unc-1: A Stomatin Homologue Controls Sensitivity to Volatile Anesthetics in Caenorhabditis elegans
Abstract
To identify sites of action of volatile anesthetics, we are studying genes in a functional pathway that controls sensitivity to volatile anesthetics in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The unc-1 gene occupies a central position in this pathway. Different alleles of unc-1 have unique effects on sensitivity to the different volatile anesthetics. UNC-1 shows extensive homology to human stomatin, an integral membrane protein thought to regulate an associated ion channel. We postulate that UNC-1 has a direct effect on anesthetic sensitivity in C. elegans and may represent a molecular target for volatile anesthetics.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- July 1998
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.95.15.8761
- Bibcode:
- 1998PNAS...95.8761R