University of Michigan researchers have identified the protein responsible for enabling mammals to sense cold temperatures. This discovery, published in Nature Neuroscience, sheds light on a long-standing gap in sensory biology. The protein, GluK2, was found to play a crucial role in how mammals perceive and react to cold stimuli, offering insights into why individuals experience cold differently under various conditions, including diseases.
The research led by neuroscientist Shawn Xu, focused on understanding how mammals sense temperatures below 60ºF. By studying the cold-sensing receptor protein in Caenorhabditis elegans, the team was able to identify GluK2 as the key protein involved in cold sensation across different species, including mice and humans.
Through experiments on mice lacking the GluK2 gene, the researchers observed that these mice showed no response to noxious cold stimuli, highlighting the essential role of GluK2 in sensing cold temperatures. Interestingly, while GluK2 is primarily known for its function in the brain, this study revealed its additional role in processing temperature cues in sensory neurons outside the brain and spinal cord.
This finding not only fills a crucial gap in our understanding of temperature sensation but also opens new avenues for potential therapeutic targets related to cold-induced pain, such as those experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.