RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 OSM-9, A Novel Protein with Structural Similarity to Channels, Is Required for Olfaction, Mechanosensation, and Olfactory Adaptation inCaenorhabditis elegans JF The Journal of Neuroscience JO J. Neurosci. FD Society for Neuroscience SP 8259 OP 8269 DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-21-08259.1997 VO 17 IS 21 A1 Heather A. Colbert A1 Tracy L. Smith A1 Cornelia I. Bargmann YR 1997 UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/17/21/8259.abstract AB Although cyclic nucleotide-gated channels mediate sensory transduction in olfaction and vision, other forms of sensory transduction are independent of these channels. Caenorhabditis elegans cyclic nucleotide-gated channel mutants respond normally to some olfactory stimuli and to osmotic stimuli, suggesting that these chemosensory responses use an alternative sensory transduction pathway. One gene that may act in this pathway isosm-9, which is required for each of these responses as well as a mechanosensory response to nose touch. osm-9encodes a protein with ankyrin repeats and multiple predicted transmembrane domains that has limited similarity to theDrosophila phototransduction channels transient receptor potential (TRP) and TRP-like (TRPL). The sequence of OSM-9 and other TRP-like genes reveals a previously unsuspected diversity of mammalian and invertebrate genes in this family. osm-9 is required for the activity of the predicted G-protein-coupled odorant receptor ODR-10, which acts in the AWA olfactory neurons; its similarity to other G-protein-regulated transduction channels suggests that OSM-9 is involved in AWA signaling. osm-9:: GFP fusion genes are expressed in a subset of chemosensory, mechanosensory, and osmosensory neurons. osm-9 also affects olfactory adaptation within neurons that require the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel for olfaction; in these neurons, the gene has a regulatory function and not a primary role in sensory transduction.