Stomatin and sensory neuron mechanotransduction

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Stomatin and sensory neuron mechanotransduction
Creators Name:	Martinez-Salgado, C. and Benckendorff, A.G. and Chiang, L.Y. and Wang, R. and Milenkovic, N. and Wetzel, C. and Hu, J. and Stucky, C.L. and Parra, M.G. and 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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