OSM-9 explained

OSMotic avoidance abnormal family member (osm-9) (Caenorhabditis elegans)
Symbol:	OSM-9
Entrezgene:	177117

OSM-9 also known as OSMotic avoidance abnormal family member 9 is a protein which in the nematode worm C. elegans is encoded by the osm-9 gene.^[1]

Function

The OSM-9 protein is required for some olfactory and osmotic stimuli as well as a mechanosensory response to nose touch. This protein encodes a protein with ankyrin repeats and is closely related in sequence to the mammalian TRPV ion channels.^[1] OSM-9 controls the biosynthesis of serotonin via regulation of the expression of the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase.^[2]

Further reading

• Kahn-Kirby AH, Bargmann CI . TRP channels in C. elegans . . 68 . 1. 719–36 . 2006 . 16460289 . 10.1146/annurev.physiol.68.040204.100715 .

Notes and References

1. Colbert HA, Smith TL, Bargmann CI . OSM-9, a novel protein with structural similarity to channels, is required for olfaction, mechanosensation, and olfactory adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans . J. Neurosci. . 17 . 21 . 8259–69 . November 1997 . 9334401 . 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-21-08259.1997. 6573730 .
2. Zhang S, Sokolchik I, Blanco G, Sze JY . Caenorhabditis elegans TRPV ion channel regulates 5HT biosynthesis in chemosensory neurons . Development . 131 . 7 . 1629–38 . April 2004 . 14998926 . 10.1242/dev.01047 . free .