osm-9

[Phil Olsen]

Hello Bill:

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you wrote:

Sequence similarity suggests that osm-9 is homologous to the mammalian
capsaicin receptor (VR1).  We were wondering if anybody has determined
if the osm-9 protein can bind to capsaicin or alternatively, is there any
evidence that worms can sense capsaicin?
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There is evidence that at least some osm-9 mutant worms are sensitive to
capsaicin. that is, the mutants have an increased thermal avoidance response
in the presence of capsaicin and this response is blocked by capsazepine,
from

Wittenburg, N., and Baumeister, R. Thermal avoidance in Caenorhabditis
elegans: an approach to the study of nociception. Proc Natl
  Acad Sci U S A 96, 10477-82 (1999).

Incidentally, the Proteome C. elegans database I edit, WormPD, is available
to academia free of charge at www.proteome.com and there you can find more
conveniently summarized information regarding osm-9. Please let me know if I
can be of further help. Regards,

Phil

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Phil Olsen, Ph.D.
Editor, WormPD
Proteome, Inc.
100 Cummings Center, Suite 435M
Beverly, MA 01915

Tel.: 608-294-9473
pho at proteome.com
http://www.proteome.com
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