Vanilloid receptor-related osmotically activated channel (VR-OAC), a candidate vertebrate osmoreceptor

Cell. 2000 Oct 27;103(3):525-35. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)00143-4.

Abstract

The detection of osmotic stimuli is essential for all organisms, yet few osmoreceptive proteins are known, none of them in vertebrates. By employing a candidate-gene approach based on genes encoding members of the TRP superfamily of ion channels, we cloned cDNAs encoding the vanilloid receptor-related osmotically activated channel (VR-OAC) from the rat, mouse, human, and chicken. This novel cation-selective channel is gated by exposure to hypotonicity within the physiological range. In the central nervous system, the channel is expressed in neurons of the circumventricular organs, neurosensory cells responsive to systemic osmotic pressure. The channel also occurs in other neurosensory cells, including inner-ear hair cells, sensory neurons, and Merkel cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Ankyrin Repeat / genetics
  • Ankyrin Repeat / physiology
  • Brain / cytology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiology
  • CHO Cells
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Cations / metabolism
  • Chickens / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / genetics
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cricetinae
  • Electrophysiology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / chemistry
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / metabolism
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypotonic Solutions
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Ion Channel Gating*
  • Merkel Cells / chemistry
  • Merkel Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurons, Afferent / chemistry
  • Neurons, Afferent / metabolism
  • Neurons, Afferent / physiology
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Osmotic Pressure*
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Radiation Hybrid Mapping
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Drug / chemistry
  • Receptors, Drug / genetics
  • Receptors, Drug / metabolism*
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Cations
  • Hypotonic Solutions
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Drug

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AC007834
  • GENBANK/AF261883
  • GENBANK/AF263521
  • GENBANK/AF263522
  • GENBANK/AF263523