biostudies-literatureChatzigeorgiou MMedical Research Council95-99https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4021456biostudies-literatureUnknown494(7435)Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) genes encode a broadly conserved family of multipass integral membrane proteins in animals. Human TMC1 and TMC2 genes are linked to human deafness and required for hair-cell mechanotransduction; however, the molecular functions of these and other TMC proteins have not been determined. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans tmc-1 gene encodes a sodium sensor that functions specifically in salt taste chemosensation. tmc-1 is expressed in the ASH polymodal avoidance neurons, where it is required for salt-evoked neuronal activity and behavioural avoidance of high concentrations of NaCl. However, tmc-1 has no effect on responses to other stimuli sensed by the ASH neurons including high osmolarity and chemical repellents, indicating a specific role in salt Naturetmc-1 encodes a sodium-sensitive channel required for salt chemosensation in C. elegans.PMC4021456MC_U105185857Bang SHwang SWSchafer WRChatzigeorgiou Mfalsetmc-1 encodes a sodium-sensitive channel required for salt chemosensation in C. elegans.Transmembrane channel-like (TMC) genes encode a broadly conserved family of multipass integral membrane proteins in animals. Human TMC1 and TMC2 genes are linked to human deafness and required for hair-cell mechanotransduction; however, the molecular functions of these and other TMC proteins have not been determined. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans tmc-1 gene encodes a sodium sensor that functions specifically in salt taste chemosensation. tmc-1 is expressed in the ASH polymodal avoidance neurons, where it is required for salt-evoked neuronal activity and behavioural avoidance of high concentrations of NaCl. However, tmc-1 has no effect on responses to other stimuli sensed by the ASH neurons including high osmolarity and chemical repellents, indicating a specific role in salt 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Feb2025-04-05T10:38:15.249Z2019-03-27T01:28:14ZS-EPMC40214562336469410.1038/nature11845