MECHANOSENSATION AND OSMOSENSATION IN C ELEGANS

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）：尽管机械刺激在听觉和触觉中起着关键作用，但脊椎动物中机械感觉的分子基础仍然难以捉摸。这项研究利用遗传、细胞和分子技术在C. elegans来鉴定参与检测有害的机械和化学刺激的受体蛋白、信号转导通路和突触通路。梭线虫ASH神经元对鼻触、高渗透压和挥发性驱避剂有反应。已经鉴定出干扰对特定ASH刺激的反应的突变。将对涉及的基因进行分子表征。 他们将讨论OSM-10蛋白在睡眠感觉中的作用，并检查ASH回路中新发现的肽能神经递质。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the applicant's abstract): Despite the critical role mechanical stimuli play in hearing and touch, the molecular basis of mechanosensation in vertebrates remains elusive. The proposed research uses genetic, cellular, and molecular techniques in C. elegans to identify receptor proteins, signal transduction pathways and synaptic pathways involved in the detection of noxious mechanical and chemical stimuli. The C. elegans ASH neurons respond to nose touch, high osmolarity, and volatile repellents. Mutations have been identified which perturb responses to specific ASH stimuli. The genes involved will be molecularly characterized. They will address the role of the OSM-10 protein in osmosensation, and examine newly identified peptidergic neurotransmitters in the ASH circuit.