Abstract
Mechanosensitive cation channels are thought to be crucial for different aspects of mechanoperception, such as hearing and touch sensation. In the nematode C. elegans, the degenerins MEC-4 and MEC-10 are involved in mechanosensation and were proposed to form mechanosensitive cation channels. Mammalian degenerin homologues, the H(+)-gated ASIC channels, are expressed in sensory neurones and are therefore interesting candidates for mammalian mechanosensors. We investigated the effect of an ASIC2 gene knockout in mice on hearing and on cutaneous mechanosensation and visceral mechanonociception. However, our data do not support a role of ASIC2 in those facets of mechanoperception.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acid Sensing Ion Channels
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Animals
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Auditory Threshold
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Gene Deletion
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Hearing / physiology*
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Mechanoreceptors / physiology*
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics*
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Knockout
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / chemistry
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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Nociceptors / physiology*
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Oocytes / physiology
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Patch-Clamp Techniques
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Skin / innervation
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Sodium Channels / chemistry
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Sodium Channels / genetics*
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Sodium Channels / physiology*
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Visceral Afferents / physiology
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Xenopus laevis
Substances
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ASIC2 protein, mouse
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Acid Sensing Ion Channels
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Membrane Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Sodium Channels