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Papers of the Week


2022 Oct 06


J Physiol

Physiological insight into the conserved properties of Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing DEG/ENaCs.

Authors

Kaulich E, McCubbin PTN, Schafer WR, Walker DS
J Physiol. 2022 Oct 06.
PMID: 36200489.

Abstract

Acidosis plays many roles in healthy physiology, including synaptic transmission and gut function, but is also a key feature of inflammatory pain, ischemia and many other conditions. Cells monitor acidosis of their surroundings via pH-sensing channels, including the acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). These are members of the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENaC) family, along with, as the name suggests, vertebrate ENaCs and degenerins of the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans. By screening all 30 C. elegans DEG/ENaCs for pH dependence, we describe, for the first time, three acid-activated members, as well as three additional acid-inhibited channels. We surveyed both groups for sensitivity to amiloride and zinc; like their mammalian counterparts, their currents can be blocked, enhanced or unaffected by these modulators. Likewise, they exhibit diverse ion selectivity. Our findings underline the diversity of acid-sensitive DEG/ENaCs across species and provide a comparative resource for better understanding the molecular basis of their function.