An integrative approach to the facile functional classification of dorsal root ganglion neuronal subclasses

Abstract

We have used the cellular response to a conopeptide, a highly selective K-channel blocker κM-RIIIJ, as the initial step in an integrated molecular-, cellular-, and systems-level functional analysis to describe and characterize six discrete subclasses of large-diameter mouse dorsal-root ganglion neurons. Analysis of two of these classes (proprioceptors and Aδ–low-threshold mechanoreceptors) by current-clamp electrophysiology and single-cell transcriptome analysis revealed functional differences between the subclasses based on specific molecular components. This integrated strategy is a potentially powerful tool for investigating individual neuronal cell types in functional context. This study also establishes a general approach for defining which specific ion-channel heteromeric combinations are present in different individual neuronal subtypes.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Feb 20, 2020
Source ID
10.1073/pnas.1911382117

Entities

People

  • Baldomero Olivera
  • Heinrich Terlau
  • Kevin Chase
  • Lee S. Leavitt
  • Mario J. Giacobassi
  • Rishi K Alluri
  • Rocio K Finol-Urdaneta
  • Russell W. Teichert
  • Shrinivasan Raghuraman

Organizations

  • Kiel University
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences
  • United States Department of Defense
  • University of Utah
  • University of Wollongong

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Neuroscience
  • Systems Analysis and Design