Anoctamin-1 is a core component of a mechanosensory anion channel complex in C. elegans
Mechanotransduction channels are widely expressed in both vertebrates and invertebrates, mediating various physiological processes such as touch, hearing and blood-pressure sensing. While previously known mechanotransduction channels in metazoans are primarily cation-selective, we identified Anoctamin-1 (ANOH-1), the C. elegans homolog of mammalian calcium-activated chloride channel ANO1/TMEM16A, as an essential component of a mechanosensory channel complex that contributes to the nose touch mechanosensation in C. elegans. Ectopic expression of either C. elegans or human Anoctamin-1 confers mechanosensitivity to touch-insensitive neurons, suggesting a cell-autonomous role of ANOH-1/ANO1 in mechanotransduction. Additionally, we demonstrated that the mechanosensory function of ANOH-1/ANO1 relies on CIB (calcium- and integrin- binding) proteins. Thus, our results reveal an evolutionarily conserved chloride channel involved in mechanosensory transduction in metazoans, highlighting the importance of anion channels in mechanosensory processes.
Authors
- Hankui Cheng
- Lijun Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9939-5134)
- Wenjuan Zou
- Linlu He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3568-2158)
- Yuedan Fan
- Guohua Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0593-9175)
- Huitao Hong
- Linhui Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4473-800X)
- Xiujue Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7038-1692)
- Umar Al-Sheikh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4977-822X)
- Yi‐Quan Tang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6639-8897)
- Shitian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6342-2698)
- Jia Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1547-9256)
- Feng Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4721-1062)
- Rong Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9886-404X)
- Yongming Zhang
Institutions
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (CN)
- Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
- Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University (CN)
- Zhejiang Lab (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University (CN)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-02-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56938-z
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.55
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China
- Zhejiang University
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- National Institutes of Health
- Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province