Unraveling molecular determinants of somatosensation via transcriptome analysis of single sensory neurons.

The somatosensory system consists of a network of sensory neurons that detect and transmit information about the body and its immediate environment, thereby determining what we “feel”. Thanks to the somatosensory system, we are able to enjoy a warm summer breeze, a refreshing dive in the ocean or the light touch of a beloved one. In addition, the somatosensory system conveys signals from within the body, such as the position of our joints, muscle stretch or the filling state of our bladder. Finally, by initiating an acute pain reaction, the somatosensory system has an important alarm function, warning us for life-threatening stimuli such as burning heat or freezing cold, noxious chemicals or mechanically inflicted injury. At the endings of sensory neurons, for instance in the skin, specific molecular sensors translate thermal, mechanical and chemical stimuli into electrical signals, which are then conveyed to the central nervous system. Despite tremendous advances in the last two decades, the molecular sensors responsible for major aspects of somatosensation remain to be identified. In this project, we will apply advanced electrophysiological and genomic techniques to single sensory neurons to identify genes that determine a neuron’s sensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli. This research is expected to provide novel insights into the molecular foundations of somatosensation, and may reveal new targets to treat somatosensory dysfunction and pain.