Channels / physiology*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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Protein Subunits
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Pyrazines / pharmacology
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Sequence Alignment
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Smell / genetics
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Thiazoles / pharmacology
Substances
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Alcohols
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Aldehydes
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Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels
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Ion Channels
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Protein Subunits
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Pyrazines
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Recombinant Proteins
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Thiazoles
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2,4,5-trimethylthiazole