A novel technique for studying sensory transduction in olfactory sensory cilia is described this week by Takeuchi and Kurahashi.
The binding of odorant molecules to olfactory receptors leads to activation of adenylyl cyclase and increased cAMP concentration in the cilium. cAMP, in turn, activates calcium channels, which, together with calcium-dependent chloride channels, depolarizes the cell. To study these transduction mechanisms more closely, Takeuchi and Kurahashi used laser-scanning confocal microscopy to locally release caged cyclic nucleotides (in 1 μm spots) in the cytoplasm of dissociated olfactory cells, while simultaneously obtaining whole-cell electrical recordings. Although these studies did not discriminate between the contribution of calcium and chloride channels, they did reveal that the transduction channels are distributed throughout cilia, with a higher channel density proximally. In addition, responses to stimuli at different points along a cilium summed linearly. And different cilia on the same cell responded similarly to the same stimulus.-Society for Neuroscience
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
