Physiological insight into the conserved properties of Caenorhabditis elegans acid-sensing degenerin/epithelial sodium channels.

ABSTRACT: Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are members of the diverse family of degenerin/epithelial sodium channels (DEG/ENaCs). They perform a wide range of physiological roles in healthy organisms, including in gut function and synaptic transmission, but also play important roles in disease, as acidosis is a hallmark of painful inflammatory and ischaemic conditions. We performed a screen for acid sensitivity on all 30 subunits of the Caenorhabditis elegans DEG/ENaC family using two-electrode voltage clamp in Xenopus oocytes. We found two groups of acid-sensitive DEG/ENaCs characterised by being either inhibited or activated by increasing proton concentrations. Three of these acid-sensitive C. elegans DEG/ENaCs were activated by acidic pH, making them functionally similar to the vertebrate ASICs.

SUBMITTER: Kaulich E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10424705 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature