Stomatin and sensory neuron mechanotransduction

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Stomatin and sensory neuron mechanotransduction
Creators Name:	Martinez-Salgado, C., Benckendorff, A.G., Chiang, L.Y., Wang, R., Milenkovic, N., Wetzel, C., Hu, J., Stucky, C.L., Parra, M.G., Mohandas, N. and Lewin, G.R.
Abstract:	Somatic sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia are necessary for a large part of our mechanosensory experience. However, we only have a good knowledge of the molecules required for mechanotransduction in simple invertebrates such as the nematode Caenorhabiditis elegans. In C.elegans a number of so-called mec genes have been isolated that are required for the transduction of body touch. One such gene, mec-2 codes for an integral membrane protein of the stomatin family, a large group of genes with a stomatin homology domain. Using stomatin null mutant mice we have tested the hypothesis that the founding member of this family, stomatin might play a role in the transduction of mechanical stimuli by primary sensory neurons. We used the in vitro mouse skin nerve preparation to record from a large population of low threshold and high threshold mechanoreceptors with myelinated A-fiber (n=553) and unmyelinated C-fiber (n=157) axons. One sub-type of mechanoreceptor, the D-hair receptor which is a rapidly adapting mechanoreceptor, had reduced sensitivity to mechanical stimulation in the absence of stomatin. Other cutaneous mechanoreceptors, including nociceptive C-fibers were not affected by the absence of a functional stomatin protein. Patch clamp analysis of presumptive D-hair mechanoreceptive neurons, which were identified by a characteristic rosette morphology in culture, showed no change in membrane excitability in the absence of the stomatin protein. We conclude that stomatin is required for normal mechanotransduction in a sub-population of vertebrate sensory neurons.
Keywords:	Afferent Neurons, Blood Proteins, Cellular Mechanotransduction, Electrophysiology, Hair, Mechanoreceptors, Membrane Proteins, Myelinated Nerve Fibers, Nociceptors, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Skin, Unmyelinated Nerve Fibers, Animals, Mice
Source:	Journal of Neurophysiology
ISSN:	0022-3077
Publisher:	American Physiological Society
Volume:	98
Number:	6
Page Range:	3802-3808
Date:	1 December 2007
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00860.2007
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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