A Seven-Transmembrane Receptor That Mediates Avoidance Response to Dihydrocaffeic Acid, a Water-Soluble Repellent in Caenorhabditis elegans

作者：Aoki Reina; Yagami Tatsurou; Sasakura Hiroyuki; Ogura Ken ichi; Kajihara Yasuhiro; Ibi Masakazu; Miyamae Takeaki; Nakamura Fumio; Asakura Taro; Kanai Yoshikatsu; Misu Yoshimi; Iino Yuichi; Ezcurra Marina; Schafer William R; Mori Ikue; Goshima Yoshio^*

来源：Journal of Neuroscience, 2011, 31(46): 16603-16610.

DOI：10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4018-11.2011

The ability to detect harmful chemicals rapidly is essential for the survival of all animals. In Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), repellents trigger an avoidance response, causing animals to move away from repellents. Dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) is a water-soluble repellent and nonflavonoid catecholic compound that can be found in plant products. Using a Xenopus laevis (X. laevis) oocyte expression system, we identified a candidate dihydrocaffeic acid receptor (DCAR), DCAR-1. DCAR-1 is a novel seven-transmembrane protein that is expressed in the ASH avoidance sensory neurons of C. elegans. dcar-1 mutant animals are defective in avoidance response to DHCA, and cell-specific expression of dcar-1 in the ASH neurons of dcar-1 mutant animals rescued the defect in avoidance response to DHCA. Our findings identify DCAR-1 as the first seven-transmembrane receptor required for avoidance of a water-soluble repellent, DHCA, in C. elegans.

• 出版日期2011-11-16