A <i>Drosophila</i> Mechanosensory Transduction Channel

TLDR

Mechanosensory transduction underlies a wide range of senses, with a mechanically gated ion channel as the pivotal element, yet the molecular nature of these channels remains largely unknown. The study aimed to identify the mechanosensory transduction channel by analyzing Drosophila melanogaster mechanoreceptive mutants for physiological defects. By screening mechanoreceptive mutants for deficits in mechanosensory physiology, the authors identified candidate channel genes. Loss‑of‑function mutations in the no mechanoreceptor potential C (nompC) gene virtually abolished mechanosensory signaling, demonstrating that nompC encodes a new ion channel essential for transduction and that NOMPC and its C.

Abstract

Mechanosensory transduction underlies a wide range of senses, including proprioception, touch, balance, and hearing. The pivotal element of these senses is a mechanically gated ion channel that transduces sound, pressure, or movement into changes in excitability of specialized sensory cells. Despite the prevalence of mechanosensory systems, little is known about the molecular nature of the transduction channels. To identify such a channel, we analyzed Drosophila melanogaster mechanoreceptive mutants for defects in mechanosensory physiology. Loss-of-function mutations in the no mechanoreceptor potential C (nompC) gene virtually abolished mechanosensory signaling. nompC encodes a new ion channel that is essential for mechanosensory transduction. As expected for a transduction channel, D. melanogaster NOMPC and a Caenorhabditis elegans homolog were selectively expressed in mechanosensory organs.