Central Role of the CNGA4 Channel Subunit in Ca 2+ -Calmodulin-Dependent Odor Adaptation

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1063224
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:47:15Z
• Authors: Steven D. Munger; Andrew P. Lane; Haining Zhong; Trese Leinders-Zu...; King-Wai Yau; Frank Zufall; Randall R. Reed
• Keywords: Transduction (biophysics)

Heteromultimeric cyclic nucleotide–gated (CNG) channels play a central role in the transduction of odorant signals and subsequent adaptation. The contributions individual subunits to native channel function olfactory receptor neurons remain unclear. Here, we show that targeted deletion mouse CNGA4 gene, which encodes modulatory CNG subunit, results defect odorant-dependent Channels excised membrane patches from null exhibited slower Ca 2+ -calmodulin-mediated desensitization. Thus, subunit accelerates -mediated negative feedback signaling allows rapid adaptation this sensory system.