A chemoreceptor that detects molecular carbon dioxide.

Imagen de Luis Martinez-Velazquez
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TítuloA chemoreceptor that detects molecular carbon dioxide.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AutoresSmith, ESt John, Martínez-Velázquez, LA, Ringstad, N
JournalJ Biol Chem
Volume288
Issue52
Pagination37071-81
Date Published2013 Dec 27
ISSN1083-351X
Palabras claveAnimals, Caenorhabditis elegans, Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins, Carbon Dioxide, Carbonic Acid, Cells, Cultured, Chemoreceptor Cells, Receptors, Guanylate Cyclase-Coupled, Signal Transduction
Abstract

Animals from diverse phyla possess neurons that are activated by the product of aerobic respiration, CO2. It has long been thought that such neurons primarily detect the CO2 metabolites protons and bicarbonate. We have determined the chemical tuning of isolated CO2 chemosensory BAG neurons of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that BAG neurons are principally tuned to detect molecular CO2, although they can be activated by acid stimuli. One component of the BAG transduction pathway, the receptor-type guanylate cyclase GCY-9, suffices to confer cellular sensitivity to both molecular CO2 and acid, indicating that it is a bifunctional chemoreceptor. We speculate that in other animals, receptors similarly capable of detecting molecular CO2 might mediate effects of CO2 on neural circuits and behavior.

DOI10.1074/jbc.M113.517367
Alternate JournalJ. Biol. Chem.
PubMed ID24240097
PubMed Central IDPMC3873563
Grant ListR01 GM098320 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01-GM098320 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
T32 GM007308 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States