Popis: |
C. elegans EGL-36 displays extensive similarity to human KCNC proteins, the conserved potassium channel subfamily KV3 (the Shaw subfamily). This potassium channel subfamily contains four genes KCNC1, KCNC2, KCNC3, and KCNC4 encoding KV3.1 (Shaker), KV3.2 (Shab), KV3.3 (Shaw), and KV3.4 (Shal), respectively. Previous studies have demonstrated that C. elegans EGL-36 is expressed in the egg-laying muscles, ventral cord neurons, and the subset of ciliated sensory neurons including ADEL, ADER, PHB through its subcellular localization in the ciliated sensory neurons remains unknown (Elkes et al. 1997; Johnstone et al. 1997). To observe the subcellular localization of EGL-36 in the ciliated sensory neurons in C. elegans, we tagged green fluorescent protein (GFP) at the C-termini of EGL-36 with a cilia-specific promoter. We observed overexpressed EGL-36::GFP in the subsets of sensory neurons in the head and tail including PHB sensory neurons in the tail but not in the PHA sensory neuron, which is in line with previous findings (Elkes et al. 1997; Johnstone et al. 1997) (Figure 1A). Confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that EGL-36::GFP is predominantly located at the base of the cilium. The EGL-36::GFP signal can be found in the neuronal cell body, with weak dendrite staining, where they may function in the dendritic excitability (Figure 1A). |