TRPV channel-mediated calcium transients in nociceptor neurons are dispensable for avoidance behaviour.

Abstract

Animals need to sense and react to potentially dangerous environments. TRP ion channels participate in nociception, presumably via Ca(2+) influx, in most animal species. However, the relationship between ion permeation and animals' nocifensive behaviour is unknown. Here we use an invertebrate animal model with relevance for mammalian pain. We analyse the putative selectivity filter of OSM-9, a TRPV channel, in osmotic avoidance behaviour of Caenorhabditis elegans. Using mutagenized OSM-9 expressed in the head nociceptor neuron, ASH, we study nocifensive behaviour and Ca(2+) influx. Within the selectivity filter, M(601)-F(609), Y604G strongly reduces avoidance behaviour and eliminates Ca(2+) transients. Y604F also abolishes Ca(2+) transients in ASH, while sustaining avoidance behaviour, yet it disrupts behavioral plasticity. Homology modelling of the OSM-9 pore suggests that Y(604) may assume a scaffolding role. Thus, aromatic residues in the OSM-9 selectivity filter are critical for pain behaviour and ion permeation. These findings have relevance for understanding evolutionary roots of mammalian nociception.

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Published Version (Please cite this version)

10.1038/ncomms5734

Publication Info

Lindy, Amanda S, Puja K Parekh, Richard Zhu, Patrick Kanju, Sree V Chintapalli, Volodymyr Tsvilovskyy, Randen L Patterson, Andriy Anishkin, et al. (2014). TRPV channel-mediated calcium transients in nociceptor neurons are dispensable for avoidance behaviour. Nat Commun, 5. p. 4734. 10.1038/ncomms5734 Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11664.

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Scholars@Duke

Liedtke

Wolfgang Bernhard Liedtke

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurology

Research Interests in the Liedtke-Lab:

  • Pain/ nociception
  • Sensory transduction and -transmission
  • TRP ion channels
  • Water and salt equilibrium regulated by the central nervous system



Visit the lab's website, download papers and read Dr. Liedtke's CV here.

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