Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Caenorhabditis elegans.

摘要: Publisher Summary Caenorhabditis elegans depends critically on mechanosensory perception to negotiate its natural habitat, the soil. The worm displays a rich repertoire of mechanosensitive behaviors, which can be easily examined in laboratory. This, coupled with availability sophisticated genetic and molecular biology tools, renders C. particularly attractive model organism study transduction mechanical stimuli biological responses. Systematic analysis has facilitated dissection mechanisms that underlie mechanosensation nematode. Studies various behaviors have converged identify highly specialized plasma membrane ion channels are required for conversion energy cellular signals. Strikingly, similar appear function at core mechanotransduction apparatus higher organisms, including humans. Thus, responsible detection likely conserved across metazoans. nematode offers powerful platform elucidating fundamental principles govern metazoan mechanotransducers. This chapter evaluates current understanding focuses role specific behavioral also outlines potential unifying themes, common diverse species.