CELE_K03B8.9, K03B8.9

deg-3 encodes an alpha subunit of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR); originally defined by a gain-of-function mutation that results in neuronal degeneration and uncoordinated movement, DEG-3 can form heteromeric channels with a second alpha subunit, DES-2, and in vivo these channels appear to be required for chemosensation of choline; deg-3 and des-2 reside in an operon, and consistent with their role in metabolite chemosensation, are expressed in nonsynaptic regions such as the sensory endings of the IL2 chemosensory neurons; DEG-3 and DES-2 are also detected in the touch cell neurons, M1 head muscles, FLP and PVD sensory neurons, and the PVC interneuron; in subsets of these neurons, DEG-3 expression is not detectable in mec-3 or unc-86 mutant backgrounds.

532518

6239