Nanchung and Inactive define pore properties of the native auditory transduction channel in <i>Drosophila</i>
Bingxue Li, Songling Li, Honglan Zheng, Zhiqiang Yan
Abstract
Significance Chordotonal (Cho) neurons are responsible for auditory perception in Drosophila , but the molecules/ion channels mediating the primary subthreshold currents that transduce the sound/mechanical stimulation to electrical signal remain unclear. Here, we overcame the technical limitation of direct recording from auditory receptor neurons and explored the functions of candidate molecules in auditory transduction. The mechanically induced subthreshold currents showed high sensitivity, dose-dependent response, and desensitization characteristics. By analyzing point mutations, we revealed that the TRP channels Nanchung and Inactive are essential pore-forming subunits of the native auditory transduction channel in Cho neurons. Additionally, another TRP family member, NompC, plays a role in regulating the kinetics of auditory transduction currents.