Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Mammalian dorsal root ganglia (DRG) contain a diverse collection of sensory neuronal subtypes specialized to detect different sensory stimuli. Most of these cells respond to mechanical stimulation of some sort, be they proprioceptors detecting body movements, receptors for gentle touch or nociceptors activated by painful levels of pressure, and yet the proteins that detect mechanical stimuli remain unknown. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Gary Lewin and colleagues give insights into the developmental acquisition of mechanosensitivity by different classes of sensory neurons and in doing so, they offer a new approach for determining the molecular basis of this sensory modality. Until recently, it seemed that unravelling the molecular basis of mammalian touch sensation would be straightforward.
Source: The EMBO Journal
Author: Liam J Drew
Institution: Columbia University
Language: English
Topic: Ion Channels and Receptors
Subfield: Sensory Systems
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $7,990
OpenAlex ID: W2062716321