The star-nosed mole reveals clues to the molecular basis of mammalian touch.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian touch transduction. To identify novel candidate transducers, we examined the molecular and cellular basis of touch in one of the most sensitive tactile organs in the animal kingdom, the star of the star-nosed mole. Our findings demonstrate that the trigeminal ganglia innervating the star are enriched in tactile-sensitive neurons, resulting in a higher proportion of light touch fibers and lower proportion of nociceptors compared to the dorsal root ganglia innervating the rest of the body. We exploit this difference using transcriptome analysis of the star-nosed mole sensory ganglia to identify novel candidate mammalian touch and pain transducers. The most enriched candidates are also expressed in mouse somatosesensory gangl

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

SUBMITTER: Maurizio Pellegrino 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-47480 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress