A molecular filter for the cnidarian stinging response

Area of Science:

• * Animal behavior
• * Molecular biology
• * Neuroscience

Background:

• * Cnidarians, such as jellyfish and sea anemones, use stinging cells (nematocytes) to capture prey.
• * The precise triggering mechanism for nematocyte discharge has remained largely unknown.
• * Understanding this mechanism is key to understanding cnidarian predatory behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying nematocyte discharge in *Nematostella vectensis*.
• * To identify the role of specific ion channels in sensory signal integration for prey capture.
• * To explore how cnidarians differentiate between prey and non-prey stimuli.

Main Methods:

• * Electrophysiological recordings from *Nematostella vectensis* nematocytes.
• * Molecular characterization of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in nematocytes.
• * Analysis of channel inactivation properties in response to different stimuli.

Main Results:

• * A specialized voltage-gated calcium channel (nCa_V) controls nematocyte discharge.
• * nCa_V exhibits sensitive voltage-dependent inactivation, preventing responses to non-prey stimuli like water turbulence.
• * Chemosensory prey signals acutely relieve nCa_V inactivation, enabling mechanosensitive-triggered discharge.

Conclusions:

• * The nCa_V channel acts as a molecular switch, integrating sensory cues to control stinging behavior.
• * This study reveals the molecular basis for the cnidarian stinging response.
• * The findings highlight general principles of signal integration by single proteins in animal behavior.