Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Flash Photolysis of Caged Compounds in the Cilia of Olfactory Sensory Neurons
Published on: October 29, 2011
Central role of the CNGA4 channel subunit in Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent odor adaptation
S D Munger1, A P Lane, H Zhong
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Abstract:
Heteromultimeric cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels play a central role in the transduction of odorant signals and subsequent adaptation. The contributions of individual subunits to native channel function in olfactory receptor neurons remain unclear. Here, we show that the targeted deletion of the mouse CNGA4 gene, which encodes a modulatory CNG subunit, results in a defect in odorant-dependent adaptation. Channels in excised membrane patches from the CNGA4 null mouse exhibited slower Ca2+-calmodulin-mediated channel desensitization. Thus, the CNGA4 subunit accelerates the Ca2+-mediated negative feedback in olfactory signaling and allows rapid adaptation in this sensory system.
Related Concept Videos
Channel Rhodopsins
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
GPCRs Regulate Adenylyl Cylase Activity
Two...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
The olfactory...

